8 Fun Things To Do With the Kiddos (When the Heat Keeps You Inside)

 

I don’t know what the weather’s like where you live, but we’ve had some hot ones! And to top it off my car doesn’t have air conditioner! And neither does The Muffin’s! 

I really need to get a handle on my use of exclamation points! Sorry. Couldn’t help myself. 

Our city really has some wonderful parks, but during the hottest summer months a day at the park becomes quite unbearable (let alone dangerous). And we happen to live in an apartment building. So me shooing Josiah out the back door every evening to blow off some steam isn’t an option. 

Now my idea of beating the heat involves a fan blowing right in my face, a good book and my feet propped up. I can’t see my 11-year-old boy deciding that’s the way to go, do you? 

In honor of our hot days and my Busy Boy (with the help of a few cousins) here are 8 indoor activities to “Beat the Heat.” Minus Josiah's favorite Lord of the Rings Lego game.

The Good ‘Ole Christmastime!

Bring out your favorite Christmas movies, make this easy recipe for frozen hot chocolate and celebrate the season!  If you are really ambitious you could start a few handmade Christmas projects. I think you will be thanking yourself in November.

Josiah made his own tornado using water, sea shells and a jar.

Mad Science Day

I really didn’t think of this one. Josiah did. He came running into my bedroom this afternoon. There was a science experiment he had found in a book we had checked out at the library. He decided that today would be a perfect day to try out it and a few others that had caught his fancy. There are tons of great experiments that take just a few household ingredients…I found a few fun ones and pinned them to my Mad Science Pinterest Board.  Gather up some supplies and experiment! You might even decide to host an impromptu science fair.

Movie-a-Thon

So I’m sure you’ve thought of this one. Make a list of a series of movies or (maybe some of your favorites from childhood, make a few fun flavors of popcorn, pull down the shades and there you go!  One of our favorite things is having movie marathons (along with their prequels, sequels and distant cousins) of a certain theme. Here is a list I made up of some old movies to add to our Movie Night rotation. 

Making Christmas Fudge!

Master Chef

So you know that this next idea is one that is near and dear to my heart. Plan a Cooking School.  Worried about heating up the kitchen?  Instead of “Cupcake Wars” host a “Popsicle Wars.” This site has some yummy ideas for unique popsicles. Gather a few ingredients together and have the troops make their own distinctive concoctions.

Somebody Clap Me!

Eenie Meanie Sassaleeny,
Opps ah tumbalini,
Achi cachi Liberace,
I love you,
Take a peach,
Take a plum,
Take a stick of bubble gum…

Anybody else spend their recesses with their BFF playing this clapping game? Or h how about Mary Mack, Mack Mack (all Dressed in Black).

Spend some time learning some of these fun clapping or jive games. This site gives a list of games along with videos. While you’re at it play a little Bear Hunt and do a few rounds of “Once an Austrian Went Yodeling.”  

Josiah and Cousin Maddie made puppets. These guys were $1 at Joanna's Crafts.

Lights! Camera! Action!

Make your own movie! This is a current project for Josiah. We are using my little camera that takes stills as well as video. I have the free Windows movie maker on stand-by and read to go. I’m not sure what the final product will be, but I will share once Josiah completes his masterpiece.  Puppet Shows are also a fun way to go. Make your own puppets, write your own scripts…good times. You can find more “Dramatical” ideas on my pinterest board. 

If You Build It…

Short of cash and long on creativity? Try your hand at creating out of cardboard. A lot of fun can had with a simple cardboard box. I have made a Pinterest Board just for the occasion. I am so inspired and can't wait to try one of these projects all on our own. I'm thinking about replacing the living room furniture, no? :<)

Don’t Look In A Book (Make your own!)

I know it sounds as if I have just committed Homeschooling  Blaspheme. One of my personal hobbies is Book Making. I think you will find that it is not as difficult as one might think. Also, there are so many variations on a handmade book. They can really be a special project.

