The Big List Of Things To Do With Your Kids When It Is Hot Outside

I am in the middle of experiencing my first Summer with a one-year-old and oh my goodness! How fun is this?! I am so grateful I have the opportunity to be able to play with her every single day. Like all of you, we love to get outside and run around – BUT living in the desert, the heat is upon us in FULL FORCE and it makes it a bit difficult to have the desire to leave our air conditioned home. It is so hot, you literally walk outside and you feel like you hit a wall of FIRE. My cute girl’s pastey white skin turns bright red almost immediately!

So – what do we do?! We have ALL day to play, but can’t go to the park? It sounds like torture! But don’t worry… we have learned how to get creative and how to have fun even if it feels like 800 degrees outside. I present to you The Big List Of Things To Do With Your Kids When It Is Hot Outside.

THINGS AT HOME:

1. Fill a large bowl up with dry, uncooked rice or beans – throw in hidden treasures {bouncy balls, clothes pins, quarters} give them a measuring cup and start digging!

2. Play dough is always a winner – fun to have them work with their hands and be creative

3. Art time – gather paints, crayons and oil pastels and let them create a masterpiece. Don’t forget to hang it on the refrigerator after!

4. Bake and decorate cookies – Let them stir and pour in the ingredients! You may get a little messy, but that is the fun part!

5. Build something – blocks are preferred, but if you don’t have blocks, toddlers love to stack anything! Books, cans, DVD cases… you name, they will play with it.

6. Indoor water play – A bath is always fun and refreshing. Throw in some water toys, buckets, bath crayons and rubber duckies. Let them splish and splash!

7. Finger painting with PUDDING or Shaving Cream! Super cheap, extremely messy and TONS of fun!

8. Grab some yarn and a box of fruit loops and make necklaces and bracelets by looping the cereal through the yarn.

9. Have a dance party – we are teaching our little one how to jump right now and it is hilarious to watch. Fun way to wear off that extra energy toddlers seem to always have too!

10. Chores – when I clean the house, I give my one-year-old a paper towel and squirt bottle full of water. She LOVES to feel like she is helping. She walks around rubbing everything – and is a great way for me to get some chores done too.

11. Build a fort – gather pillows and blankets and make a little door for you both to enter through. Inside have snacks and books that you can read together in the dark with a flashlight.

12. Indoor picnic – lay a blanket out and eat lunch together with their stuffed animals all around.

13. Drive-In-Movie – Does your little one have a car they like to go for walks in? Bring it inside and set it up by the TV. Let them sit in the car while they watch their favorite movie. If you don’t have a car – make one out of an old box!

PLACES TO GO: 

1) Go to the mall and play in the kids area

2) Go to the library and read books – let them even check out a book or two of their choice

3) Go to an indoor pool

4) Go to an aquarium, museum or discovery center

5) Go see a movie

6) Go to a Recreation Center

7) Find a mommy play group near you and join in on the fun

SPECIFICALLY FOR LAS VEGAS:

1) ONE DOLLAR MOVIES FOR KIDS: During Summer Movie Express Regal Theater is offering $1 MOVIES for kids at 10am. Check it out here

2) SPASH PADS: They are all over. Here is a list of some in the area.

3) SHARK REEF – at the Mandalay Bay. Information here

4) RUN PLUS FUN – Such a fun indoor play area! Prices here.

5) ADVENTURDOME – Fun for those traveling and locals! Hours and tickets can be purchased here.

6) PUMP IT UP – Where your imagination comes to play. More indoor fun here.

7) GYMBOREE PLAY & MUSIC – Classes and membership information can be found here. We took a mommy and me Gymboree class and it was a TON of fun!

8) PUPPET SHOWS – At the Enterprise Library there is a whole calendar of fun events! Puppet shows, story times and much more! Check it out here.

9) STORY TIME – Located in Town Square. Events are listed here.

10) MEET THE MERMAIDS – They swim right by you at the Silverton Hotel. Make sure you check the times here and its FREE.

11) BOUNCE U – Specifically for those active little ones! Get the wiggles out by jumping all over the sky here.

12) HOTEL POOLS – We are in Vegas! Of course there are going to be ENDLESS pools at every hotel. Pool hop! Our favorites are Hard Rock and Rio for kids! I suggest calling ahead to see if they are open to the public. It seems like they are always changing the rules.

13) BASS PRO SHOP FEED THE FISH – Always a winner! Indoor and FREE aquarium. Details can be found here.

14) FUNSET KIDS CLUB – Free to join at the Galleria Mall. Entertainment, crafts and giveaways every other week! Check it out here

15) TAKE A CLASS – Sign up at one of our Recreation Centers throughout The City of Henderson. There are TONS to choose from – dancing, gymnastics, music, swimming, etc. They even have mommy and me classes you can take WITH your little ones!

Summer is SO fun! Don’t let this heat bring you down – it is the perfect time to spend as a family and there are fun activities in every city you live in! I encourage you to check out your local libraries and online for family events and things to do in your area!

What do you like to do in the Summer with your kids!? I would love to hear from you!

Did you enjoy this? You may also like Daily Activities To Do With Your One Year Old or How To Make Your Child’s Summer AWESOME.

Danielle is the owner of Today's the Best Day. She strives to provide creative and uplifting content in order to enrich the parenting experience for women everywhere. Danielle hopes to help you and your family to make every day the best day!

July 16, 2014 by Danielle Davis | 11 Comments