Summer
🍦 Water graffiti
Get a squirt plastic bottle and refill it with water - use it to create water art on the pavement or on a wall. Can they get to the end of their masterpiece before it dries out and disappears? Or if it stays for a while longer, could the go round their water art in chalk?
They can draw a picture, or write their name, or their ‘tag’.
🍦 Paint a ‘mural’ on the garden fence
Depending on how precious your fencing is to you, either allow them a specific area to make a mural on, or get a roll of paper and pin it to the fence. Set them free to do a design they choose (maybe with your approval if it’s likely to be semi-permanent!).
You could use paint sample pots, or any left-over paint you have from decorating. Or perhaps give them the challenge of using non-obvious ‘mark-making’ materials - what can they find in the garden which will make a mark (I’d probably opt for the roll of paper on the fence option if you’re doing this!) - be prepared for mud, grass stains, pebbles and twigs to be smeared on your fence!
🍦 Shadow tag
When you’re out and about, chase each other’s shadows and try to stand on them!
🍦 Make a music video
Mime to a song (or do karaoke) while a fan blows cool air on you like in a real music video. Make it as cheesy as possible! Research rock band videos and have a laugh reminiscing while embarrassing your kid 🤣 Give them some examples to copy!
🍦 Doodle on a shadow
Take some paper (a notebook is fine) out into the sun and position it in a place where shadows from a tree or something similar will land on the page. Use those shadows to create doodled characters or to inspire them to draw objects that they’re reminded of.
Be quick though! The shadows will move. Especially if there’s a bit of a breeze as well.
🍦 Get lost in the clouds (or the stars!)
A chance to lie down and rest! Lay down so you can both look straight up at the sky. What do you see? If there are clouds, what shapes can you see? Do they remind you of anything? The more time you look, the more you’ll see.
Do this at night-time for an extra special treat (wake them up to do it on a particularly starry night?!). Switch as many lights off as you can, so you can see more stars, and lie down looking up. You eyes will adjust so stay there as long as possible. Enjoy the time together, chat about the connections you can see between the stars, and see where the conversation goes.