What kind of fun and wild things do you do with your children in your own backyard?

Question

I have a nice backyard and a lot of time on my hands this summer. What kind of fun things do you do with your kids? I have an 18 month boy, 3 1/2 year old girl, and a 6 year old girl. I am looking for educational and or fun. Thanks

Answer 1

BIRDS....first get a good picture book for birds common to your area....go online with the kids and look up what they like to eat and info on birdhouses. Build some birdhouses, or buy some unfinished wood ones and have a day of painting and decorating. Next day you chose where to hang the bird houses. Same thing with bird feeders...make, paint, decorate, hang. Then start watching, especially in the mornings and late afternoon when the temp lowers a little bit, what types of birds do you see, whose house are they building a nest in, are there any other places that you see nests...etc etc. etc...

Answer 2

Try getting a little pool for the backyard, or a sprinkler. Maybe a sandbox to play in. Make some different activity centers. Bubbles are always fun, a swing set, maybe one of those jungle gyms for the kids. Or if your really into things you guys can make a tree house or club house together. Go on craigslist and find free materials from wood to carpet and etc. Be creative.

Answer 3

Sidewalk chalk has ALWAYS been a hit with my kids. I let them color on the patio, driveway, even the house....it all washes off during the first rain. My first two children were 13 months apart. So when my son was an infant, my daughter was 1. She loved to play with stickers! In fact, she loved to put the stickers on her little brother! He didn't seem to mind! Finger paints were also a big hit. They're messy, so I would put some play clothes on them, sit them outside on the driveway, give them the paints and paper and let them "go to town"! (Be sure you have a cameral ready!) The paints wash out VERY EASILY. And the rain washes them away too. We would have "picnics" for lunch somtimes. I would fix what I would normally fix for lunch. But instead of eating at the table or in the living room, I would take it outside on a vinyl mat and we would eat outside. It made lunch last longer and there just seemed to be more to talk about when your outside eating. My kids are now 8, 7 and 3 and they STILL love to have these "picnics". You can purchase a cheap sprinkler for HOT days. I found an old garden sprinkler at a yardsale that moved back and forth. I hooked it up to the garden hose and set it in the yard and the kids ran through it for hours when it was HOT. You really don't use too much water with these either, since only a little water is coming out at a time. And you don't have to worry about drowning since there is not pool. My kids also like to make "soup". I would give them an old pot (bought at a yardsale) and they would go through the yard and pick out stuff to make the "soup". They especially liked to play this when I had planted a garden. They'd use some of the veggies that had fallen off the plants. They really thought they were doing something! I'm sure there are more ideas, but I'm starting to draw a blank.

Answer 4

Well right now my son is starting to be really interested in bugs. I find him catepillars and he is so fasinated. He loves throwing toys to my dogs and having them return it to him. Chalk and the sandbox keep him busy too. We go to the park on a regular basis which he loves and it tireds him out for his nap. Nothing too wild because he's only 2 and I'm pregnant.



I forgot one more thing, we are going to try the hose and baby pool soon when it gets hot enough. Try taking your kids to the pool.

Answer 5

You can get a butterfly tent. I believe they sell them at Wal-mart and your girls would love it. They will learn the life cycle of the butterfly and actually get to see them once they come out of their coccon. Have picnics, play kick ball with the older 2, get the sprinkler out and let them run around.

Answer 6

go to target or toys r us and look in the sporting section for the "fun roller." its like a kid sized inflatable hamster wheel!! you get in and walk and roll it across the ground. its soo cool. my 2 and 4 year old love it.



they also love squirt guns and water balloons. you can make anything educational... make water balloons and give each kid a certain number/color.... etc.



http://www.target.com/Small-World-Toys-Fun-Roller/dp/B0009I7GSM/601-1319964-7097709?ie=UTF8&index=target&rh=k%3Afun%20roller&page=1

Answer 7

We make stepping stones from kits, we collect flowers to put into her flower press kit, swing set, swimming in the pool, gardening (vegetable and garden)...

Answer 8

water, bubbles and lawn toys that are safe. ie lawn darts, tick tak toe stepping stones. And lots of sun screen