This site has all sorts of wonderful tutorials for booking making. It’s called Making Books. I’ve used several projects. 

Your books do not have to be complicated. I have made many with Josiah. I love, love this idea for making a book from a stick.

Some of my most favorite things to do have been to make altered books. Josiah and I made this beautiful ocean book several years ago from an old book we found at the Thrift Store for .25. It is still one of my favorite projects.

I used scrapbook paper, odds and ends of "stuff" (you can see the puzzle pieces), some free lapbooking components I had found, an old book about ocean life (I cut up) and some of Josiah's artwork.

 

I guarantee you will find book making a pleasurable way to spend an afternoon inside.

Good Ole Fashioned Conversation
Turn everything off (except for maybe that fan), pour out some lemonade, gather everyone around and just visit. What a novel idea! In our crazy/all entertainment-all the time world the art of "conversation" has been somewhat lost. Some of the nicest times I've had has been just sitting on the couch with my boys...talking. It's not a novel or a new idea, but I think it's a pretty great one.

   

 So I hope I've given you an idea or two. I am linking up to the TOS Crew Blog Hop "Beating the Summer Heat." I look forward to reading what everyone else has to talk about. 

Stay Camp (or something like it)

So we are inching into summer. I say inching because we had snow at the beginning of May and our first few days of June were pretty chilly. It seems as if the seasons are lagging just a bit behind this year. Kinda like me :<)

As we prepare for summer, I am making a list of some of our usual summer haunts (the fountain park, the park that has the free concerts, the botanical gardens....all free). In this season of life  "Free" (or almost free) is about all we can swing. Trust me. We could use a good weekend away to a location where nobody knows our name...with a hotel stay and the whole bit, but it's just not happening right now.

The "Staycation" has become quite popular in the past few years. We aren't the only folks in the country that has to watch every penny.

Instead of focusing on my favorite ideas for a "Staycation," I want to add a twist to the whole "adventure at home" phenomenon. A few years ago, I was bemoaning the fact that Josiah wasn't going to get to have a "camp" experience. Some of my best memories from childhood are from summer camp. And while he certainly gets to have plenty of adventures (we're homeschoolers...we make our own fun), I wanted to provide him (and a few others) with a good ole summer camp experience. Thus....Cousin Camp was born. For this particular post, I am going to refer to it as "Stay Camp." We aren't talking about Camping here...we are talking about a whole "Summer Camp" wonderland.

I want to give you a few ideas about how we go about it and what's involved. You can take any of my ideas an adapt them. If you want to read more about our Cousin Camp adventures, you can check out my posts labeled "cousin camp." (obviously ;<)

Josiah and cousin Maddie pose with the corn they just shucked. Who knew shucking corn would be such a hit?

In this case I chose to create a Cousin Camp. Josiah's cousins from my side of the family are closer in age. Plus, I knew that I could utilize my parents and their farm. It has now become the adventure of the year. I am planning also to have a little day camp a few days this summer with some local friends. It obviously won't be as complicated, but it will still be lots of fun! At least we're hoping it's fun :<) Think about friends who might need adventure or cousins that you might not get to see all the time.

Cooking School - Making Biscuits. Flour, Flour Everywhere!

As I mentioned above, I get to hold Cousin Camp at my parent's farm. They live just a little over an hour from me (way out in the country). They have been so excited to host the event and have really gotten  into the spirit of the whole thing. We choose to do camp from Monday-Friday. Because we are spread out over two states this gives opportunity for the kids' parents to get them to the farm and pick them up. You might be only able to create an overnight camp or weekend camp. I guarantee you it will be a hit! I will warn you. You might need to have your own private camp after it's all over. We're talking in the bed with chocolate and a book kind of camp.

Water Balloon fight on Water Day. This year's Water Day is going to involve boat races across the pond. I've also wised up. I'm going to buy lots of spray bottles at the dollar store. If they can fill their own spray bottles to get each other wet it will save us from having to fill a million water balloons.

