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An Aussie Mum
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| Posted: Feb 01 2009 at 10:53pm | IP Logged
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I know a lot of you are probably not in the 'outdoor' mode right night, but down here we are feeling pretty hot! I was wondering if any of you have any ideas for activites for little ones (age 2 - 4) for outside. I like activities that you set up at a table and they play happily for an hour or so.
So far I have;
Playdough
Uncooked rice and a tea set
Goop (a mixture of cornflour and water)
Coloured water and a tea set with eye droppers etc.
All these activities are great for fine motor skills, but I would love some more ideas!
Thank you!
Kate
Mum to ds-7, ds-5, dd-2 & ds-6mths
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Lori
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| Posted: Feb 01 2009 at 11:01pm | IP Logged
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how about sand and water and some seashells?
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missionfamily
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| Posted: Feb 01 2009 at 11:16pm | IP Logged
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How about sand with some colored marbles and sifters?
My kids love washable paints and big sheets of paper taped to our deck, then fun stuff to paint with, like sponge balls, leaves, etc....
Sorry...sick kid here...be back later with the rest.
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Colleen
dh Greg
mom to Quinn,Gabriel, Brendan,Evan, Kolbe, and sweet St. Bryce
Footprints on the Fridge
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An Aussie Mum
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| Posted: Feb 01 2009 at 11:42pm | IP Logged
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Thank you for your quick replies!
We have a sandpit but I sometimes find that anything that is already accessible to the kids becomes 'boring'. If I bring out somethng that they haven't played with in a while it keeps their attention longer!
Colleen - I hope your little one gets better!
Kate
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Maggie
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| Posted: Feb 07 2009 at 9:42pm | IP Logged
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I live in FL...and a lot of people here have "sand and water tables", which is essentially a little sized table, divided in two...and has about 2-3 inches of sand on one side and 2-3 inches of water on the other...but they are pretty expensive for what they are...but you can take that idea and make it your own...Buy a bag of sand (or rice and noodles), scoops, cups, measuring spoons, water...and let them go to town.
My 3.5 yo LOVES sidewalk chalk.
Bubbles are always fun.
Or run the hose, put swimming suits on them, and let them enjoy. :)
God Bless,
Maggie
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acystay
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| Posted: Feb 18 2009 at 10:45am | IP Logged
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A few that my kids have liked...
1. science experiments! One that they can do at this age (my now 7 year old did these at 2 while I cooked dinner) is take a muffin tin and put just a touch of baking soda. Have 3 small containers one of each of viniger, lemon or lime juic, and water. Then show how they can put just a tiny bit of acid or water in the baking soda. They can begin to experiment with which ones work and don't make foaming bubbles. Make it more interesting and add a bit of food coloring. You can even do mixing colors that way too.
2. water color painting but differently...using bleeding tissue paper. I would cut in shapes or rip and put into a container. You have a small amount of water in a cup, water color paper, and a brush. Pick up a piece of tissue put on paper and paint with water. Continue until you have created whatever you wanted. Let them dry and then take off paper.
3. Sidewalk chalk. You can make your own with plaster of paris too. It takes a few days but comes out pretty cool.
4. Along the idea of number one, make volcanoes in the sand and add the magic ingredients to watch it explode.
5. Plant their own flowers. My kids LOVE gardening. They will dig and dig. If you don't want that in your yard, have them plant in planters and then they have the job of caring for the plants every day.
6. have tried this once in our desert heat of the summer (in so cal) and it did work. Make dried fruit chews in the car! You basically puree the fruit, cover a sheet pan with plastic wrap, pour mixture in an spread to cover evenly. Put in the back window of your car and let set for a few hours. continue to check it, the edges get dry FAST
I think that is all I have for now.
Stacy
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mooreboyz
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| Posted: Feb 20 2009 at 8:11pm | IP Logged
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I thought of 2 things to add:
painting with water...give them a bucket of water and an asst of brushes and let them paint sidewalks, fences, rocks
little kid car wash...bucket of soapy water, a rag, and let them scrub their bikes, scooters, dump trucks, sand toys, etc.
I have learned to not let my kids have the hose on their own b/c someone/thing always gets sprayed that doesn't want to be
Oh...treasure hunts always are loved here and keep the kids busy. For nonreaders you can just make a picture map or picture clues that lead from one clue to the next. Older kids could get written riddles to solve.
And another I just thought of....if you have a clothesline hand sheets or blankets to make a fort. This will shade them from the sun as well. They can take out toys/snacks/audio books/etc and make a day of it.
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Jackie
7 boys - 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 15, 17 years
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An Aussie Mum
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| Posted: March 13 2009 at 3:12am | IP Logged
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I have been meaning to say 'thank you' to those people who helped with ideas for my littlies, they were very helpful. More ideas are definitely welcome!
Kate
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Jody
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| Posted: March 18 2009 at 6:59pm | IP Logged
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Here are a few more ideas:
1. A tub of soapy water, a tub of rinse water ,a clothes rack or clothes line with clothes pins and a bunch of doll clothes.
My kids love to hand wash doll clothes and hang them out to dry in the sun. When they're dry they fold and put them away.
2. Washing play dishes and cookware is also fun too.
I have brought the kid's plastic kitchen set outside (the sink and stove combo) and let the kids wash that with their dishes. I gave them a big tub of soapy water and they had a blast!
3. A sprinkler is always fun
One summer I ran the sprinkler so that it hit the small plastic slide. I put a long piece of plastic under the slide so that it ran from the slide slopeing down a slight incline. The kids ran through the sprinkler, zipped down the wet slide and went sailing over the wet plastic. Very, Very fun!
4. setting up a small pup tent in the backyard for all kinds of imaginative play (explorers, cowboys/indians, camping etc..)
I am looking forward to the warm weather to arrive. 
Peace,
Jody
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Mom to 10 blessings
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SaraP
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| Posted: April 14 2009 at 5:51pm | IP Logged
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If you are willing to do some hosing down afterwards, a few pounds of flour and a few small pitchers of water are great fun . . . like playing in the mud, but also different.
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Mama to six on earth, two in heaven and two waiting in Russia. Foxberry Farm Almanac
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Lisa in WI
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| Posted: April 27 2009 at 12:05pm | IP Logged
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Thank you for this list of ideas. My dc are pretty independent when we go outside since they love it so much, but I'm sure they'll love using some of these ideas once-in-a-while as well.
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: Outdoor Sensory Activities for Littlies
