GRAND WATER WORKS

A really hot day can call for desperate measures, even when we’ve waited so long for summer fun. Here are a few no cost, all fun, ways to still enjoy a steamy summer day.

PAINT THE DECK OR DRIVEWAY

You could use old paint brushes for detail painting like letters or pictures, but paint rollers and pans of cold water have entertained my Grands to no end! The “painted” surface really looks like they’ve made their mark, and is ready for more “work” when it dries. “You missed a spot!”

WASH THE CAR

Grandma’s car always needs some attention in this department! We were short a bucket, and just added soap and water to our plastic snow sled to tow around the car and get every spot. We just used microfiber rags and an old toothbrush for chrome work – no special equipment necessary!

FROZEN DINOSAUR EGGS

You could use any kind of small trinket that you can fit in the neck of a balloon really. And we have had a lot of laughter at Grandma losing control of a balloon in the filling. You’ll want to plan ahead to get them solid, and then use the frozen eggs to cool down a kiddie pool or bath tub. The treasure is in the melting!

TRUCK WASH

There are always toy trucks around that you can pretend need some cleaning. Saddle the kids up to the sink, or put a plastic bin of soapy water out on the deck, driveway, or grass, scrubby tools (even a tooth brush), turkey baster and even eye dropper, and a towel for drying off.

WATER BEADS

Ok, a packet of these costs $2.50 at Michael’s, and you’ll want a head start on soaking (though it is amazing to see that two tablespoons of tiny dry beads will expand in a few hours to fill an ice cream bucket). They feel all cool, wet, and slimy and fun to play with. We put them in a cake pan with construction vehicles and small cups for filling and pouring. So far they have stayed hydrated for several weeks in the ice cream bucket. Mixing colors is fun but not necessary.

FREEZE POPS

Order Freeze-pop ZipLocks and make your own fab freeze pops. Check out our blog post with recipes and ordering link!

SUPER SOAKER SPONGE

I’m not a fan of water balloons, both because of the pieces left behind and the target mentality, but super soaker sponges seem a little gentler in intent, and have the same cool down effect. Cut cheap sponges into strips, tie then together in the middle, soak up some cool water, and try to pitch and catch. (you can also use them to wash Grandma’s car)

COOL-DOWN SPONGE NECKLACE

We used a bunch of colorful sponges from the dollar store, plastic beading “string” from Michael’s, scissors for cutting sponges into strips, and an awl helped to punch a hole for threading (Grandma did the cutting and punching). The kids had fun with patterns and colors and threading. Soaked in cool water, these can keep you cool on a hot day! And, once you start cutting colorful shapes, other things get created with them!

ALPHABET SOUP

Put all those plastic letters from the fridge (or foam letters from the dollar store, or both!) into a pot of cold water. Try cups, ladles, and spoons for retrieving for letter identification and simple word building.

GLOW STICKS BATH

It is kinda fun to take a bath at an odd time of day, and many bathrooms have no windows or can be darkened enough with window shades. Fill the tub with their usual bubbles, but use glow stick rings (often in the $1 section at Target) for magical fun – long enough for pruney fingers!

SINGING IN THE RAIN

Summer can bring a string of rainy days but don’t let it detain you from summer fun! The littles are downright gleeful about playing in the rain with rubber boots or even barefoot. Add an umbrella to the fun. We found the kids loved going to the beach on a drizzly vacation day this summer, even when the adults were in rain ponchos!