I am a theme creator from way back. I can blame it on my time as a preschool and kindergarten teacher. I think in themes. Sometimes I get a little carried away, but it makes planning a lot easier. Our first camp was called "Down on the Farm." We used a farm theme (obviously) and did a lot of old fashioned things. Last year's theme was "Into the Wild." We used a jungle theme and culminated  the whole week by having a Survivor type challenge. This year our theme is "The Dig." We are doing a mining theme. Our activities are going to range from panning for gold to a treasure hunt using a metal detector. Think about things you might already have available to you and go from there. If you are stumped for themes check out a few preschool or early childhood sites to get some inspiration. This year's theme came about because my Dad was doing some work on their place and found the foundation to an old house. Are you kidding? What kind of treasures could be buried there? Then we have a friend who is a hobby geologist. He brought over all kinds of semi-precious stones. It grew from there.

This year the campers created their own instruments out of gourds. The gourds were in the barn just waiting for a creative touch.

We mix up our activities. If I had my druthers we would spend our time cooking, painting each other's fingernails and reading under the shade tree. But this is not my camp. Think about some things you know how to do already. Think about some things that you would like for the kids to experience. Here is a basic list of things we do. 

Making a cake during Cooking School. No cake mix allowed!

Cooking School (One of my favs)

Big Contest (this is some sort of boys/girls competition they do daily...last year they gathered rocks to put in the greenhouse. It was a big hit)

Scavenger Hunt!

Outdoor Adventures (This year we are having Cousin Camp Olympics, Panning for Gold, Treasure Hunt, Water Day, constructing a windmill and more...)

Our T-shirt project from last year. We were brave and used bleach.

Arts and Crafts (don't get carried away. Think about the ages you have and what you have We always decorate t-shirts that I find at the thrift store as one of our projects)

Pickin' and Grinnin'

Nighttime Fun (we always make smores a couple of nights, make music and light sparklers and play dominoes) This year we are also going to have a night we go stargazing)

You can see that those are pretty broad categories. It gives me lots of wiggle room.

Good planning is the most important part to guaranteeing a successful Stay Camp. I plan for a few months in advance (though the very first one I threw together in a few weeks). I make up a schedule. Everything from morning chores to brushing teeth to Cooking School is planned. Some of the activities are more ambitious than others. Here are a few things to consider when planning your own Stay Camp.

Our Camp Headquarters for "Down on the Farm." The kids help me decorate the board.

A lunch Bento Box. I used leftovers. Yum!

• I choose a camper or campers of the day. This individual is responsible for helping with dinner prep or basic "gopher" chores. They also feed the animals (pets inside the house). It is a big honor. I will tell you that generally the girls are more enthusiastic about being a camper of the day than the boys.

Weaving for Arts and Crafts

• Plan your meals down to your snacks. Make it easy for yourself. My mom and I set out a "Breakfast Bar" every morning. We set out yogurt, fruit, granola bars, packets of instant oatmeal, mini-muffins, etc. For lunch I create "Bento Boxes." They are simply containers that have different compartments for food. I use leftovers from the night before or other food items. This helps with clean up and the kids generally are excited to open their "boxes." I already have fruit snacks and squeezable applesauce I found at a markdown grocery store ready this year. We also have a tea time before our quiet/free time every afternoon. This helps with the afternoon munchies. 

Tea Time! Very fancy!

• We purchase new water bottles every year. I personalize them with a paint pen and everyone is responsible for keeping themselves hydrated. 

Another Day. Another Tea Time. This time we had fresh squeezed lemonade they made.

• We also make or purchase small first aid kits. The kids keep them with their bags. We do a simple first aid demonstration at the beginning of the week. Most injuries on the farm are simple scratches from a bush or rock. 

Camp Headquarters from Last Year.

• I make a big board that I update every day. It has camp rules, camper of the day, schedule, menu, etc The kids can refer to it. It eliminates a lot of "What's for supper?" 

