Going Crazy... - Irvine,CA

The carnival on the Santa Monica pier? The fun zone on the Newport peninsula? Hike and picnic in Topanga? Downtown Disney? Slip-n-slide in the yard?

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Do you have a sprinkler for your back yard? My mom bought one for us that is really long, has little silicon arms everywhere, and just sprays like crazy when you turn the water on. It is fun for the kids because the water sprays are unpredictable. My kids (4 and 3) love it, as do our neighbors' kids, 2 10 yr old girls. I think it was about $10 from Walmart.

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The library is always a good place to start. Most libraries have events for kids during the summer. We've seen magicians and exotic animals, done science experiments and crafts, and played with Legos all for free at different libraries. We also love making the drive to Cerritos library. It's our favorite! It has an amazing children's section with a large aquarium, a real T-rex, a large model of the space shuttle, a lighthouse, a rainforest tree, and so much more. On the outside, there's a sculpture garden to explore, fountains, and a small koi pond next to a great climbing tree. We often will picnic there and play in one of the fountains after exploring the library and garden. Just down the street is Heritage Park, which has an island with mazes of slides and so many things different from most parks. Other ideas: Walk through Bolsa Chica wetlands. Sign up for www.kidsbowlfree.com and go bowling! Go swimming at a community or high school pool (usually open to the public for a couple of dollars). Get a new active game, such as Twister or Hulaballoo. Have a dance party! Go to Michael's and buy their $1 wooden craft sets. The kits come with paint, glue and everything you need to build a car, birdhouse, plane, etc. In Westminster, they have a free splash pad in Sigler Park. In La Mirada, there's an inexpensive water park called Splash! which is perfect for you kid's ages. Paint with water by filling up buckets of water and giving the kids cheap paintbrushes to paint on the ground. Create a playhouse with sheets/blankets and chairs. Have the kids make puppets and make-up a play. Invite family and/or neighbors over for a Friday night show and serve popcorn. Go to the beach. There are some nice spots in Laguna Beach that are easy for your 2 & 3 year olds, yet satisfying for your older kids. I hope this helps!!! Enjoy the rest of your summer!!!

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Go to the library, they usually have teen and toddler activities. Chick fil a usually has local Parent magazines with tons of activity info, pick one up and check out the activity ideas and the calendar of events.

Make slime, you need glue (clear glue makes see through slime, kind with glitter normally in it. White glue makes opaque(?) slime, hope that makes sense) An...yway mix 1 bottle glue with 1/2 cup water and food coloring or glow in the dark paints. In another bowl 1tsp. borax and 1 cup water stir until dissolved, mix bowls together and you have slime.

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Water guns!

Build things in the yard - get creative here. My kids love to set up the tent and air mattress in the backyard and pretend we are camping. Then. at night, you can have flashlight wars!

Yard Sales - my kids love taking a few bucks and leaving with all that loot!

Visits to the park

Visits to the library (if the younger ones can adapt to the quiet).

Visit the clearance aisle in Wal Mart or Target. They should have tons of SUPER FUN summer toys marked down to next to nothing - ball tossing games and all kinds of stuff.

Movies

Ice cream runs!

Do they like arts and crafts? Those are always fun! google ideas.

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Visit different parks in your area, a new one each day. Look for a free community publication that will have information about upcoming events that may be free or cheap. Go to a fast food place with a play area for some air conditioned fun, you don't have to eat a whole meal there, just some ice cream cones or something from a dollar menu. Have a water party with a kiddie pool, sprinklers, water balloons, etc. in your back yard. Go to your local library and find out about story times and other fun activities, my kids took a free art class at the library this summer and it was great! Look into free vacation bible schools if you are religious or don't mind your kids learning a bit of religious stuff, it is mostly fun activities, not just sitting around reading the bible. Go on a hike or nature walk, find out about good trails to take from Parks and Rec, where I live there are many easy, paved trails that you can take a stroller on. Go feed ducks at a duck pond or lake/river/ wherever you can find ducks in your area! Save the heels of your bread in the freezer for this purpose. Bake cookies or other food together with your children, it is a great learning experience for them! Have fun!

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Tide pools. Newport Environmental center. Check out events at local library. Make sock puppets

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paint, water, and a baby pool to rinse in? Parks, and nature trails, caves? Museums, libraries, story times, playdates with friends, scavenger hunt, nature centers are free

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Our local bowling alley has a free summer kids program. The kids get 2 free games of bowling every day. You just have to pay for the shoe rental (and on certain days that is discounted too). The program itself is free, but you do have to go online to sign up. Maybe check around where you are and see if there is a similar program?

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Wow! I bet your busy :) free stuff I can think of is the library or depending on the weather, the park so they can run and tire themselves out! Wow that's a long time! We started monday and I miss my freshman! Good luck

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Since you're in Irvine, how about packing a picnic for any of the following and maybe spend a little to splurge on a food treat;
1. Fashion Valley Mall, they have different fountains and water features.
2. Irvine Spectrum, wander around, pack food.
3. Irvine Park, they have a zoo ($2pp, 2 and under free), train ride, paddle boat, pony rides, etc. It is $3 to park, but you can spend all day there. http://www.irvineparkrailroad.com/
4. Go to the local library. I loved going to the library as a child

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Set them up outside to do fingerpainting and sidewalk chalk. Also, if it's warm, playing in the sprinklers. Have the 9 and 6 year olds take the 3 and 2 year olds for a stroll in strollers or just a walk around the block.

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Try this website: http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/play/activities-and-rec...

Hopefully this will help!

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Learn a new language! or Learn about a new country. Pick a country and look up at the library or internet their national language, money system, what they eat, what kids their age do, and mark it on a big map.

Go downtown and hit the big hotels and office buildings. Indoors, air conditioned and wide open spaces. Elevators and escalators galore! I just stayed in a hotel downtown that had 30 floors and an elevator w/an outdoor view, so you can watch the city go up and down. A kid's dream! I'd pack snacks and books or small games and my kid and I would hang out and watch the people on the lobby benches.

Have a kid pick an hour and let them chose a game they want to play, and then everyone has to play.

gl!

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Some local places that my kids like and are free or very cheap:

Nature center at Central Park in Huntington-free

Atlantis Park-$1/pp, 2 and under free

Tide pools-Corona Del Mar, may be difficult for the little ones, older ones would love it-free

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Don't know where you live but I take mine (6, 3 and 1) to the beach... it entertains all of them. Plus my two younger ones takes great naps after a fun beach morning... but I hear you, I'm longing for school to start now.

Please go to my website and get the free behavior charts and tips on kids! It's a great place to start getting organized - to learn how to motivate your kids to help YOU and learn to contribute to the family by doing the things you want them to do anyway! Here's the link: http://www.gomommygo.com/thankdontspank.html
PS - Congratulations on your abundant family!
Best,
R.