Keeping Kids Entertained While You Work: 4 fun Summer Activities

Hello, fellow remote workers and multitasking parents! Are you ready to conquer the summer months with style and sanity intact? As someone who juggles work and parenting, I know firsthand the challenges of keeping kids entertained while trying to meet deadlines and attend virtual meetings. But fear not, because I've got you covered! In this blog, I'll share four fun summer activity categories—complete with a healthy dose of humor—to help keep your kids entertained and engaged while you tackle your workday like a boss. So grab your coffee and let's dive in!

Activity 1: DIY Science Experiments

Who says learning can't be fun? Channel your inner Bill Nye and turn your home into a makeshift science lab with a series of DIY science experiments that will entertain and educate your kids for hours on end.

• Mentos and Soda Volcano: Grab a two-liter bottle of soda, a pack of Mentos candies, and head outside for some explosive fun! Drop a handful of Mentos candies into the soda bottle, step back, and watch in amazement as a foamy fountain erupts into the air. It's like a mini volcanic eruption right in your backyard!
• Homemade Slime: Get ready to get messy with this classic DIY slime recipe that's guaranteed to entertain kids of all ages. Mix together equal parts white school glue and liquid starch, add food coloring and glitter for extra pizzazz, and let your kids' imaginations run wild as they stretch, squish, and sculpt their very own slime creations.

Activity 2: Outdoor Adventure Quest

Turn your backyard into a playground of adventure with an outdoor scavenger hunt that will keep your kids entertained and engaged all day long. Channel your inner treasure hunter and create a series of clues, riddles, and challenges that will lead your kids on an epic quest to uncover hidden treasures and solve ancient mysteries.

• Treasure Map: Start by drawing a map of your backyard, complete with landmarks, obstacles, and hidden treasure locations. Hide small treasures like toys, candy, or coins in various spots around the yard, and mark their locations on the map with X's. Then, give your kids the map and set them loose on a treasure-hunting adventure they won't soon forget.
• Nature Scavenger Hunt: Encourage your kids to explore the great outdoors with a nature scavenger hunt that will help them connect with the natural world around them. Create a list of items for them to find and collect, such as leaves, rocks, flowers, and insects, and send them off on a scavenger hunt to see how many items they can find. Bonus points for spotting wildlife like birds, squirrels, or butterflies!
• Obstacle Course Challenge: Test your kids' agility, speed, and coordination with a backyard obstacle course challenge that will put their physical skills to the test. Use household items like hula hoops, cones, jump ropes, and pool noodles to create a series of obstacles and challenges, then time your kids as they race through the course and complete each task. It's like Ninja Warrior, but with a backyard twist!

Activity 3: Arts and Crafts Extravaganza

Unleash your kids' inner artists with a day of arts and crafts fun that will spark their creativity and imagination. From painting and drawing to sculpting and crafting, the possibilities are endless when it comes to unleashing your kids' artistic talents.

• DIY Tie-Dye: Get ready to make a splash with this colorful and creative DIY tie-dye project that's perfect for a summer day. Grab some plain white t-shirts, fabric dye, rubber bands, and gloves, then let your kids unleash their creativity as they design their own one-of-a-kind tie-dye masterpieces. Just be sure to set up a designated tie-dye station outside to minimize mess and maximize fun!
• Check this out! Tie Dye Kit for Kids & Adults
• Nature Mandalas: Take your kids on a nature-inspired art adventure with this simple and serene mandala-making activity. Head outside and gather an assortment of natural materials like leaves, flowers, sticks, and stones, then invite your kids to arrange them into beautiful, symmetrical patterns on the ground. Encourage them to get creative with their designs and let their imaginations run wild as they create their own nature mandalas.
• Cardboard Creations: Raid your recycling bin for cardboard boxes, tubes, and other assorted odds and ends, then challenge your kids to unleash their inner engineers and architects as they build their own cardboard creations. From forts and castles to robots and rocket ships, the possibilities are endless when it comes to crafting with cardboard. Just be prepared for a little creative chaos—and a whole lot of fun!

Activity 4: Culinary Capers in the Kitchen

Turn your kitchen into a culinary playground with a series of kid-friendly cooking and baking projects that will satisfy their sweet tooth and unleash their inner chefs. From cookies and cupcakes to homemade pizza and popsicles, there's no shortage of delicious delights to whip up together.

• DIY Popsicles: Beat the summer heat with this cool and refreshing DIY popsicle project that's as fun to make as it is to eat. Blend together your favorite fruits, juices, and yogurts, pour the mixture into popsicle molds or paper cups, add popsicle sticks, and freeze until solid. Then, sit back and enjoy as your kids indulge in their homemade frozen treats.
• Decorate Your Own Cupcakes: Channel your kids' inner pastry chefs with a decorate-your-own cupcake bar that will satisfy their sweet tooth and unleash their creativity. Bake a batch of cupcakes (or buy some from the store and scrape the icing off), set out an assortment of frosting flavors, sprinkles, candies, and toppings, and let your kids go to town decorating their own delicious creations. Just be prepared for a few sugar-fueled masterpieces—and maybe a sticky kitchen floor!
• Homemade Pizza Party: Bring the pizzeria experience home with a DIY pizza party that will have your kids tossing dough and getting creative with their toppings. Set out a variety of pizza crusts, sauces, cheeses, and toppings, then let your kids build their own custom pizzas to their heart's content. Whether they prefer classic pepperoni, veggie-loaded, or dessert pizzas topped with chocolate and marshmallows, there's no wrong way to pizza!

Keeping kids entertained during the workday can be a challenge, especially during the summer months when school's out and boredom is at an all-time high. But with a little creativity, imagination, and a healthy dose of humor, you can turn even the most mundane moments into memorable adventures that will keep your kids entertained, engaged, and happy all summer long. So go ahead, embrace the chaos, and dive headfirst into a summer of fun, laughter, and unforgettable memories with your little ones. After all, the best adventures often begin with a little bit of mess and a whole lot of love!