1. Glow in the Dark!
Glow sticks and bracelets, necklaces from Dollar Tree, Party City, Wal-Mart, Amazon. Google or Pinterest search for "glow in the dark outdoor games"
(glow in the dark, bath/kiddie pool, dance party, dinner or dessert, glow in the dark duct tape, glow in the dark basketball/basketball goal lights/other yard games)
some additional purchasing options or gift ideas:
Glow in the Dark Basketball:
https://learningexpress.com/tangle-night-basketball-orange/
Basketball Rim Lighting Kit:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ultra-Bright-LED-Basketball-Rim-Lighting-Kit/848849307
2. Online Art: Find Art Online!
There are many brick and mortar art businesses that are offering FREE art classes for you and your kids! I have participated in is Ladyeline’s Art Garage. Joanna shares an art project each Wednesday in her FB group!
https://www.facebook.com/ladyelinesartgarage
There’s another one called Art Class With Miss Coates and she is on Instagram at:
www.instagram/artclasswithmisscoates
3. Manners Class: 50 minutes, $19.99
Online video curriculum that comes with downloadable student workbook. Can be done in one sitting or across multiple days. You have 7 day access once you purchase. Good for boys and girls I would say ages Kindergarten and above. Julie Hunt is the developer and teacher of the course and she also has online courses for babysitting and one called SafeKids that are things kids need to know before staying home alone. My boys really liked this--no complaints from an almost 11 year old boy makes it a win for me! Has a printable certificate of completion.
If you wanted to do more with this activity, you could have a formal dinner at home, have kids set the table, use their good table manners, etc.
4. Pool/Bag of sand/digging beach tools
Grab a inflatable or plastic pool from Wal-Mart! We bought one last year and it was super fun! Put bubbles in it and have a great time! I have linked one on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2LOdlJX
Grab a bag of sand with beach toys and let your kids dig in the sand in the backyard! Warning: Messy!
5. Listen to Music
Streaming service playlists by genre, decades, artists/composers, multiple covers of an original song, routines (like cleaning up or brushing teeth), scripture memory, events (college football playlist, beach playlist, holiday playlist), etc.
Create your own "music appreciation" playlist for your kids. What music do you love and want your kids to know? (I would like to share a Spotify playlist that friends of mine made for their children and I have their permission to do so, but I cannot figure out how in the world to share it?!)
Using music as a tool to teach active listening and waiting (including drawing to music: https://artfulparent.com/music-activity-for-kids-music-as-art-prompt/)
Music during chores and/or a "do over"...make a "feel good" playlist or "good mood music" playlist
Watch recordings or broadcasts of musical performances (youtube or the Kennedy center digital stage Kennedy-center.org); Are there live musical events that are memorable to you that you would want your children to see? i.e. Andrea Bocelli Easter concert (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huTUOek4LgU); U2 Super Bowl Performance 2002 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH5tHgXS-2M)
Dance parties (see glow in the dark ;))
6. Fruits of the Spirit devotional
FREE download for your kids from Lacey at:
https://laceyrabalais.com/fruit-of-the-spirit/
7. Mystery Doug and MysteryScience.com
My kids' school used this website during virtual learning for STEM. Has 5 minutes responses to questions like, "can animals get the hiccups?" to "who invented pizza?" to extended mini-lessons and longer lessons with at home experiments. They offer free subscriptions until they reach a certain number, but right now you can access many of their videos and lessons for free without signing up. It's divided by age group--easy to navigate and you can do as much or as little with it as you want to--5 minutes or a whole lesson/activity!
8. Movement: Scripture memory and Math Facts on the trampoline/swing
9. Read Alouds/Audio Books/Kids Podcasts
When/Where/How of some of our reading "rhythm"
Resources for audio books (library services like overdrive and libby; audible; libro.fm--independent bookstores; grandparents/relatives/friends who are willing to read on FaceTime or Zoom)
What to do while listening to audio books: drawing, coloring pages (free printables), paint by sticker books (https://www.amazon.com/Paint-Sticker-Create-Masterpieces-Time/dp/0761187235), potholder weaving (https://www.walmart.com/ip/Made-by-Me-Weaving-Loom/19526638), knitting, swinging, ripsticks, etc. Post and podcast episode on Read Aloud Revival about things your kids can do while listening to audio books or while you read out loud (https://readaloudrevival.com/73/)
It's Motivating to Track Progress!
By Time (i.e. a punch on the bookmark for every 30 minutes, 15 minutes...whatever you decide)
By Books: keep a list or color in as you read. My sister in law has her girls make a paper chain with the book title and author and then takes their picture with the book chains at the end of the summer.
Website that has several options of printable bookmark trackers (I haven't personally used these, but there are three good options!)
https://www.papertraildesign.com/summer-reading-log-bookmark-printable-tracker/#_a5y_p=6689845
The Week Jr (under reading): https://theweekjunior.com/subscribe?channel=paidsearch&gclid=CjwKCAjw5Ij2BRBdEiwA0Frc9YyxDsVsh2tdXvqKm6iy_myIIpC4esTHw_dS5dPhgDOjwizObiYN2RoCz_8QAvD_BwE
Podcasts for Kids: Brains On! and a link with more suggestions: https://my-little-poppies.com/podcasts-for-children/
10. Detective Dinner: Read aloud chapters of an Encyclopedia Brown book (libraries have them on kindle). Divide your family into teams and solve to mystery. Whoever gets the most points wins! Dress up for your part for bonus points!
11. Sidewalk Chalk Scenes
Pinterest or google search for "sidewalk chalk scenes." Don't have to be an artist at all--my kids love drawing sports scenes, or super hero over sky scrapers and then having me take their picture; underwater scenes, holding umbrellas, balloons, etc. Recent article in good housekeeping with some GREAT and simple ideas: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/craft-ideas/g32266524/chalk-art-ideas/
12. How to organize your Summer!
How to organize your days list! Sunday-Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday-Friday-Saturday
Here is the links of two I found that were so fun and helpful!
https://www.printablesfairy.com/summer-schedule-for-kids/
https://rockitmama.com/summer-fun-planner-free-printable-included/
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I would love to connect with you! I go LIVE on my Instagram page at 3 pm CST every Wednesday! Would love for you to join me over there!