Guides for Grownups​

The beautiful summer weather is perfect for outdoor adventures. Here are some fun and inexpensive activities to make every day a great day:

• Plan a hike and explore nature trails near you
• Go for a family bike ride or have your children and their small groups of friends decorate their bikes for a neighbourhood parade
• Set up a simple backyard picnic – our Picnic Set  has everything children need for the perfect picnic and pretend play fun
• If you have a yard, use sprinklers, water balloons, or a small inflatable pool to keep kids entertained and cool with sensory water play
• Visit parks, playgrounds or community pools
• Set up a scavenger hunt – you can theme the hunt around nature, colours, or hidden treasures
• Outdoor activities like arts and crafts allow little artists to get as messy as they please. Try the (E2010) Outdoor Art Easel for portable creative play at their fingertips

When it’s a rainy day or too hot to play outside, there are plenty of indoor activities to keep children engaged. Here are some of our favourites:

• Set up an arts and crafts station with supplies for drawing or painting. Our Art Flower Press Kit combines the best of indoor and outdoor play
• Encourage your children to put on a talent show or play and have them make tickets and props. They get to engage in independent play and you get to watch what they’ve created – win-win!
• Build forts out of sheets and couch cushions – a little imagination can go a long way
• Check your local library or community centre for free children’s events like story time or crafts
• Classic board games and puzzles are a great way to keep children entertained while boosting their problem-solving skills

Summer is a great time for children to explore new interests and skills. Here are a few ideas:

• Teach them simple coding with online games, apps or  Quadrilla Basic Coding Sets
• Show them how to start a small business like a lemonade stand and teach them business basics! Bonus points if you have a play cash register on hand, like our *  Beep ‘n’ Buy Cash Register
• Grow a garden and learn about plants – this can be done whether you have a large yard or a small balcony (check out our blog on creating a garden here)
• Do science experiments with common household items, like making a baking soda and vinegar volcano, creating slime, or growing crystals (easy tutorials can be found online!)
• Check museums and zoos for free or discounted children’s admission days

Schedule themed weeks! Having a schedule and themes can provide structure while allowing for variety. You could do a different theme each week like art week, science week, camping week, or superhero week. Plan special activities, movies, books, and snacks around each theme. You can even let your children help plan their favourite theme week.