simple summer pleasures
Filed Under Tips & Tricks | July 15, 2009
No matter how lazy or hazy the days of summer, you still need to keep your tots entertained so here are some easy, fun seasonal ideas for things to do:
If you’re like us you tend to go overboard in berry season and end up with aging and squashed berries in the bottom of your fridge. Here’s an artistic – if messy – way to use those berries up:
- Mash ½ cup berries and ¼ cup water in a bowl with a potato masher until juicy
- Strain into a used yogurt or other container
- Get busy painting with fingers or brushes
For blue paint use blueberries, strawberries and raspberries will make red. And remember berries stain, so wear aprons or old clothes. Note: we’d recommend only undertaking this task outdoors.
There’s nothing kids love as much as a good collection, just ask any mother who has found rocks in her laundry. So why not encourage your tot’s natural magpie-like qualities and set them the task of finding as many different types of rocks as possible – smooth, jagged, big, small, shiny, dull, etc. Set aside a space on a windowsill or use their collection as the genesis of a menagerie of pet rocks.
To make pet rocks you’ll need glue, paint (alas we don’t think your berry paint will cut it), brushes, glue and accessories such as googly eyes, pipe cleaners, yarn etc. Start with clean rocks, paint them a base colour and then decorate them with eyes, patterns, markers and more for a group of “pets” as unique as your child.
Lemonade is synonymous with summer, but it’s one of those things that seem easier to buy than make. However this classic lemonade recipe from Epicurious is neither too tart nor too sweet and it makes great popsicles as well. Or stock a lemonade stand. If you’re feeling especially inspired Epicurious also has highly-rated recipes for Strawberry, Watermelon and Blackberry Lemonade.
What are your favourite summer pastimes? Use the handy comment functionality that accompanies each of our articles to let us know.
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