Summer Game Printable

August is half over, which means school will be starting up in just a couple short weeks. Are you still looking for something fun for kids to do at home? Then you’re in luck, because we have a new printable to offer you just in time for the end of summer!

Maybe kids are tired of being outside. Maybe you have rainy days. Or maybe you just need an activity for the evening or when it’s too hot to go out. Either way this new printable is sure to bring entertainment for younger kids. 

This newest printable is our Summer Maze Board Game! This game board is easy to print and can be given to kids to play with. It can even act as a two-in-one activity! Print the game on white paper and first let kids color the board. After they finish that, they can make their own game pieces then finally actually play the game.

This summer themed game is a great way to celebrate how fun summer was before sending kids back to school. So what are you waiting for? The game board is free. You can find it HERE.

Keep checking back with our blog! With the school year approaching, we’ll have tons of back to school items to feature to help you prepare for a new school year.

Enjoy that last bit of summer vacation!

Summer Activities for Kids!

We’re right in the middle of summer, and while some kids might still be having a blast, some might be bored. Everyone hates to hear that word. Sometimes it might be tempting to just let them sit inside and watch TV, but do something different! 

Constantly taking children to theme parks, the movies, the zoo, and more can eventually get fairly pricey. Instead, we’ve compiled a list of 10 cheap summer activities that will stop boredom in its tracks!

1.       Lemonade stand

This traditional summer activity is seen more and more rarely. Not only will it give your children something to do, but it will help them learn the value of earning money! A lemonade stand is easy to construct with a small, fold out table, or if you feel ambitious, build a proper one yourself! If children set up the stand out front, simply keep an eye on them. If they wish to venture to a busier street make sure to go with or send an older sibling or babysitter with them. This activity can last them all day.

2.       Make a fort

What kid doesn’t love forts? This activity is great for both inside and outside. Forts can be built from all sorts of materials such as blankets, pillows, sheets, cardboard boxes, plywood, and more! Building the fort itself will occupy young ones for a while. Next encourage them to decorate the inside. Children can have snacks, play games, or nap inside their forts. This is another activity that could keep them occupied all day!

3.       Have a themed picnic

Picnics are a common summer activity, but have you ever tried a themed picnic? Themed picnics are a great way to make a day out even more special. Themes can be food based, or can extend to the activities and dress code as well! Need some examples? How about food from around the world? Or sports, with tons of games to play? Maybe try circus, with fun circus foods like cotton candy, popcorn, and more. There is tons of room for creativity, so this event can be repeated simply by choosing a new theme!

4.       Sprinkler

If you don’t have a pool and don’t feel like dragging yourselves to one across town, then a sprinkler is a great option. Simply set it out in the yard on a hot day, have kids change into swimsuits, and let them at it! Suggest games such as water Simon says or “fill the cup”. Take occasional breaks for the kids to snack and dry off.

5.       Library

If your kids are readers you’ve probably already made stops to the library this summer. If not, now is the time to encourage children to go! Reading is a very important skill and with so much free time in summer children should be encouraged to read. Let them pick out a couple books they like. This is a great way to spend a rainy day instead of watching TV.

6.       Free concert in the park

A lot of community parks, cafes, and more offer free concerts during the summer months. The best way to find out about these is to check your community calendar. Music can range from classical, to jazz, to rock, and much more. A fun event for the whole family!

7.       Camp in the backyard

Camping at a campsite can get expensive and chaotic, but camping in your own backyard is free and close to home! Set up a tent and sleeping bags, have a campfire, and let the evening begin! Before dark play games in the yard. If you can have a fire, roast hotdogs and Smores. If not, grill and eat outside! After dark it’s time to sing some campfire songs and tell ghost stories. Keep the technology inside and forget you’re not in the woods! 

8.       Make your own at home movie theater

Sometimes, kids just need a break from the heat, or there’s a string of rainy days. If you want to involve technology make it unique! Pick a day along with a selection of movies and turn your living room into a movie theater. Set up a concession stand with candy, popcorn, and soda. If you’re aiming to be healthier, opt for some fruit and juice, with maybe just one unhealthy snack for the day. Then close the blinds, turn off the lights, and enjoy a movie experience without the high cost!

9.       Write and illustrate a book

This is another great indoor activity for summer. Staple some pages together and let your child write and illustrate their own book! Older children might not need illustrations, but younger children will enjoy making their project a picture book. If kids are stuck there are tons of writing prompts online! Encourage them to use their imagination, whether they’re making their own fantasy story or re-telling a family vacation. Then share the stories with the rest of the family! 

