Fun Summer Activities for Kids

CBS News Analyst, William Shirer, Using Shovel to Make
'Pies' with His Young Daughter in Sandbox
Buy This Allposters.com

One of those summer fun things to do as toddlers is playing in the sand, taking joy in making pies and castles. If you have a backyard or a patio that is big enough, building a sandbox will provide your toddler with lots of fun activities this summer.

To make this fun summer project, you need:

• A weed barrier
• Four boards of the same length
• A cover made out of plastic or other waterproof material

Directions to make your sandbox:

• Nail the four boards together in order to form a square shape
• Staple the weed barrier to the bottom of the foud boards
• Place in a shaded area and add the sand

You'll simply cover the sandbox when your toddler won't be playing with it. As you can see, making a sandbox is an easy project for hours of summer fun activities.

Afternoon Delight I - Buy This Allposters.com

Teaching kids the value of money can be done through kids activities for summertime such as selling lemonade. Running their own lemonade stand will provide them with educational and entertaining things to do this summer!

A real stand isn't absolutely indispensable but a nice yellow lemonade stand especially made for kids will bring more fun to the task. Here's what your kids need to run their new business:

• A lemonade stand or a table
• A sign to advertise the lemonade price
• Some lemonade (and/or other juices)
• Some sweet treats (optional)
• A lemonade jug in which to pour the juice
• Some plastic glasses or paper cups
• Crushed ice
• Coins for the change
• A container to keep the money

The principle of a lemonade stand as summer activity for kids is quite simple:

• Place the lemonade stand on the front yard or another place such as the local park, the beach, etc.
• Choose a place near the lemonade stand where you can sit and read a book so that you can keep an eye on your kids while they're doing those fun summer things
• Lend a hand to the kids whenever they need it
• Take some photos of your kids running their lemonade business

Picnic - Rodko, Konstantin
Buy This Allposters.com

When it comes to fun summer things to do for teenagers, learning responsibility the fun way can be a good one! For example, in exchange of an evening at a local concert, you could ask your teens to bring their younger siblings on a picnic at the local park. Moreover, a great idea would be to gather teens of the neighborhood and ask them to participate into the picnic.

Here are the principal picnic supplies required:

• A portable cooler to preserve the food and keep the drinks cold
• A picnic basket or a large bag that includes plates, plastic cutlery set, plastic glasses or paper cups, paper napkins
• A picnic blanket if the park doesn't provide tables and banks
• An umbrella
• Sandwiches, vegetables, crackers, cheese, hard boiled eggs, ...
• Hand and face wipes
• A garbage bag in case there's no tash can in the park

Children will enjoy playing with their elder brothers or sisters as well as eating outside while the oldest will prove you that you can trust them. You can even join the group and get relaxed while leaving organization and responsibility of the day to your teenagers.

Swope Park, Kansas City
Buy This Allposters.com

Intex 117-by-76-by-53-Inch Rainbow Ring Pool Play Center

Summer fun is all about sun, swimming in the deep blue sea, having a good time at the local water park, visiting some museum, zoo, etc. However, for families with kids, these fun things to do in summertime might be costly and they may find themselves not able to find a new activity to do every day.

This is where backyard fun comes in: children enjoy playing in the sand and both kids and adults like splashing around in the water. As a matter of fact, there's nothing as fun as having a backyard sandbox and a swimming pool.

Pool activity centers especially made for kids provide them with lots of fun summer activities while allow parents to keep a close eye on their children. Family pools make excellent garden accessories and allow the whole family to take place in the water and play some games with special pool toys.

Games to play in team can also be enjoyed in family during summertime. Play in team one child with one parent and let's see who's going to win the game. Here's a very short list of summer sports you can do in the backyard :

• Have a match football, soccer, basketball, volleyball, handball, etc.
• Baseball initiation for your little ones
• Tennis and badminton
• Croquet
• Petanque/bocce or bowling

All these sports can become fun summer backyard activities for the whole family.