Our Top Picks for Summer Fun

1. Outdoor Water Table  
   This is a must-have for any backyard with toddlers and small children! What we love about this table in particular is that it features three tiers of water-based play options along with lots of engaging materials to encourage scooping, splashing, pouring & more! 
   
   
2. Outdoor Sand & Water Table 
   Much like the option we listed above, this table is a great find because it leaves room for water play on one side and sand play on the other! This table also includes extra playtime accessories such as a little boat, watering can, water funnel, shovels, scoopers, crab and crocodile sand molds, & small stools for sitting on! We think this option would be fun for two or more young children as they can alternate playing on each side while working on sharing and turn taking.
   
   3. Inflatable Pool 
   Summertime play is never complete without a little time spent in the water! We personally love heading to the beach and our neighborhood pool, however you just can't beat the convenience of not having to load up your littles and all of their swim belongings and instead, letting them just splash in the yard! This inflatable pool is perfect for toddlers and young children (think Preschool & even Kindergarten age!) Our own little ones enjoy splashing and playing in this version as it includes a water slide, small splashing pool, water sprayer and ring toss game!
   
   
3. . Palm Tree Sprinkler 
   This next item is not your average sprinkler! It is a stand-up version that is easy to inflate and hooks up to your garden hose for hours of water-based playtime! We love this fun twist on a traditional sprinkler and again, this is something our small children enjoy using as it is taller than them! We like it too because it looks so sweet and tropical when all setup! 
   
   
4. Automatic Bubble Machine
   What small child doesn't love bubbles!? This item is a new addition to our own lineup of summertime toys and we appreciate how it is automatic and the bubbles can soar up to 16 feet! You can choose to use the outlet adapter or battery power, making this a great option for outdoor play as well as indoor play in the garage, basement or playroom on rainy summer days!
   
   
5. Stomp Rockets 
   While it feels like this toy has been around forever, the excitement of it never seems to grow old! The version linked is our choice because it allows up to two children to engage at a time. Plus, the price is so reasonable and it would make a great gift to give at summertime birthday parties for friends or cousins! 
   
   
6. Butterfly Garden Kit
   Last summer, we introduced our kids to this beautiful Butterfly Garden Kit! They watched in amazement over the span of a few weeks as their caterpillars blossomed into Painted Lady Butterflies! If you have not yet tried this out of fear of it being too much to take on...don't allow it to intimidate you! It simply takes up a small corner on your kitchen counter yet it sparks endless opportunities for observing, journaling, and lots of built in learning! Some extension activities we chose to include were checking out books about butterflies at the library, journaling our observations each day and having a little celebration on butterfly release day! This kit includes all of the materials you will need along with a STEM journal! 
   
   
7. Critter Cage & Butterfly Nets 
   These next two items are separate but can be also be used interchangeably! In our family, we enjoy taking nature walks. Often we will visit family friendly walking trails or sometimes we will just do this at the neighborhood park! Either way, butterfly nets and critter cages allow eager explorers to capture and observe various insects and then set them free! 

While having toys readily available for your children to play with outside, we also know it is nice to have totally free options as well to get their little hands busy! The activities below can be prepared using items your likely already have in your home. Just follow the steps below to prep and then play! 

1. Painting With Ice & Paint
   To prep this activity, pour some washable paint into an ice tray along with a splash of water. Then, insert popsicle sticks and pop the tray into the freezer. Once frozen, allow your children to paint with them on the sidewalk or on a large sheet of butcher paper!
   
   
2. Chalk with DIY Puffy Paint
   Chalk time is always exciting, but this option offers a little more texture and poses an alternative to regular sidewalk chalk! To prepare, simply mix:
   -1 cup flour
   -1 cup water
   -Washable paint colors of your choice 
   Mix all items well and then pour into a small bucket with a little paintbrush or place into an old ketchup bottle for some art inspiring play! 
   
   While not necessary, if you choose to use actual paint holders, we prefer these for helping children identify colors while holding their paint for art time: Paint Cups & Brushes
   As well as these holders which are plain and clear, but are great for squeezing paint opposed to using a brush: Paint Squeeze Bottles

We hope these ideas spark endless summer themed exploration in your own very own yard! Have any ideas of your own!? Feel free to let us know below! 

XOXO,
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