42 Days Of Summer (In the garden)

We haven’t quite had 42 days of sunshine, but that hasn’t stopped us! We have spent as much time as we can in our back garden, playing and munching McVities BN biscuits. In between scoffing, I have managed to list 8 of our favourite things –

1. Raid the Recycling box.
Our most played with activity is our water wall. I nailed a trellis to the fence, and used cable ties to attach various bottles/cartons. A friend kindly donated some old hose, and the kids have hours of water fun. We also made our own sprinkler with a 2l bottle, with some holes stabbed in. And then we made a bubble blower with an old sock wrapped around a 500ml drink bottle with the bottom cut off. You just dip this in a bubble solution, and the holes in the sock create hundreds of amazing bubbles.

2. Get green fingers.
I am the least green fingered person you will ever meet. I once killed a bamboo plant that only needed the water changing weekly. But even I managed to help them grow strawberries.

3. Throw a garden party.
We themed ours on a general Disney theme, but I suspect the next one will be Frozen themed. We decorated the garden with bunting, and I made a “pin the face on Mr Potato Head” to stick on the patio doors. I then drew (to the best of my non artistic ability) some characters to decorate the kitchen walls, and made some themed food. Ok, and some party bags. I am not known for keeping my parties simple.

4. Sand.
Sand needs no explanation. I have avoided it until now, as I didn’t trust them not to just fling it everywhere. Well, at Ieast the 3 year old. But they were very good, and just had a sandcastle building competition.

5. Water Fun
If in doubt, get them wet.
My two were born to be in water. In fact, the 3 year old was born in water, in a lovely little paddling pool in my living room. Favourites are the obvious paddling pool. A bowl of soapy water for them to wash their toys. Filling the water table with ice cubes. And a bowl of water with clean paintbrushes for them to paint the fence.

6. Water balloons
These are so much fun, but the fun lasts for approximately 30 seconds. And it takes you about 3 hours to fill them all up in the first place. But a rite of passage, I think.

7. Keep it free.
And simple. Sometimes they just need to be shown some really simple games. Leapfrog, running laps, or tug of war. Can’t wait until they can invite 20 friends around to play British Bulldog.

8. Arts and Crafts
Anything that can be done indoors, works better outdoors. Painting with their feet, although this does get messy so have the paddling pool ready. Or chalking on the pavement. My front garden is currently sporting my 4 year olds full name, age 4, and a self portrait.

This post is an entry for 42 Days of Summer Linky Challenge sponsored by McVitie’s BN. Learn more at http://bit.ly/1mRpMCL