When kids get out of school parents always try to find ways to keep them entertained. This process can get expensive with so many electronic toys and expensive summer and day camps. All seven of the ideas below can be found for under $5 and most can be bought for only $1 at dollar stores and big box retailers. By getting at these seven items for each child you are entertaining during those summer days, you can move the fun outside in the sun and get creative. There are suggestions with each item for games and contests that kids can have with each of these inexpensive summer toys.
1. Sidewalk chalk. This can lead to endless entertainment and even be used to promote retention of things learned during the school year. Kids can have a hopscotch tournament, write their ABC’s, and work math problems on the sidewalk or drive way.
2. Hula Hoop. Kids can have hula hoop contests or the hoops can be used as targets with some of the other items on the list.
3. Bouncy ball. These are the inexpensive rubber balls that come in different sizes, usually about the size of a soccer ball or the huge oversize version. You can have kids play dodge ball with these since they are soft. You can also pair these with the Hula Hoops to play your own version of basketball.
4. Water Balloons. You can have water balloon wars, play water balloon tag, or use the hula hoops to make “Safe Zones” where kids can jump in the hoop to avoid being hit with a water balloon.
5. Bubbles. You can either buy bubbles or make your own and the options are endless. Instead of just blowing bubbles you can have a contest to see who can blow the biggest or longest lasting bubble, play bubble tag where you try not to have a bubble pop on you, or fill a wading pool with homemade bubble solution and use the hula hoop as a giant bubble maker.
6. Jump Rope. This can be used to give kids a way to burn off extra energy. Kids can have jumping contests to see who is able to keep going the longest or try to beat their personal best records each day. Kids can also practice learning double dutch or tie the jump rope off to make a limbo game.
7. Kites. This would be a great take along for a day in the park. Kids can have a contest to see who can keep their kite flying the longest or who can go the highest.
These are just a few ideas to get the summer fun started. Kids will always want variety but by introducing different games with each item they are less likely to get bored of them as quickly. Each item alone is also inexpensive enough that you can buy several to have on hand so when other activities may not be available on a certain day, there are never the long boring days. You can also take lots of pictures with the kids so they can look back and remember how much fun they had doing these simple activities.
