This is Part 2 of the Getting Ready for Summer Series.
Last week, we looked at getting ready for outside play. Today, we are going to focus on indoor play. It will most likely rain at some point during the summer and you’ll be glad you are prepared. It is also nice to have indoor activities when it is too hot to stay outside for long or when you have things you need to do indoors.
Most of these items are no-brainers, but it is helpful to have a list to check off in order to be prepared. Here are the items I plan to have on hand for summertime:
1. Art supplies
- white and colored paper
- pencils, pens, colored pencils, markers, crayons
- paint and brushes
- scissors
- glue
- tape
- stickers
- coloring books (adult coloring books are great for older kids)
- art activity kits (I have already bought kits to make stepping stones. There are so many neat kits available if you check craft stores, and they often run them on sales as much as 50-60% off.)
2. Tactile play items such as play-doh or kinetic sand. I have found these items to be great stress relievers for myself and the kids. Thinking Putty is also a neat option (but keep it off the carpet!)
3. Puzzles, board games, and card games.
Board games can often be expensive, but summer is a great time to invest in some new ones. Life and Monopoly are always great classics to have. Some newer ones my kids have enjoyed are Sequence and Headbandz. Clue and Scrabble and Bananagrams are great for older kids. My kids have recently started loving card games and we play Phase 10 and Skip-Bo often.
4. Books and Movies
These are great items to check for at used bookstores or by visiting your local library. Also, keep Redbox in mind. You can usually find coupon codes online as well.
5. Baking Supplies
- cake, cookie, and muffin mixes
- flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, baking powder
- oil
- icing
- food coloring (Due to a red dye allergy, I am looking for some great natural food colors. I’d love to hear of any you have tried and liked!)
- colored sugars, sprinkles
- cookie cutters
- cupcake liners
The list is simple, and yet, when summer holidays finally arrive, it will be nice to have everything on hand and ready to go. In the coming weeks, I’m going to be discussing specific activities you can do both indoors and out along with kid-friendly snacks to get you through your days.
I would love to hear what other items you consider must-haves for indoor summer play!
Leave a Reply