In about the same amount of time it would take you to get the
stroller outside and walk to the ice cream shop, you and your
favorite kitchen helper can make your own. Even if you’re no Martha
Stewart, we promise that this recipe is a breeze and uses
materials you probably already have at home. Your kids will love
taking turns shaking the bag and watching the ingredients magically
change from liquid to ice cream!
If it’s so hot outside that even shaking a bag of ice sounds
like a monumental amount of effort, make popsicles instead. You can
buy ice pop molds for under $5 at many drugstores. Then, just pour
in your child’s favorite juice, pop them in the freezer, and your
work is finished. If you feel like being healthy, you can use a
mixture of (defrosted) frozen fruit and greek yogurt to make your
own yogurt-pops. Yum!
When it is scorching outside, there is nothing better than
playing in nice, cool water. Kids don’t need an Olympic-sized
swimming pool; a cool bath will do just fine. To ensure
longer-lasting baths, invest in some seriously fun new tub toys.
We have some great ideas here, but just about
anything plastic and unbreakable will do.
Signing your child up for swimming lessons is a great way to
keep them cool and safe. Sweeten the deal by joining a parent-child
swim class so that you also get to take a dip. These classes are
offered at many pools, including the YMCA, where they do lessons
for children as young as 6 months (called The Shrimps!)
If you live in a city, you have access to a great, cheap form of
air-conditioned entertainment: the commuter rail. Commuter-rail
tickets are inexpensive and if you go during off-hours, the train
will be practically empty. Take a ride to a leafy, suburban town,
get some ice cream, and hop back on the train. Pick a route with
nice scenery and your kids will be entertained by watching the
landscape change.
A children’s museum is a great indoor destination on a
sweltering day. Kids can still run around, explore, and burn
energy, but can do it all in the comfort of air-conditioning. There
are locations in just about every state in the country. This website can help you find one near you.
Sure, when you hear this idea you envision a boring, messy
chore, but washing the car is really just a great excuse to have a
water fight! Get out the old clothes, buckets, and hose and go to
town. Your child will have a great time helping you soap up and
rinse off the car (or puppy) and if it’s hot enough, you’ll all
welcome the accompanying splashes.
You don’t have to own a yacht to get out and enjoy the water. In
most major cities you will find great options for boat tours.
Companies like Circle Line in NYC, Wendella in Chicago, and San
Francisco Tours in San Fran offer inexpensive tours that last about
two hours each. If your children are a little older, check out a
speed boat tour like "The Beast" offered by Circle Line.
It’s guaranteed to get you splashed and cool you off.
Water tables are a classic part of any pre-school's menu of
playtime options. However, buying your own can set you back a few
hundred dollars, plus, you have to find a space to store it. Little
Tikes makes a great, more affordable option, or you can just make
your own. All you need is a TV tray or two and a clear, plastic
storage container. Fill it with a few inches of water and get out
your sandbox toys for an afternoon of splashy fun. One tip: include
a few large paintbrushes. Toddlers can entertain themselves for
quite a while by "painting" the sidewalk.
For those of you who live in spectacular, oceanfront cities,
this may seem like a no-brainer. If you’re in the Northeast or
Midwest, however, it can be easy to forget that you live only a
short distance from the Atlantic or a Great Lake. Do a little
research first to find out which beaches in your area are the most
family friendly. Our must-have list includes lifeguards and
restrooms!
If you’re willing to spend the extra bucks, water parks are a
sure-fire way to beat the heat all day. Almost all water parks have
kid-friendly attractions, like lazy rivers, water playgrounds,
wading pools, and mini slides. Don’t want to journey too far
from home? You can always make your own water park in your
backyard with inflatable water slides and Slip-n-Slide. One
warning: this can get
expensive!
We love the iconic summer image of kids pitching a tent in the
backyard and sleeping outside on a hot summer night. But why wait
until dark to camp out? For daytime adventurers, grab an old set of
sheets, some clothespins and rope, and head out back or to the park
to make your own tent-fort. Pick a large shady tree as an anchor
and pitch away. A sheet tent is airier (and cheaper) than your
standard model and playing in it will amuse little ones until the
hot sun finally sets. If it is just unbearable outside, camp out in
the living room. Have a lunch picnic on the floor, tell scary
stories, and made shadow puppets, all in the comfort of the AC.
Scenic spans like the Brooklyn Bridge and the Golden Gate aren’t just for tourists. Elevated and close to the water, these bridges get fantastic breezes year-round. Take a leisurely stroll across one to count boats, skyscrapers, and your kids’ smiles. Kids afraid of heights? In an effort to 'go green,' most cities are becoming more bike-friendly by expanding paths and lanes, and sponsoring free bike rentals. So, hitch up your trailer, hook on your child carrier, and wave to that bridge from the less-scary shore.
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