Just Dance!

• I plan a Quiet/Free time everyday. It gives everybody a little down time. I always have things available for this time. Puzzles, board games, video games (with a set time) and movies. I also make sure I get a little nap. I have my priorities :<)

It's not camp unless there are Smores!

• We always make a list of the things the kiddos need to bring. I get pretty specific. Don't send your best dress to play in the field. The chances of an unhappy accident involving cow poo are likely.

Marbles during Free Time

I'll try and keep you updated with how this year's Cousin Camp adventure is progressing. I'm knee deep in my planning and searching for supplies right now. But for now..You can check out my Pinterest Boards I've created just for Cousin Camp. This is the one I created while planning last year's camp. Here are this year's inspirations.

I am linking this post up to the Summer Staycation TOS Crew Blog Hop!

A Hoosier Vaycay - Part 2 (or Troy Twirls)

Because I know you, my dear readers, wait in delicious anticipation for my latest postings I did not procrastinate in getting these pictures out into the blogosphere. Two posts in one night? There must be something I am putting off doing. And that would be unpacking from our Vacation. In my head I am still there in my Mother-in-law's living room watching a girlie movie eating a piece of chocolate cream pie.  My mother-in-law does my laundry and feeds me chocolate pie. Heavenly. Not to mention that the weather in Indiana wasn't as hot and sticky as it is here in Missouri.

In my last First Vaycay post I alluded to the fact that The Studly Muffin had joined a High School Marching Band. He sure did. And he was a member of the Color Guard at that!! Actually, our niece Megan is on the Color Guard team and we went to her first family night of the marching season. The kids got to teach a family member part of their marching routine. It was fun. It was classic. I will never erase these pictures from my camera.

 And now. Without commentary. Troy Teague Takes Up Twirling.

I am giggling right now. I can't help it. Real Men Twirl. You see now why I married him. I love this man with every molecule of my being. He is pretty special.

They were almost done twirling when I saw that Troy's tall gorgeous sis, Sacha, had joined the gang. She was filling in as a "parent" for a girl whose parents weren't there.

Sacha is much younger than Troy, but they have always been close. She has a degree in Criminal Justice (which is really helpful when you are watching one of those Law & Order shows...she can give you the inside scoop). I plan on using her expertise during my next entanglement with the law. Hey. It could happen. She currently getting her Masters in Public Mangement. I think the Public needs her.

So on our last night in Indiana we went over to Sacha and John's house and watched a movie. Keaton did homework. He was doing Pre-Algebra review. It was a group effort. I realized how much I have forgotten since College Algebra. And no. I really don't use it in real life.

Megan showed off her hat she got on Vacation in the Smokey Mountains earlier in the summer. It says "All My Friends I Got On Facebook."

Josiah tried it on.

We watched Tangled. It was a pretty cute movie. I kept thinking. "How does she wash all that hair? Since it magic does it clean itself? Doesn't her head hurt?"

Keaton finished homework.

Troy and his Momma.

Josiah and PaPaw. Josiah is PaPaw's Shadow. You won't see one without the other very often we visit.

I realized when I was going through my pictures I took that I didn't get any of Troy's brother Chris, who also lives in Kokomo and his kids. Josiah got to spend a little time with his two littlest cousins, Bailey and Trace. They are as cute as they can be.

So soon it was time to pack our bags and head home. This was breakfast just outside of Indianapolis. They don't have White Castle where we live.  Boy. White Castle sounds good. Anybody up for a 4 hour White Castle run? I think the closest one to us is outside St. Louis.

And hours later we were back in Missouri. We still had a little bit of a drive, but at least home was in site. So was the heat. The lovely Indiana weather didn't follow us back home. Sigh. It's been a long dry summer.

We've only been home a couple of days and I'm already trying to think of ways I can send my laundry to my Mom-in-law Sharron every week. And does Chocolate Cream Pie mail well?