As I mentioned in a previous blog, you don’t have to fly to Disney or rent an expensive RV and hit the road on a two-week vay-cay to make lasting summer memories with your kids. If the struggling economy has you scaling back on your summer vacation plans, then consider sticking closer to home and bonding with your children while taking part in the following activities:
Berry Picking
Strawberry picking is a summertime tradition in our family. Each June, we drive to a nearby farm and pick pounds and pounds of fresh, juicy berries. The family-friendly activity is geared towards kids of all ages. Hand out some plastic pails to younger kids and let them get in on the action. When my daughter was a preschooler she would work on her counting skills while adding berries to her bucket. Though, in her case, more strawberries ended up in her mouth than the container. Don’t forget sunscreen, comfortable shoes and a hat.
Homemade Sand and Water Table
Forget about forking over hundreds of dollars for a fancy store-bought sand and water activity table for kids. Rather, you can create your own backyard beach by recycling two long, flat, plastic storage containers that are designed to slide under a bed. Fill one with water and the other with sand. Then, let your kids have a ball with strainers, spoons, sifters, measuring cups and other sand toys. To spice up the water side, add a few drops of food coloring and have kids swish them around to make rainbow waves.
Sand Art
Take some of the sand from your homemade sand and water table or scoop up a few bags worth the next time you are at the beach and make some colorful sand art. All you have to do is separate sand into Ziploc bags and add a few drops of food coloring. Next, seal the bags and shake, pressing your fingers to the outside of the bag to ensure the sand is thoroughly colored. When the sand is evenly colored, pour it onto newspaper to dry. Once the sand is dry your child can make colorful sand sculptures or use it to embellish drawings.
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