Summer is here! Sunshine, warm weather, the beach, the pool, cool clothes, happy, free feet and, of course… vacation! The little ones have finished school and have already begun their more-than-two-month summer break. So your marathon days of keeping them busy, entertained, happy, and active are beginning. That’s why in today’s post, we want to give you a few ideas you’ll love for playing for hours and hours and, on top of that, creating your own DIY games for kids.
That way, the fun is doubled and includes two phases: one creative and the other purely playful. As always, we’ve done a thorough sweep of the web to bring you the easiest, most creative, lowest-cost ideas so you can spend all your money on ice cream. Let’s get to them!
1. The snake bubble blower.
We couldn’t think of a better translation for this idea we found on the website of Come Togheter Kids, which seemed simply brilliant because of its simplicity and surprising results. All you need is a plastic bottle, a piece of terry cloth, and a rubber band—that’s it! Cut the bottle approximately in half and place a piece of terry cloth over the cut end, securing it with a rubber band. If you want to make it prettier and more personal, while also working on creativity and artistic expression, paint the bottle however you like. Put a little water and dish soap in a plate or bowl (the quintessential homemade bubble mixture) and moisten the terry cloth with it. Now all you have to do is blow through the mouth of the bottle and try to create increasingly longer bubble snakes.
2. Games with pool noodles.
You know those foam noodles the little ones play with in the pool? Well, they have many more possibilities outside the water. On parents.com, we found lots of ideas for playing different games using this soft, very safe material, so the youngest kids don’t get hurt. With a basket and some balloons, you can play by trying to get as many balloons as possible into the basket using only the noodle—hands and feet aren’t allowed! You can also combine the noodles to create obstacle courses or, as in the photo, targets for testing your aim with the “javelin.” Put your imagination to the test and create your own pool noodle games.
3. Giant game boards with human pieces.
Much more fun and not sedentary at all, this idea from True Aim Education brings back the days when children played outside instead of in front of a screen. And summer is the perfect time for it. It couldn’t be simpler: the first thing is to make your own giant die. For this, you’ll need cardboard or cardstock, colored pencils, and glue. If you don’t remember how to cut out a cube net, look it up online and draw it on the cardstock. Remember to leave tabs that you can use to glue it together later. Now draw dots or numbers to create the faces of the die, color it, and cut it out. Carefully assemble it as you glue it together, and you’re done. Now all you have to do is draw a game board on the ground with chalk (you can also do it at home by drawing on a chalkboard fabric, for example) and create whatever spaces you want: spaces to move backward or forward, a jail, special challenges… It’s your board! The first person to reach the end wins the game.
4. Balloon dartboard.
A fairground classic that you can easily bring to your backyard or home. All you need is a corkboard, though it could also be an embroidery hoop with canvas or a wooden board… As you can see, anything with the appropriate rigidity and dimensions will work. Blow up colored balloons and place little pieces of paper inside each one with challenges, prizes, penalties, or anything else you’ve written on them beforehand. Anything that can make the game more fun and exciting. Mark a minimum distance for throwing the darts and test your aim.
5. The boredom jar.
We absolutely loved this idea we found on the website of The Mad House. So simple, so creative, so original, so effective, and sooo pretty. The first thing you have to do is put your heads together to think of lots of games, fun activities, and all the things you enjoy doing. The more you come up with, the better! Write them on colored slips of paper that you’ve cut out beforehand and fill your boredom jar with them. That way, when the little ones get bored, all they have to do is turn to this container full of entertaining, colorful ideas and draw one at random. Remember to fill the jar with new ideas as the ones inside are used up, so you’ll never be bored again.
We hope you have a blast with these five DIY games for kids (and grown-ups) and that there’s no room for boredom in your summer. And if you like this post and want more DIY ideas for enjoying time with your little ones through creative, fun activities, leave us a comment and we’ll keep searching the web for the best ideas for you and your family.
Everyone, go play!
This post appears in Twinkl’s Summer Celebration. Find me in Top 20 Summer Games and Crafts for Kids with recommendations for summer activities, recipes, crafts, and games for home and school.