It has been one of the hottest summers ever here in Wisconsin. It is so hot even my kids have been a bit uncomfortable in the great outdoors. But we absolutely cannot stay in the nice, cool a/c all summer long. So how can we stay cool in this crazy heat? We have found lots of fabulous ways to stay cool and still sneak in plenty of “school.”
I don’t know about you but it seems my kids are always hungry in the summer. What better way to encourage them to get cooking? You can find so many great-looking recipes online: Italian ice, ice cream, popsicles, chocolate-covered frozen fruits. You can save a couple of bucks and give them some great new skills for all summer long. I don’t know any kids who don’t enjoy spending time in the kitchen making yummy treats and all the learning that takes place there . . . It’s a real win all around! Check out these Summer Recipes, Fresh Summer Recipes, and It’s Too Hot to Cook Recipes from the Review Crew to help get you started.
My girls found quite a few fun science experiments, all involving water and ice, that kept them learning and exploring. I always encourage my kids to use those screens for good. Making ice cubes glow in the dark; trying to find the fastest way to freeze or melt ice with different materials—these can definitely help pass the time and teach them some new things. Child-led learning really can work!
Of course, those treats have to sit for a bit before they can really be enjoyed. So how about a slip and slide? Make your own sprinkler using a pool noodle. Encourage your kids to DIY—a quick search and we found all sorts of water play devices they could make from all sorts of stuff! So easy and again can be hours of fun! If you want to keep it simple there are always water balloons and water guns. If that won’t work for you either—find a local beach or splash pad to let your kids get splashing in the sun. Or get a friend who has a swimming pool you can enjoy! 🙂
One of our favorite things to do is search for sea glass and interesting rocks along the lakefront. We can spend hours exploring! My daughter loves animals, so some days she will bring her camera and see what she can find to take a photo of. As you can imagine this can lead to all sorts of learning. Then there is always sand play—whether building castles or burying a brother or sister. My younger son can spend lots of time skipping rocks and even studying the waves. He spent quite a bit of time learning about tides and undertows. Good lessons in water safety.
On those days you just want to or have to stay home, the great outdoors can be a wonderful place to inspire little artists. Or scientists. My girls take so much joy in exploring our own backyard and then drawing what they see. There is so much fun to be had trying to sketch that squirrel or the flora and fauna nearby.
To all things, there is a time and a season for every matter under heaven. Everything on earth has its own time and its own season. All things have their season, and in their times all things pass under heaven. Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses.
Let us be sure we are enjoying every season!
Thank you to Jennifer King of A Peace of Mind for writing this introductory article.
