Backyard fun ideas?
Since the gas prices are expected to climb even higher, we won't be able to do as much "traveling" as we did last year (the closest pool is 35 miles from here). I'll have to limit "field trips" to two per week (one of which will include swimming) but need some ideas to do in the back yard. Our library is pretty close (less than 2 miles) but they are having budget problems as well and I am not sure how much stuff they will be able to offer this summer. I just placed an order with Oriental Trading for some craft kits to survive rainy days.
School lets out in less than three weeks 
What do you have planned for the summer?
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sprinklers and rain
Running through the sprinklers is always fun. For extra fun that way, you can buy a sprinkler that waves around at random. Also, if you have warm rain like we do here near Dallas, it can be fun to put on bathing suits and go out and play in it. My kids love that!
Lauralyn
206 ideas!
There are 206 summer fun ideas
here
sandbox!!!
Anja, I don't know how old your children are, but DS6 still loves the sandbox. I make up a fresh one each year with a rubbermaid container and a new bag of play sand. I set it up on a Little Tykes table. The lid keeps my naughty cats out of the sand.
Other summer plans include gardening, fishing, mastering the two-wheeler, and just plain hanging out.
Rose
Thank you!!!
Honey, what a terrific link! I printed it out so I can write the ideas on index cards to put them in a jar. Whenever my kids bug me that they are bored, they can pick a card
Lauralyn, did my DD8 pay you to suggest playing in the rain?
She has been bugging me to do this for years!
Rose, I just got a sandbox for DD2. It's actually a water/sand table. Both girls love it but unfortunately, it's really too small for both of them to play in without getting into fights. I didn't want to buy another sand box and didn't think of just using a rubbermaid box! Thanks!
Pen Pals
I was thinking about this same topic! Someone gave me the idea of getting pen pals for the kids. Someone their same age. They can buy or make cards or just plain write. That way even checking the mail is fun.
Thanks for the 206 ideas those are great!
Amee
fun
my DDs had alot of fun...have posted this before ...
take a little pool
doll clothes
dish soap
clothes line or something like one
I let the girls wash their doll clothes...they cooled off and were kept very busy for a longgggg time
JOB JAR
I had something simular to a fun jar,,,a job jar. I wrote down 10 or so jobs that needed to be done [not regular chores] and the girls picked a job every day or whatever. This way things got done and they could not complain as they had 'picked' the job.
mind you this is for older kids [not toddlers] but even a 4 or 5 yr old can sweep or fold towels
this also was good for me because I would say 'we can go out and play after 1 job jar job is done...I love to come into or home to a clean house...very good for the spirits.
I am not all work,,,I know how to have fun
but play is better when 'things' are done 
How about a minature garden or big one for that matter...kids love to get their hands dirty...can be a teaching experience too !!
Hi We have had alot of fun
Hi
We have had alot of fun with backyard scavenger hunts or neighborhood ones with other kids too. If the kids are too young to read,draw pictures of the items on the list instead.
Give each kid a can of shaving cream or whip cream for that matter and send them outside for a "fight"
Water balloons,tug of war,picnics...not sure if I am repeating what was on the link that Honey posted,these are just my ideas.
Oh a prgressive lunch is agood one if you live in an area with other neighbor kids. They eat one course at each kids house prepared by that kid(s)/family and then move on to the next house.
Have Fun! Great topic!
Heidi
Swingset?
If you don't have a swingset, you could buy one! We just got a super-nice metal one for $109. It's got a slide, a two-person lawn swing, two regular swings, and a teeter-totter. Danika plays on it all afternoon.
Can you give your kids a little plot of garden of their own?
I used to love to pretend I was camping in my backyard.
Do you have trees to climb? We used to have tree-based scavenger hunts.
I used to spend hours with a box of photo paper and leaves, sticks, etc., making photo tranfers.
Danna =]
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