After a slow and manic start to summer weather, it appears it has finally arrived. Longer days coax us outside and clear blue skies with fresh air lure us out of bed in the mornings. We are inclined to put carpe diem into practice when we are invigorated by a beautiful day.
Some of the ways you can seize the day with your children lead you just steps outside of your own door. When my sister and I were young, my dad would occasionally bring home a sheet of photographic paper for us to set outside. We would lay objects down on the paper on the patio and then wait for the sun’s exposure to do its work. The paper would turn dark grey but when we removed the scissors, flower, necklace or whatever other objects we had lain on the top, the objects’ shapes were there in white, that is until the natural light exposure darkened them, too.
There is a similar less expensive experiment you can try at home. Take a dark piece of construction paper and lay it outside in the sun. Your child can place objects on the paper (note: transformers make cool outlines). When your child removes the objects a few hours later, the construction paper will have faded everywhere but where the objects covered the paper. Plastic fades in the sunlight too so avoid setting things out that are too precious to have altered by the sun’s rays (note: transformers are made of colored plastic that fades – you can see where I’m headed with this).
An activity that we have enjoyed in summer is setting up an easel in a shady spot outside. We usually throw an old sheet down on the patio and let our child have at it with non-toxic paints. No worries about paint on walls or furniture, just a good time playing colorfully and creatively. The warm air dries the paint quickly so you can display the results almost immediately. Paint-splattered arms and legs? The quick solution before heading indoors is known as “garden hose treatment.” A spray and cool-down is fun! What child doesn’t giggle at the surprise and blast of spray from the hose?
Ah, this leads me to another trick of the parenting trade: if you need to get something done in the yard and also stay near your children, assign them a watering job. It is kind of like occupying little kids at the sink “washing” non-breakable dishes. (Teenagers are an entirely different story — no explanation required.) You may find that more than your potted plants or garden beds get a hefty drink, but the kids will have fun, your plants will get watered, and you will finish your own task or two at the same time.
Along the lines of paint and water, take some drinking straws and paint brushes outside. Kids love blowing water around on tables, boards or anything flat; all they need is a little puddle of water on a flat surface and a drinking “blow pipe” straw to chase it around. This also works great with paint and paper if you want colorful evidence of your young artists’ work. Paint brushes and cups of water make for easy patio, driveway or sidewalk art. On a hot day the concrete canvas clears itself faster than an Aquadoodle thereby leaving plenty of room for creativity.
Often times your kids will come up with their own ideas of creative fun right outside your own living space. Enjoy the opportunities and seize the rest of summer with them.
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