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Summer is a wonderful season for spending time together as a family. It can also bring some of the hottest weather, and unless you have access to a pool or live near the beach, staying cool in the heat can be a challenge. Our area even restricts the days you can turn on the sprinklers and use the hose. Here are 18 ways you and your kids can beat the heat.
1. Freeze a large bed sheet and take it outside for picnic; perfect for really hot days or those without air conditioning.
2. Freeze grapes on skewers. See how Marie of Make and Takes did it.
3. Freeze your favorite cookies and crumble them over ice cream for something a little different.
4. Freeze tubes of flavored yogurt. Cut them in half for little mouths to eat.
5. Freeze banana halves and smother in melted chocolate. See Craftzine for details.
6. Freeze toys into a block of ice and let kids use a hammer to get the toys out.
7. Make frozen strawberry lemonade popsicles by blending frozen strawberries and lemonade together and freezing it in popsicle molds or Dixie cups.
8. Purchase empty spray bottles and fill with ice and cold water. Let the kids loose outside for some fun.
9. Make sidewalk stencils out of empty cereal boxes. Kids can use the spray bottles (above) filled with water to spray the stencils on the ground to make interesting designs.
10. Water, soap and a bucket are all some kids need to have a good time. Let them “wash” everything from the wagon and bikes to toy cars and Lego duplo blocks.
11. Wet sponges can provide endless fun. They’re cheap, easily available and hold a lot of water.
12. Play “sponge golf” (idea via American Girl Magazine) You’ll need a bucket, water and sponges. Place a bucket at one end of the yard. See if you can throw a water soaked sponge in the bucket.
13. Cut up several sponges to make these super fun water-soaked toys made by Make and Takes.
14. If you are a little handy, make your own water table to go along with the sponges. Instructions from The Inspiration Thief.
(I know staying indoors seems like the opposite of what you should do in the summer, but sometimes it’s your only option.)
15. If you have an indoor mall in your area, these can be a great place to cool off. Often, malls have free play spaces for kids. Just be sure to bring along some hand sanitizer.
16. See a matinee movie. This is a classic way to stay cool.
17. Nestled in urban and suburban areas are indoor play areas like Pump It Up™, Kidsville™, and Going Bonkers™. These are great places for kids to play in a cool, indoor and safe environment while parents get a little break.
18. How are you beating the heat this summer?
Photo: Mamaloco Creative Commons, 2.0