Summer Fun!

After being cooped up all winter, our families deserve a few months of some serious outdoor time. Kids are out of school and ready to head outside for some fun. Here are a few great ideas to make your backyard a true summer time “living room” for all to enjoy:

Swing Set

The idea of a swing set may sound pricey, but it doesn’t have to be. Craigslist is a swing set mecca, with many of them costing below $200. A metal and plastic set can be found for around $100 brand new. If there is a handyman in the family, consider building it yourself for a unique swing set at a fraction of the cost.

Patio Furniture

Adults and kids alike will love having patio furniture to lounge on during the summer months. Whether you have a porch, patio or are simply placing the furniture in your backyard, having a place to sit down and enjoy a meal together outside is necessary. Finding quality patio furniture that will last a long time is well worth the investment.

Water

We all know that summer inevitably brings extremely hot days, but that doesn’t mean we have to hide indoors. There are so many water toys available on the cheap that will entertain kids for hours, and keep the heat at bay. Water tables, slip n’ slides, squirt guns and inflatable pools are just a few inexpensive options.

Picnic Play

If you have a day where the kids don’t seem to want to play with their outdoor toys, let their indoor toys enjoy the backyard too. Lay out a blanket, much like a picnic, and let them play with their favorite toys outside. They’ll come up with lots of new adventures for their toys and enjoy being outdoors.

Gardening

Gardening is a great way to bring the family together, and educate kids about nature and healthy eating. Start a family garden together, and over the course of the summer you will have invested hours together cultivating not only the plants, but the minds of your kids. Let them help you pick what food should be grown to help the want to get more involved and take care of the garden.

The Classics

Get involved with your kids, and teach them all the classic games you liked to play when you were younger: hide and seek, hopscotch, sidewalk chalk and tag. The possibilities are endless, and your kids will form great memories.

Dedicate this summer to being outside together as a family. In a culture of endless screen time, media overload, and video gaming, summer fun and being outside will be a refreshing change.

Informational credit to AllWeather Wood Ltd.