Summer Fun For Toddlers

Summer officially begins later this month and with the warmer weather comes some unique opportunities to entertain the little ones outside of the home. If you're a parent of toddlers, you may be looking for some entertainment ideas. Here's what I've come up with to keep my brood of 2 happy and active once the warm weather returns.

1.) Sidewalk chalk - Not only is this stuff fun to draw with, you can also make games with it like hopscotch. Or, you can draw out a track for a bike or toy car, you can practice writing letters, or even work on identifying shapes. The activities depend on the age of your child, but the possibilities are endless. If the day is really hot, you can take out the hose to clean off your canvas, spray the kids down and then have more fun when it dries.

2.) Plants - Plants themselves aren't very fun, but toddlers are great gardeners. Teach them how to pick peas or beans and you'll have entertainment with a purpose. My two love love love to help harvest vegetables, plant seeds and do anything garden-related.

3.) Pools - Just a little kiddie pool or a water table on the back deck can be a lot of fun. You don't need anything huge for fun, and actually in my experience smaller pools work better. They fit on the deck and they are just as much fun for the little ones. I'm thinking of investing in an outdoor rug to go under the pool (one that can get wet) to protect their tootsies from the hot deck.

4.) Paint Something - When the weather is warm, it's easy to strip down to the diapers or swimming suits and have fun painting. When the masterpiece is complete, throw them in the pool or the sprinkler to get clean.

5.) Nature Walk - Your backyard can be a great place for your toddler to explore nature. Make a list of things to find and explore along the way. In our yard, that could include the following: a strawberry, a honeysuckle, a flower, a puddle, a rock, a willow tree and a bug. Take your time and look around as you walk the yard, you'll be surprised how much "nature" you have nearby.

6.) Bubbles - This one is pretty self explanatory. Bubbles are fun, period.

7.) Have a Picnic - Go for a picnic in the backyard with your kids. It's a fun way to turn something ordinary into something exciting and the best part is that you'll always be near bathrooms, sinks and other comforts of home. Not up for packing a full meal outside? Take a Popsicle or other treat instead and enjoy some play-time and dessert in the fresh air.

There are plenty of ordinary, fun things you can do in your backyard. Even if you don't have a lot of toys, a big swing set or other comfort items, you can still show your kids a great time outdoors.