Tag: DIY activities

  • Outdoor Activities To Check Off Your Summer Bucket List

    Outdoor Activities To Check Off Your Summer Bucket List

    Summer is great. The kids are out of school, the weather is hotter, there seems like there’s nothing to do yet for some reason, your to-do list keeps growing longer and the day seems never to end. 

    Unfortunately, nowadays, the majority of people would rather spend their days inside with the air conditioning blasting on high. If you’re not a parent, you might have your own plans on how to spend your summer days, and that’s ok, but for those of us with children…

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    Let’s just say it’s not the most spontaneous thing watching your kids spend the whole day watching TV and playing video games till their minds grow numb. 

    No matter how busy you are (parent or not), here are just a few activities to help you kick off the summer and keep you hustling.

    Go on a hike

    Why not, right? The weather is perfect for this particular activity, and your friends have been begging you to spare a day and join them on some new trail they discovered! 

    Fortunately, this is a beautiful family activity, as well. 

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    Even if you’re a fitness enthusiast, nature will always have the upper hand when it comes to getting a workout in. The best part (for me at least), you can include your dog. Not only that, but hiking requires little to no equipment! It’s an excellent experience for the little ones, the sights you’ll see are remarkable, and getting to be all around that greenery and fresh air is stimulating and very rejuvenating! 

    Set up a camping trip

    I remember as a child; I never had to think about planning a camping trip, because hello, ‘that’s what mom was for. 

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    But now, being a mom myself, I had to learn how to do all that myself. 

    First, acknowledge that camping is possibly the best thing in the whole world. You get away from whatever life ‘you’ve got going on; you get to spend quality time with your family and friends, you uncover new things such as fishing, setting up a tent, and even building a fire. If that’s not enough, you will also get your daily dose of Vitamin D, peace of mind, the sounds of nature, and of course, the second-best possible thing in the world…S’mores. 

    For more information on setting up your very own camping trip, click here.

    Spend the night at the beach

    By night, I do mean: get there in time to watch the sunset and the sky fill with orange, red, violet hues and gaze in awe at the jaw-dropping beauty that is our planet. 

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    If you thought meditation was good for the soul, try stargazing at a beach in the middle of the night. The sound of the waves coming and going, the crisp night air filling your lungs, and the smell of the ocean decluttering your mind. This is one of those spurs of the moment plans. You can bring a sleeping bag or set up a tent, and that’s it! 

    Visit an Amusement Park

    Growing up in SoCal, this was our thing. Our family would at least hit three amusement parks a week. Despite long lines and the expensive food (we eventually started sneaking in our own), the atmosphere encompassing an amusement park makes you feel giddy all over. If rides aren’t your thing, then that’s fine. You can still join in on the fun because now, several parks offer entertainment, plays/shows, and tours. 

     

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    If it’s too hot for roller coaster rides, then find the nearest water park in your area. Whether you’re going with friends, family, or by yourself, it’s a smart and exhilarating way to cool down.

    Build your very own waterpark

    Yes, you read that right, you can build a waterpark right in your backyard. If you’re looking to save money, invent something new, and be in the comfort of your own home, then this is the activity for you. The best part about this activity is that you can have your little helpers give you a hand so they can keep busy, as well. It’s all part of the fun experience before setting everything up and enjoying the ride. 

    If you need help getting started, click here.

    Learn something new

    I get it. School’s over, and we want to have fun only. I don’t mean to be that person-especially since it’s summer- but learning something new is fun. 

     

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    You don’t even have to sign up for a class or get up early or make it feel like a responsibility. Learning something new could be as simple as perfecting a recipe or as complicated as learning a new language. 

    Granted, you will not learn a new language in 3 months, but getting started is what counts.

    Seriously, it could be anything! Two summers ago, I learned how to rollerblade, and now I practice it religiously. My point being, you never know what your next addiction could be, so why not?

    For a list of fascinating and inspiring things to learn this summer, head on over here

  • DIY Activities for Kids This Summer

    DIY Activities for Kids This Summer

    It is finally summertime, my good folks, and temperatures this year have been record-breaking. It is hot, humid, and sticky! 

    Before giving birth to the most amazing kids in the world, my usual summer plans would be me in a bathing suit, stretched out in the backyard, getting a tan. 

