Summer fun ideas?

[PinkinPA]

Hi All- I really need some summer craft ideas for a 13 and 6 year old. Can you rec anything or any blogs? I refuse to let the xbox 360 win! (any crafts involving repurposing an xbox will be greatly appreciated)

[slsurface]

Um, I'm at work right now so I don't have all of my fav links for you, but I know there is a ton of cool things online. Try a google search for "kid craft projects". Off the top of my head a couple of the places I go to are:

http://crafts.kaboose.com/
http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/

The second link is Disney. I don't know how you feel about them (I am not a big fan); however, there are sometimes good ideas at this webpage.

Since my little one is not yet 2, it's hard to give more concrete ideas for your older kids. But you could also get ideas from "summer camp" resources that might be age appropriate. A few ideas for out-doors or craft avtivities from my days as a camp counselor:

-go to a local park for a "nature" scavanger hunt
-go to local beach or pool to swim
-take a "hike" in a local park or cemetery
-wash the cars (make a game of it and do it on a hot day!)
-teach them how to knit/crochet
-teach them how to sew
-have a bake-a-thon and try new recipes
-join a 4-H club or volunteer in the community
-have them organize a yard sale (including their old toys and donate(?) or save (?) the money)
-sidewalk chalk is your friend!
...I will add more when I think of them...

My last idea is to take them geocaching if you have a GPS. They are the perfect age for this activity and it gets them outside. Check out www.geocaching.com

[slsurface]

After some more brainstorming:

-pitch a tent for a backyard "camp" out (invite a friend too!)
-have them write and tell their own ghost stories (maybe even together?)
-visit a farm (if you live in town)
-go to an apple/berry pick
-set goals to do something or learn something new (before school starts) and them help them attain the goal
-visit the library (OFTEN!) to pick out books (or videos as a reward?)
-play in the sprinkler
-plant in the garden
-fly a kite (or even make one!)

Some crafts:
-tye-dye t-shirts and socks
-make ponpon creatures and sock puppets (put on a puppet show!)
-hand make postcards and send them to grandma, aunts, friends, or who ever they like
-go to art supply store and have them pick out supplies for one new art project (ie. acrylic paints and canvas, or charcoal and a tablet, etc.)
-make playdough with them
-make bubbles and play in yard
-learn origami or design paper airplanes

Here are some resources for paper crafts:
http://bristolinphotos.com/PModels.htm
http://www.dltk-kids.com/type/paper.htm
http://www.thetoymaker.com/2Toys.html

That's it for now! Have fun!

[PinkinPA]

Thanks ladies

[EStraiton]

Here are some!

*Make Herb & Flax Seed Eye Pillows with the Children - Choose Nice Fabric and Have Children Stuff and Help Them Sew Each Pillow - "Herbs and flowers harvested on Midsummer Day were believed to have magical qualities. Specially gathered fern seed was believed to make people invisible and guide them to buried treasure, and wreaths and garlands of flowers were devised to bring health to households and ward off evil."

* Grapevine wreaths make excellent bases, which may then be decorated with fresh or dried flowers and yarn or ribbons. You can home-dye your yarn and ribbon using onion skins to achieve a rich terracotta or golden yellow, depending on how long you boil them in the pot with the skins.

* Modeling clay comes in many types, some self-hardening or bakeable. Get out the toothpicks, chopsticks, and other carving implements, and make suns with jolly faces.

* Children of all ages enjoy finding four slender sticks from the yard, crossing them to make an asterisk shape with eight spokes—reminiscent of the eight festivals of the year—and winding brightly colored yarns and ribbons around and around to make a round solar variation on the ancient "God's Eye" shape. If four sticks are too bulky for small fingers to manage, use only three—the solar shape is more hexagonal but still appealing. Poke in a flower or two for an especially pleasing result—marigolds and daisies are the classic sunny favorites.
When the images are finished, you and the children may want to hold them up to the sky for a few moments so that the sun shines on them, before finding the perfect place in your house or outdoors to hang them.

*Read Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream"The "midsummer night" is actually the night of the summer solstice. It is said that on Midsummer Night elves and fairies come out in great numbers. In some traditions, the summer solstice is the time of the Sun God.

*Serve "pixie sticks" and other treats for a summer solstice party. To make fairy wings, bend two wire hangers into the shape of a wings, then cover each with any color variety of hosiery, tying the sock off where the two wings come together. Use school glue to draw patterns on the wings, then sprinkle with glitter and let dry. Fasten the wings together with safety pins or by sewing together, and pin to clothing.

[Breastisbest2008]

I really like enchanted learning. The site cost about $20 a year but they have an awesome sellection of learning subjects as well as crafts. I use this all summer to keep my kids learning and having fun.

[Breastisbest2008]

PS also betweenmoms.com and dltk-kids.com are some of my other favorites.

[karina5]

Sigh. I love/hate threads like this. Love them b/c what good ideas are out there!!! Hate them b/c I always feel so uncreative. On a hot summer day I turn on the sprinkler or fill up the kiddie pool. Or we ride bikes on the bike path. I'm just not that creative of a mother (but I'm trying).

[slsurface]

Originally Posted by EStraiton

Here are some!

*To make fairy wings, bend two wire hangers into the shape of a wings, then cover each with any color variety of hosiery, tying the sock off where the two wings come together. Use school glue to draw patterns on the wings, then sprinkle with glitter and let dry. Fasten the wings together with safety pins or by sewing together, and pin to clothing.

Very cool. I never thought about making your own wings like they sell at Renn Faires. I wish I had a dd to dress up in fairy wings! Somehow I don't think my dh would approve of putting wings on ds.