10.   Make an obstacle course in the yard

An obstacle course is a great way to keep kids active in a fun way! Create an obstacle course for your kids or encourage them to design their own. Obstacle courses can easily be made from items you have around your house. Some examples? Use a piece of wood as a balance beam.  Toss beanbags into a laundry basket or box. Crawl under tables or benches. You are limited only by your imagination! 

And there you have it! Ten ways to entertain your kids this summer! Make sure to keep an eye on this blog for more tips like this, product features, and free printables!

Tips for a Fun and Safe 4th of July

Where are you spending the 4^th of July? The park? The beach? If you have a long drive ahead of you, you’ll need something to keep the kids entertained. Here’s a free summer word search printable from Teacher’s Square!  This word search is a great activity for kids with a beach theme, which is great for summer! http://www.teacherssquare.com/PDF/Teacherssquare/FunAtTheBeachWordSearch.pdf

 

But there’s a lot more that goes into a celebration besides just surviving the journey there. Below we’ve compiled some tips to keep you and your children safe during the 4^th of July, no matter where you’re celebrating.

Tips for:

Spending the 4^th at the Park

- Arrive early. A lot of people head to the park to watch fireworks, picnic out, and have some fun family time. If you want a good spot you need to arrive long before the fireworks begin.

-Bring food. Anyone will get hungry while spending a full day at the park. You should pack a variety of foods. Bring sandwiches for a meal, but also bring things to snack on such as pretzels, apples, and anything else you can think of!

-Choose somewhere with bathrooms nearby. This is especially important for those of you with younger children, who will need a bathroom and need it right away. It might be a good idea to bring toilet paper, as bathrooms tend to run out quickly on holidays. 

-Use a lot of sunscreen. This not only prevents sunburns, which can ruin a fun day out, but it also helps to prevent skin cancer. Teach your children early about being safe in the sun.

 -Bring entertainment to last the whole day. Some examples? Footballs, soccer balls, Frisbees, books, magazines, cards, and tons more.

- Keep a close eye on kids. Let them run around and play, but children, especially young ones, are more likely to get lost in large crowds. Relax, but be wary.

Spending the 4^th at the Beach

-Bring sunscreen and apply it often. You and your children will be in the sun a lot, so it’s important to keep skin protected.

-Bring water. Staying hydrated in the heat is essential. It is easy for children in particular to get dehydrated and overheated.

 -Have a change of clothes for the fireworks. Not only will it be more comfortable, it will save time after the fireworks end. You can head straight for the car instead of joining the lines of people going to change.

 -Bring food or money for beachside dining. You can’t forget to eat!

-Keep a close eye on kids, especially when they’re playing in the water. Drowning is a serious risk while playing at the beach, especially if you’re at the ocean instead of a lake. Tides can pull inexperienced and experienced swimmers alike out into deeper water. If your children are younger, go with them into the water or send an older sibling with who can watch them.

Spending the 4^th at Home 

-Shop in advanced. It will only stress you out if you have to run to the store on the 4^th to get things for the day. Have that done already.

-Have games for kids. Whether you make up activities, have yard games, or indoor games, make sure there’s plenty of entertainment to keep kids happy.

 -Practice grill safety at all times if you’re cooking out.

-Watch fireworks from your yard or on TV to celebrate.

- If you have sparklers at home, make sure to use them safely. Children under 12 really should not be allowed to hold them, and any child playing them should be monitored carefully.

- If you may legally use consumer fireworks, do so with extreme caution. Fireworks are dangerous. Keep children back and plan for all types of situations before attempting to set off your own fireworks.

There you have it! We at www.teacherssquare.com wish you all a very happy 4^th of July! Have fun!

Father's Day Printable!

Hello again, readers! Father’s Day is approaching, and along with it, the end of the school year. Since the school year is nearly over, you may not have enough time to put together a large craft. After all, there’s locker cleanouts, final assignments, assemblies, and all sorts of things that come with the ending of a school year. Gathering supplies and finding time to work in another craft simply isn’t always possible.

That’s why we at TeachersSquare.com have created this simple printable for you to give to your students! It doesn’t even have to be cut out. Simply follow the link, print the item, and hand it out to your students!

The printable is of a classic father item…a tie! