Latest posts by Karen Ho Fatt (see all)
- Teaching Our Kids Fire Safety: Don’t Panic! - December 9, 2012
- Family Safety and Fun for Everyone: Enjoy Your Backyard While Being Safe - July 15, 2012
- Fire Safe Landscapes: 8 Tips for Keeping Your Yard Safe - May 14, 2012
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- Applying Sunscreen -iStockphoto by PhotoEuphoria
How many times have you wanted to take a fun trip with your kids, but time off work or money for the trip just wasn’t an option? In this economy, times are tough and we have to get creative. There are endless fun activities that we can do right in our own backyard that won’t break the bank. So next time your kids want to play, try some of these fun activities:
Water Balloon Toss.
In hot summer weather, what kid doesn’t love to get wet? And you don’t need a pool for this game. All you need is a few bucks to pick up some mini water balloons. This game is great for birthday parties or groups of kids. Have your kids make two rows facing each other, standing about a foot apart. Give one row of kids a water balloon that you’ve already filled. Be careful not to fill the balloons too much or it could hurt someone’s hands when it pops. Have the kids with the water balloons toss to the children directly in front of them. Although seemingly easy, the smaller the child, the harder it is to catch. If the balloon drops to the ground or pops, both children for that one balloon are out and the remaining children move on. For each successful toss and catch, have the children each take a step back until only two children are left. From there, the child who breaks or drops the balloon is out, leaving only the winner. As a safety precaution, since this game involves hand and eye coordination, it is best suited for children six years old and up.
Gooey Marshmallow Surprise.
What child doesn’t like candy? This activity is a fun way to let your kids play with their food for once. Pick up some marshmallows, chocolate, gram crackers and maybe even some jelly beans or peanut butter. Using a small propane fire pit with a controllable flame size, help the children roast their marshmallows and then allow them to choose their own ingredients for making a gooey s’more or crazy sandwich. After each child has made their sandwich, you can move this fire pit out of harm’s way or just turn it off-it’s that easy and convenient which is a wonderful safety feature.
Backyard Camping.
You don’t need to leave your home to go camping. Even if you don’t own a tent, gather your kids and make one! All you
Shooting Stars and Moving Clouds.
Whether you’re outside in the day or at night, the sky is an adventure in itself. Lie on the ground with your kids and watch the clouds move, guessing what shapes and creatures are passing through. If it’s a clear day, watch the stars at night. Help your child point out the Big and Little Dippers and any other fun stars they find. This is an easy way to allow your child to get creative and learn along the way.
With all of these activities, remember your child’s safety and health. These are reminders of ways to care for your child outdoors:
- Practice fire safety. Cooking marshmallows around an iron campfire ring is a popular pastime at home or camping. Never leave a child around a fire without supervision and always have water on hand just in case. Small children should never be more than three feet from a flame unless being assisted by an adult.
- Wear plenty of sunscreen. Even on cooler days, it’s easy to get sunburn and never encourage sun tanning. Direct sun exposure is very dangerous and according to Health Canada, “exposure to UV [Ultraviolet Radiation] is the main cause of skin cancer. It can also cause tanning, sunburn, premature skin aging, eye damage and a decrease in immune system response.” These are serious side effects that we don’t our children exposed to.
- Drink plenty of fluids. When our children play and have fun, it’s easy to forget to drink water. Always have plenty of beverages on hand to avoid dehydration. If an activity may last more than a few hours, make sure snacks are available as well.
- Always have flashlights or other lights for night activities. It’s easy to slip and fall, so to prevent injury, ensure your backyard is well lit and free of toys and other obstacles that are easy to trip over.
When you try these backyard activities, remember you’re never too old to play with your children or to make a gooey s’more yourself!
As George Bernard Shaw once said, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”
