If you think you just might at any point this summer need something to break up the routine, then this post is for you. If you know us, you know that Kate and I are not about complicated labor intensive structured kid activities. But we do really love quick and easy stuff that just might lend you a few extra minutes to sit and drink a dirty diet Coke while your kids engage in something other than otter pops consumption. Here’s 10 of our very favorites!
Short Cut Tie Dye: Last summer I made the mistake of trying real tie dying and I quickly realized that tie dying as a kid is much different than tie dying as the parental supervisor. This short-cut version is the lazy mom’s tie-die (or maybe the brilliant mom’s?) Grab some old t-shirts, some rubber gloves, and head out to the lawn.
2-Ingredient Silky Playdough: I had never heard of this combo before Kate posted it a while back and it’s our new favorite. Use a cheap coconut-scented conditioner and I guarantee you’ll find yourself stress-relieving with it long after the kids are done playing.
Glowing Photo Luminaries: All you need is a glass hurricane or old jar to make a personalized night-light. Let the kids make funny faces and snap some pictures to use on these fun light-up decorations. My kids love having these on as they fall asleep (we just use a battery-powered light inside.)
DIY Slime: I’m a mom to 4 boys so I always perk up with words like “slime”. Yes it contains Borax. No you do not need to link articles telling me I’m a bad Mom for using soap in our science experiments. No you should not eat it nor let your kids eat it. It’s just a fun experiment and it results in gooey fun slime! I made this as a kid, all 3 of my older boys have made it with their teachers at school, and we make it at home. We love our slime.
DIY Lava Lamp Jars: You might even have everything you need for these in your cupboards right now! This is a great one for out on the patio or lawn. Let them go crazy and make a mess and then just toss everything in the garbage 🙂
Microwave Soap Cloud: This is the absolute most popular kid activity post on our blog. It takes just minutes, but it’s a crazy fun experiment and I’m sure you could turn it into some sort of science lesson if you’re into that sort of thing.
DIY Lip Gloss: If you have little girls, they’ll especially love this fun craft. Let them design their own labels, pick their flavors, and share with their friends.
Easy DIY Mason Jar Lanterns: One of my favorite things about summer are the summer nights, and nothing makes summer nights more magical than little glowing lights. The kiddos will be amazed when they see their project light up.
Edible Peanut Butter Playdough: Looking at this post makes my heart swell. That’s my oldest son who’s 9 1/2 now! We’re still making this fun playdough on occasion and my kids miiiight spend more time eating it than playing with it, but whatever.
Forward this to your favorite Momma and do yourself a favor and pin this post (just hover over the image and the Pin button will pop up!) and when you’re about to crazy this summer (you know it will happen at some point) pull out this little bag of tricks and make that dirty Diet Coke.
