C.B.
Hi D.,
This is so great! I do the same thing as well. The theme thing is what will keep you organized & sane. There are lots of great playgrounds to check out too. I don't know what area you're from but if you're in central mass there's auburn playground (rocketland), oxford playground (treasureland) and the spencer playground -- those are my 3 favorites.
You can get free and/or discounted passes to different places from your local library as well. Aquariums, zoos, museums, etc. The ecotarium has supposingly gotten better lately (i haven't been in a while, but last time it wasn't that great) but definitely call your library (you'll need specific dates though when you ask) - SO worth it!!!
Some gyms like gigures or twisters have 'play time' for a small fee. The kids go in & use the equipment for like an hour or so. Not expensive at all.
Also, check your library for any special events - story times, puppet shows, etc.
I don't know how much your girls like the 'great outdoors' but there are some wonderful (and free) hiking trails around as well. You could do a nature scavenger hunt while you walk. It's great exercise too. There are trails all over the place. Also, if you can, check out Purgatory Chasms in Sutton (you don't have to do the rock climbing area, there are regular trails as well, and a playground too).
You can also get discounted tickets for certain things through AAA if you're a member & also if you have an Entertainment Book, there's lots of discounts in there as well.
I also do a Summer Reading Tree. This year my oldest (now 6) can read himself so he'll have his own leaves. But we make a tree out of paper & stick it to the fridge & each day we read a book & write the title on a paper leaf & add it to the tree, by the end of the summer it's quite full (we're bookworms over here), this year should be great for my oldest as well with his new reading skills.
You can also go to your local track & let the girls ride their bikes or scooters.
As far as easy goes - the simple things like bubbles, side walk chalk, bikes, baking (jello, cupcakes, banana bread, etc), make pine cone bird feeders (using peanut butter, pine cones & bird seed & yarn - all very cheap).
There's watercolor paints & story times with a craft afterwards (one of my favorites is reading 'The Jolly Postman" and then letting the kids write their own letters (or draw a picture) & let them fill out the envelope & mail it out!). You can also Act out a story or tell it as a puppet show - make puppets with old socks, yarn , buttons & markers & use an old box for a stage. The possibilities are endless.
Other easy things are puzzles, colorforms, felt boards, and magnet boards.
Have a movie show (make your own tickets & popcorn & candy & set it up like a real theater. Afterwards you can make a craft from the movie -- ex) if you watch peter pan, make a treasure map after or make your own fairies or fairy houses for tinkerbell. )
Fun games for the kids (and if you need a rest so you can sit down & take a breather) are simon says, mother may i, red light green light, leap frog. We play the guessing game as well ex) what's big, bright, yellow, hot & up in the sky --- THE SUN. That's always fun.
Try some music & dancing. There are plenty of wonderful cd's - Laurie Berkner ROCKS for kids. And if you don't want to buy the cd - then listen to your own music - there are plenty of songs w/o any crude & rude lyrics in them.
There's also the animal game - walk & cluck like a chicken, slither & hiss like a snake, etc.
Ok, I'll leave you to this monstrous list of ideas. I apologize - you got my creative juices flowing & have in turn given me some great ideas for my own little ones.
Have a wonderful summer!
C. B.