    Now…well, now it’s just more fun (and noisier…and messier). Still, I wouldn’t change it for the world! 

    As if the rest of the year wasn’t hard enough for your typical stay at home parent, now the kids are on summer vacation.  So the little ones don’t get fussy, you need an idea on how to keep them busy, relaxed, and cool. 

    Well, have no fear, we’ve got the perfect compilation of easy DIY summer activities that will have you releasing your inner kid, too!

    Ice Block Treasure Hunt

    You think Summer; you’re going to think about large bodies of water (pools, lakes, beaches, etc.). But staying home and putting together these affordable and simple activities will be less of a headache and you will be in the comfort of your own home!

    For this activity, you will need a large container, children’s small toys (animals, shovels, bouncy balls), water, and a parent’s supervision since your child will be using heavy-duty tools. 

    The idea is to place all the toys in the bin, cover them with water, and freeze them overnight! Have someone help you turn the bin upside down the next day, and that’s it! 

    The Krazy Koupon Lady 

    Have your child wear safety goggles as they chip away on the ice with a small hammer to rediscover their toys! They can also use room temperature water over the ice to help it melt faster. 

    Another version of this activity is using a small container and freezing the toys in layers of ice. Click here to watch the super simple video! 

    Washing Farm Animal Sensory Bin

    Yes, another activity with a bin, because they are genuinely life-saving equipment when you’re a parent! Not only is this a great summer activity for your toddler and kids, but it’s an excellent activity for any time of the year. Its simplicity makes it a recurring favorite in our home. 

    Coffee Cups and Crayons

    All you need is a bin, dirt, dish soap, water, small farm animal, washcloths (brushes, sponges, etc.). Happy cleaning!

    Bubble Trucks (Bubble Foam!)

    Ok, if you don’t play with this foam more than your kids, get back to me!

    Will you need a bin or any other type of large container? Uhm, yes. 

    Let’s just get this out of the way right now. If you don’t own any large bins or containers and you are a parent, then you need to haul your butt to the container store right now and get to purchasing! 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Busy Toddler

    Bubble bath/ body wash, water, food coloring (optional), toy trucks, or any other types of vehicles (preferably small). 

    That’s it. Boom. Life changed. 

    Rainbow Ice Cube Painting/ Frozen Popsicle Chalk 

    For ice cube painting, you will need two ingredients: liquid watercolors and water. You fill your ice cube tray with ⅔ water and ⅓ paint and stir! The activity doesn’t call for it, but you can place foil over the ice cube tray and place popsicle sticks so it would be easier to hold when frozen. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Things to Share and Remember

    The frozen popsicles hold the same idea but use tempera paint and cornstarch for the recipe. Read more about the activity here

    Water Balloon Pinata/Water Balloon Volleyball 

    C’mon, you know this heat is just going to get worse, so why not tie up balloons filled with water, blindfold your kid, hand them a foam bat, and get to swinging! 

    Fireflies and Mudpies 

    If you want something a little more competitive, then grab some towels! Water balloon volleyball is a fantastic group summer activity where kids have to work together to get the water balloon from their sheet, over the net, and without popping it! 

    Toddler Fishing

    This one is for all my toddlers out there. They can’t do anything serious yet, so sitting in a pool of water is pretty much is as exciting as it gets. Please do not leave your child unattended while they are still in the pool. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I Can Teach My Child

    The idea is to fill your kiddie pool with water, dump a few bath (or any water) animals in there, and set them in. Give them a small net to attempt to catch the animals in the water. This is a great way to strengthen their fine motor skills, as well. 

    Spray Bottle Silhouette Art 

    Alright, so something that doesn’t have to do with water. You will need adult supervision with this activity because it does involve a spray bottle, and you don’t want your kid spraying the walls with paint. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    My Sister’s Suitcase

    The process is relatively simple and will result in a beautiful art piece that you could eventually frame. 

    Rainbow Spaghetti Sensory Activity

     Another great sensory activity for toddlers (and older kids as well!). 


    Little Learning Club

    All you need is spaghetti and food coloring. This is one of those activities that you can prep before the kids wake up on a busy day, and not worry about it for the rest of the day.