Bubble Machine

Summer means that your kids are out of school and in need of entertainment. Sure, you can put them in summer school or camp, but there’s bound to be at least a few days during the week when they’re stuck at home with nothing to do. You don’t have to resort to the TV! Read below the cut for some great ideas to entertain your kids at home this summer!

1.  Bubbles: Kids (and pets!) love bubbles. You can either mix dish detergent with a few drops of water in a plate or purchase a bubble machine to keep them entertained for hours. A bubble machine will produce endless bubbles in many shapes and sizes!

2. Making movies: Encourage your kids to bring out their inner creative filmmaker and make short films. Most still digital cameras have a video recording mode, so you can record while your children make up their own story and special effects. If you have a memory card, you can record segments and piece them together with free video editing software available on most computers such as Windows Movie Maker or iMovie. You could have them up with their own ideas or have them reenact a scene from their favorite movie, TV show, book or game. Who knows, you could have a future filmmaker in your family!

3. Cooking: Teach your kids how to cook this summer! Kids love food, so it’s a great idea to get them involved with making breakfast or a snack. You can teach them how to make a favorite treat with a cotton candy machine. All you need to do is pour in sugar mixture and turn the machine on and the candy will make itself! Another fun treat to make with your kids is crepes. Use a crepe maker to make a tasty fruit, meat or cheese-filled breakfast. You could inspire your kids into making more meals in the future!

4. Arts and crafts: Bring out the paint, glue and scissors! You can make almost anything out of paper and little knick-knacks  with some imagination. Get your crayons and paint out and encourage your child to draw or paint a picture for a bare wall. Or bring out the chalk and encourage your children to draw on the sidewalk and play hopscotch. Or you could find beads, photo, and other small objects around the house and have your kid create a collage/scrapbook to display. You could even make your kids feel like royalty by making paper crowns and gluing fake jewels on. If you want more ideas, try your favorite search engine because the Internet is full of ideas!

5. Make a fort:  Kids love to have their own space. Help them create a fort with blankets, pillows and chairs. Give them a flashlight so they can navigate the maze they just made. Just remember to let them know that they need to clean up after play time or else your guests will have nowhere to sit!

Hope these ideas help you and your kids have a fun summer!

-Golda