Wicked Big List

for a

Wicked Fun Summer

®    chalk for outside

®    paintbrushes (paint with water on fences, etc.)

®    water table or buckets, trays, etc.

®    dissolvable color tablets

®    sand table or sandbox on the porch or deck

®    kiddie pool

®    music for inside & outside dance parties

®    floor puzzles, outside if possible

®    sesame street for letter refreshers (I'm all about it)

®    make "sound books" of 5 letters at a time & once your child can recognize & say each sound, do 5 more

®    old sheets for forts, outside or inside

®    scavenger hunts – lists of items  OR a list of pictures of items

®    dress up clothes baskets

®    blocks (cardboard or wood)

®    ramps outside for cars and balls- lots of rolling

®    story activity: pick a cool photo or magazine picture; have your child tell you a story and you write it down

®    letter matching (make 2 sets, lay one out, give your child the other set & match them up) can do this with images or numbers (just print doubles off computer & laminate

®    tracing- shape tracers (from craft store or make a shape inset) children will trace circles and squares- whatever over & over…. You can even do shapes and then name them. Staple all the shapes into a shape book

®    cutting- child scissors, a tray of tissue or easy-cut paper – let him or her practice cutting (or ripping!)

®    food slicing- use safe knives and ask your three to slice soft cheese, watermelon, pineapple, etc.

®    pick from garden – send your preschooler to pick veggies, flowers, whatever

®    planting flowers, make a small garden to water – keep it simple!

®    scooping, pouring, sifting-twos & young  threes love to scoop, pour, transfer…use anything! ice cubes to dried beans

®    paint or make bird feeders, bird baths, etc. & get a bird book and try to recognize a few with your kiddo

®    pitch a tent for no reason- have naptime in a sleeping bag

®    pitcher, water & cups. Give your child a pitcher, a few cups and send them on the deck—they can pour over & over

®    make popcicles – stick a spoon into yobaby yogurt cups, freeze them & you have organic yogurt pops

®    make a cauldron with dry ice- it’s really fun to watch…just don’t let them get into it (duh, as if that’s not obvious J)

®    rent a jumpy castle for no reason

®    make smoothies – use frozen fruit, juice or water & yogurt. yum

®    rent movies (on a rainy day) and set up a living room fort

®    look at old photos

®    make a timeline with pictures / photos

®    bake, make, and take to a neighbor

®    take a night walk (bug spray!)

®    picnic anywhere

®    go to the lake

®    squirt bottle – have your child wash anything! toy cars to kid kitchens to windows

®    use a spoon & toothbrush to uncover & clean plastic dinosaurs buried in a bucket of wet sand

®    have your child set the table

®    have your child fill a vase with flowers and put it on the table

®    fill a sock w/catnip & watch your cat get kooky

®    puppet shows, doll picnics, stuffed animal conventions of any kind

®    stage a street parade w/little & elementary kids – parents watch

®    set up field trips- just call and ask if you can visit (briefly) local businesses

®    have professionals come to your neighborhood (musicians, artists, whatever) for a small group – home schoolers do this all the time in large groups

®    books on tape! set your kid up w/jumanji or something- have them look at the book while you steal 20 minutes

®    make pinch pots

®    collect rocks