Indoor Fun For Kids
Discussing indoor fun for kids
seems kind of odd since traditionally summer is the time to head
outdoors and enjoy the sun with your kids. Right?
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Unfortunately, compared to the outside time we had when we were children, it's been recommended that outdoor activities be limited during peak times of 11 am to 4pm, thanks to the decreased ozone layer and other environmental issues.
This poses a real challenge to parents trying to find activities their children will want to do without the stress of dealing with sun damage.
Here are some fun ideas that will keep your children safe from the sun and still provide the quality time you are looking for.
Kitchen Capers!
Use these peak hours in the kitchen. No, not with the oven on! There are lots of yummy summer snacks which kids will love to make and eat.
Other kitchen cooking ideas include preparing for supper time, getting all the ingredients for a delicious supper into your slowcooker. Include the kids in meal prep and planning, they really will enjoy eating it more, especially if you give them choices, colour and music. Make it fun.
This poses a real challenge to parents trying to find activities their children will want to do without the stress of dealing with sun damage.
Here are some fun ideas that will keep your children safe from the sun and still provide the quality time you are looking for.
Kitchen Capers!
Use these peak hours in the kitchen. No, not with the oven on! There are lots of yummy summer snacks which kids will love to make and eat.
- Fruit smiles which are made out of melons, jello and fruit. So easy, even my 3 year old was able to help mix the jello and add fruit chunks. And fun to eat! (Kraft has many great recipe ideas for kids, you can make ingredient substitutions to add more nutrition as you see fit)
- Summertime Children's Recipes Pack a nutritional punch into your popsicles and smoothies. Take a refreshing break will and have more fun when you're back outside. The kids love the fact that they can make their popsicles themselves too with a little make ahead help.
Other kitchen cooking ideas include preparing for supper time, getting all the ingredients for a delicious supper into your slowcooker. Include the kids in meal prep and planning, they really will enjoy eating it more, especially if you give them choices, colour and music. Make it fun.
Not only does this mean your oven won't need to be on at all for the day, but it also means that supper time will be less stress for you. Plan your meal ahead and make it easy on yourself.
Get Creative!
Kraft also has ideas on how to make a successful lemonade stand for your children.
Get Creative!
Kraft also has ideas on how to make a successful lemonade stand for your children.
Use the time you should be avoiding the sun by working on designing and decorating your stand, shopping for lemonade and accessories and making signs for the neighbourhood. As always, be sure that the children are supervised appropriately during operation.
Use the sun as a crafty starting point for some indoor fun. They can make sun catchers from kits you can purchase for kids or by colouring translucent paper pictures with pencil crayons. Young children can make stained glass windows by sticking tissue paper squares to clear shelf paper. Cover the finished picture with more clear sticky paper and hang on the window. Use tempra (aka washable) paint on the window. Make the black outlines and have the children fill it in to make a more authentic stained glass art!
Explore at home!
Take a virtual trip around the world. There are many online resources that offer information, photos, video and more on the amazing things around the world. You can virtually visit anywhere in the world and step away from your computer knowing you've seen and experienced something new.
Bring the outdoors in, capture a bug or 2 in a jar (with proper ventilation) and create an environment for them with twigs, grass and leaves. Study your new creature carefully. Watch how they behave and move. Look up resources online or in books to find out more about what you have found.
The perfect program!
Use the peak hours of the day to be registered for indoor programs like swimming lessons, book and craft clubs, babysitting training, etc. Check your local recreational programs to see what activities are available for your children.
Do it yourself. Take the kids to the library every day. Make this their special daily activity. With access to the internet, child friendly games, fiction and non-fiction, they have almost limitless possibilities as to what they can learn while at the library.
Have a daily game time. Get a huge jigsaw puzzle, find a long term home for it and spend some time each day working on it together. Teach each other a new card game... there are lots of choices! Check out this website for lots of children's game ideas and rules.
Get out on the town!
The hot time of the day is the perfect time to head out to the mall to get your groceries, your clothes and whatever other shopping you need to get done.
It just takes a little thinking of ideas you can do that will keep your kids out of the sun during the time when it is at its strongest, but with these ideas for indoor fun with kids, you will be able to keep them safe and help them enjoy their summer to the fullest.
Use the sun as a crafty starting point for some indoor fun. They can make sun catchers from kits you can purchase for kids or by colouring translucent paper pictures with pencil crayons. Young children can make stained glass windows by sticking tissue paper squares to clear shelf paper. Cover the finished picture with more clear sticky paper and hang on the window. Use tempra (aka washable) paint on the window. Make the black outlines and have the children fill it in to make a more authentic stained glass art!
Explore at home!
Take a virtual trip around the world. There are many online resources that offer information, photos, video and more on the amazing things around the world. You can virtually visit anywhere in the world and step away from your computer knowing you've seen and experienced something new.
Bring the outdoors in, capture a bug or 2 in a jar (with proper ventilation) and create an environment for them with twigs, grass and leaves. Study your new creature carefully. Watch how they behave and move. Look up resources online or in books to find out more about what you have found.
The perfect program!
Use the peak hours of the day to be registered for indoor programs like swimming lessons, book and craft clubs, babysitting training, etc. Check your local recreational programs to see what activities are available for your children.
Do it yourself. Take the kids to the library every day. Make this their special daily activity. With access to the internet, child friendly games, fiction and non-fiction, they have almost limitless possibilities as to what they can learn while at the library.
Have a daily game time. Get a huge jigsaw puzzle, find a long term home for it and spend some time each day working on it together. Teach each other a new card game... there are lots of choices! Check out this website for lots of children's game ideas and rules.
Get out on the town!
The hot time of the day is the perfect time to head out to the mall to get your groceries, your clothes and whatever other shopping you need to get done.
It just takes a little thinking of ideas you can do that will keep your kids out of the sun during the time when it is at its strongest, but with these ideas for indoor fun with kids, you will be able to keep them safe and help them enjoy their summer to the fullest.
Recommended
Mom Has Fun Parenting! Curiosity based parenting method. No punishment. Free e-class. Learn to set rules and consequences that develop respect naturally... Plus have fun in the process. I own this ebook and it is well worth it. Her parenting foundation is one of maturity and respect - and fun for mom too!
More Resources
Mom Has Fun Parenting! Curiosity based parenting method. No punishment. Free e-class. Learn to set rules and consequences that develop respect naturally... Plus have fun in the process. I own this ebook and it is well worth it. Her parenting foundation is one of maturity and respect - and fun for mom too!
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