Balloon Paddles

My kids had so much fun trying to keep the balloons off the floor with these balloon paddles. Just tape a paper plate to some sort of "handle" (we had paint stirrers, so I used those, but you could use rulers, wooden spoons, or whatever you have), blow up a couple balloons and have fun!

Water Fight

Okay, so not very original, but sometimes the most spontaneous things are the very most fun! My husband and I were outside the other day when it was pretty hot, and we somehow got into a water fight, fully dressed of course! We involved my kids (being gentle with them) and they had a BLAST and didn't want to go inside. Yes, I had to deal with wet soggy clothes afterwards, but pure joy like that is worth it.

Bubbles and Bubble Wands

Sorry I've been missing in action! I've had a crazy couple of weeks.
I LOVE bubbles (and my kids do too.) I made this homemade solution because we go through so much of this stuff, and this is cheaper for us, plus it works great. I have a few more recipes I want to try, but for now here's this one.

Bubble Recipe:

(Fills a gallon milk jug)
11 Cups Water
4 Cups Ajax dish soap (anti-bacterial works best)
1 Cup corn syrup

Mix all together!

We've been having a great time experimenting with different bubble wands.

Bubble Wand Ideas:

First of all, pipe cleaners are awesome. Kids can make whatever shape/color they want.

Another thing I love to do- take a couple straws and cut them in half, then tape them together. Dip one end in bubble solution, and blow into the other end. This makes tons of little bubbles, and it's easy for young children to do.
Fly Swatters are GREAT. (You can buy a new clean one for really cheap.) Just dip and wave it around. Makes LOTS of bubbles. Funnels. We dipped the small end in the solution, then blew into the big end. Easy for my daughter.

The possibilities are endless!

Flying Fish

This is a super easy activity that even I enjoyed. When you throw the fish into the air (or drop them from a higher point), they kind of flutter and spin down. Then we took them outside where it was slightly windy... boy did those things fly! It was hilarious! My daughter stood on top of her slide and would let go, and they'd take off and we chased them all over the yard. Good times. Here's what ya do:

Cut 1 inch strips from the page of an old magazine (long ways). Cut a slit halfway into the strip at each end about 1 inch from the end. (At one end of the strip cut from the top halfway down to the middle, and at the other end cut from the bottom halfway up to the middle.) Bend the strip into a loop and push the slits together so that the loop closes and it looks like a fish.

This idea came from "The Toddler's Busy Book" by Trish Kuffner

Ball Ramp

We buy lots of diapers around here, and we buy them by the box, but this can be made from any box. Just tape everything shut, cut a hole in one end, and cut along the sides and one end so you can push it back, as shown. Tape the "ramp" in place, and let your kids play! Mine loved to drop the balls down the hole and see how far they'd go...
And then they found out that by placing it horizontally, it's a whole new game! Run the ball down the ramp, and watch it go out the hole!

This was especially fun on our kitchen floor, and as soon as the wind dies down outside, we'll try it out on our sidewalk.

Fun Things to do With a Ball

Knock it across the room with a kitchen utensil. Grab a spoon or a strainer with a handle.


Roll with it. Facing your child with legs spread apart, roll a ball to each other, alternatting between using your left hand and right hand.


Bounce it into a laundry basket. Hold the basket and have her try to toss the ball so it lands inside. Move back to make the game more challenging. You can do the same thing with a hula hoop.


Go Bowling. Knock over some empty water bottles or soda cans.


Size them up. Give your child an assortment of balls-tennis, golf, Ping-Pong-and an empty muffin tim. She'll have fun putting a ball in each compartment, dumping them out, and starting all over again.


Play air ball. Take turns hitting a beach ball up toward the ceiling, trying not to let it hit the ground.


Sing a silly ball song. Have him run around the room holding a ball, while belting out "The Ball on the Bus Goes Round and Round."


Toss it up a slide. She'll love watching it roll down.

Play in the sink. Fill up your kitchen sink, and throw in lots of smaller balls. Some will sink, some will float, and your child will have lots of splashing fun. Just have a towel handy.