Fun "indoor" summer activities, because it's just too hot outside!

We all  want to have a fun summer with the kids, but we can't spend every minute at the beach or pool, and it's just tooooo hot to do anything else! So, what's a mom to do? Well, I came up with some fun "indoor" summer ideas that will help! Mommy to the rescue!!!!!! Most everything is either free or can be found at your local discount or dollar stores! Yep....I'm a super hero!

Indoor camp out! 

Move the sofa/coffee table and set up a tent in the living room. Let it be an all day thing, you'll be surprise at how just a tent can entertain kids for hours!

• Fire up the grill for roasting hot dogs and marsh mellows
• Set up a camp game
• Tell funny childhood or not-so-scary ghost stories
• Set up a movie on the computer or iPad and put it in the tent on a little table for the kids to watch at bedtime. They'll want to do this one again, I promise!

Itza Make-your-own Pizza Party! 

Invite friends to participate in the fun!

• Set up a big table and cover with the fun red and white checkered pizzeria table cloth.
• Give everyone an plane white apron and chefs hat to decorate - these can be ordered on line for super cheap!  go to: http://www.kidsaprons.com
• Set out parchment paper in front of each person and tape the edges to secure in place.
• Purchase the ready made crusts and give each individual 1/2 to roll out and shape as they want.
• Put a long line of ingredients down the center of the table and let everyone make their special pizza!
• Bake and enjoy!

Indoor Scavenger Hunt!

I love doing this one! The kids have so much fun hunting and gathering the items! You can make the hints into riddles, like..."What is black and white and read all over and puts you to sleep each night?" - a book! Just get creative!

Another idea is to hide fun dollar store items around the house and each hiding place gives you a hint as to where the next item is. For instance: "What is tall and big and keeps things cold?" - the refrigerator! On a side note: I do find that I have to have one of the same items for each child or set up a hunt that sends each child to their own treasures! This prevents major arguments....this is suppose to be fun and there's nothing fun about kids fighting! Well, let's get real they will fight about something, but at least you tried!

Indoor Game Day!

Set up games for the kids to play around the house.

• Hop Scotch is easy to do with low adhesive tape on carpet or hard floors use the grid for a bean bag toss, also!
• Set up bowling with a small ball and Solo cups: just keep score with how many cups get knocked down and give each person 2 tries.
• Bucket ball toss: Purchase about 3 to 4 beach buckets put a score value on each one and toss in the ball!
• Set up a table with a board game or two.

Messy Art Day!

For our little ones who love to be creative!

Set up an arts and craft area....and by set up I mean cover everything, cause this one can get messy! Use a plastic drop cloth on the floor and table and then set up the supplies. Gathered everything you can from around the house like scapbook paper, beads, toilet paper rolls, glue, scissors, paint supplies, cups, tin cans, ribbon, etc. You can use anything that you want and let the kids imaginations do the rest!

I hope these have been helpful! I know how frustrating it is to have the kids begging for things to do all summer! So just hit the dollar store and have a blast! And Remember stay cool!