> Activities / Play> Summer Fun

30 Days of Summer Fun for Kids
30 Days of Summer Fun is a 30-day newsletter packed with all the fun ideas for projects, crafts, food and outings featured on this page -- but it comes directly to you via e-mail! In addition, you'll find tips on how to make your summer safe and keep your children healthy all season long.

Day 1 -- Go Swimming!
Plan for day one -- Take a dip in the pool, learn about pool safety, take a safety quiz and make a quick and easy dinner.

Day 2 -- Make Watermelon Ice!
Plan for day two - Make Watermelon (or lemon) ice, find options for affordable child care, help soothe little teethers and check out amusement park ideas.

Day 3 -- Grow a Salsa Garden
Plan for day three - grow tomatoes, pepper, herbs and onions for fresh salsa all summer and get gardening tips for kids.

Day 4 -- Pick Some Strawberries!
Plan for day four - pick some strawberries on a farm, make strawberry shortcake, find other strawberry recipes and learn about growing strawberries at home.

Day 5 -- Read!
Plan for day five -- if it's raining, or even if it's not you can spend a day reading. Find the best books for infants and toddlers and learn how to keep your older kids reading.

Day 6 -- Blow Some Bubbles!
Plan for day six -- make your own bubble solution and blow some bubbles. Also find tips for making wands and learn about how to avoid heat stroke and exhaustion.

Day 7 -- Go To Market!
Plan for day seven - Go to the farmer's market. You can use this searchable database to find markets near you and then use these recipes to whip up a feast with your purchases. Also learn about becoming a vegetarian and find out more about organic produce.

Day 8 -- Make Sidewalk Chalk!
Plan for day eight - make some sidewalk chalk and color your sidewalk. No sidewalk? Make your own chalkboard at home!

Day 9 -- Make Mudpies!
Plan for day nine - time to get messy with some mudpies and get a recipe for a mud pie that you can actually eat.

Day 10 -- Grow a Sunflower!
Plan for day 10 - grow a sunflower. Grow it in the backyard, or in a container if you don't have a back yard. You can also make a hide-out by planting many flowers.

Day 11 -- Be Frugal!
Plan for day 11 - learn how to have fun without spending a lot of money, make inexpensive treats and find out ways to cut costs at home this summer.

Day 12 -- Take a Walk!
Plan for day 12 -- take a neighborhood walk and let your child take pictures along the way. Develop the pictures and put together a book to remember the day.

Day 13 -- Have a Picnic!
Plan for day 13 - get recipe ideas for picnics, learn basket-packing techniques and get tips for how to stay cool on hot days. And if you want to send the kids to grandma's or a sitter, plan a romantic picnic for just the two of you in the park.

Day 14 -- Start a Collection
Plan for day 14 - help your child start a collection of something that sparks his or her interest.

Day 15 -- Have a Slumber Party
Plan for day 15 - get out the sleeping bags and the popcorn and have slumber party in the living room!

Day 16 -- Make Some Music
Plan for day 16 - gather up some art materials from around the house and make your own musical instruments.

Day 17 -- Make Suncatchers
Plan for day 17 - make these easy suncatchers with your child. It's easy enough for small hands and they make a great window decoration.

Day 18 -- Make Popsicles
Plan for day 18 - what summer would be complete without the messy fun of making and eating popsicles? But okay, if you aren't looking forward to the mess, check out the tip on mess-free popsicles.

Day 19 -- Have a BBQ
Plan for day 19 - have a barbeque. Here are recipes and tips for a fun cookout. And if it's raining, you can find out how to have an indoor barbeque.

Day 20 -- Make Smoothies
Plan for day 20 - make some smoothies with these healthy and fun recipes. They're good for you and for your baby or toddler.

Day 21 -- Take a Trip
Plan for day 21 - pack up the diaper bag and the first aid kit and hit the road this summer. Find tips on how to make travel easier and what to pack in a first aid kit.

Day 22 -- Play with Sand
Plan for day 22 - learn how to use sand as an art medium and find out how to make an indoor sandbox.

Day 23 -- Make Lemonade
Plan for day 23 - make some old fashioned lemonade and let the older kids play a fun virtual lemonade stand game.

Day 24 -- Tie Dye!
Plan for day 24 - learn how to make tie-dyed shirts (or onesies for the little ones).

Day 25 -- Hit the Beach
Plan for day 25 - if there's a beach near you, pack up and head that way. Find projects you can make with items from the beach.

Day 26 -- Paint
Plan for day 26 - make your own paints and fingerpaints for homemade art fun. Find recipes for other homegrown projects as well.

Day 27 -- Recycle
Plan for day 27 - gather up a variety of different items from your home for recycling, start a recycling bin and find out how to teach your kids more about helping the environment.

Day 28 -- Watch the Sky
Plan for day 28 - day or night, the sky is full of interesting things. Teach your child about the stars and find books about clouds and astronomy.

Day 29 -- Go Camping
Plan for day 29 - pitch a tent and camp out. Don't want to travel? Just camp out in the back yard.

Day 30 -- Make Ice Cream
Plan for day 30 - what summer would be complete without homemade ice cream? You don't have to have an expensive ice cream maker either, you can make it right in a bag!

Make Fourth of July Popsicles
How to make Fourth of July popsicles, much like the "bomb-pops" you used to buy from the ice cream man.

Pool Safety Quiz
Take this quiz and test your knowledge of pool safety.

Easy Toddler Suncatchers
How to make suncatchers with older infants and toddlers. A quick, fun activity that requires few materials.

Salsa Recipe
Recipe for Salsa. Mild enough for your youngest to enjoy. Jalepenos optional!

Watermelon Ice Recipe
A recipe for watermelon ice. Perfect for hot summer days.

Prevent Popsicle Mess
A quick tip to cut down on popsicle mess with infants and toddlers.

5 Musical Instruments You Can Make at Home
Here are a variety of musical instruments you can make at home for your toddlers and preschoolers.

Home Made Playdough Recipes
Little hands love stimulation, and these playdough recipes will keep them busy for a long time. All can be made at home with standard pantry ingredients.

Home Made Paint Recipes
Painting helps active toddlers learn fine motor skills and encourages them to explore the feel of different textures. Stimulate your child with these recipes for paints that you can make right at home.

Home Made Bubble Recipes
Easy recipes for bubbles you can have fun with indoors or outdoors.

Make a Quick Dry Erase or Chalk Board
Large dry erase boards and chalkboards can be expensive, but they are a fun way to give your child a ready and renewable space for creative art. Here's how you can make your own.

Carrot - Banana Smoothie Recipe
Here is a recipe for a carrot - banana smoothie that is suitable for older children, but also for infants who are already eating table food.

One Pan Potatoes and Chicken Dijon
Recipe for one pan potatoes and chicken dijon. Just 20 minutes and dinner's ready.

Easy Strawberry Shortcake
A quick and easy recipe for strawberry shortcake that you can make with the kids.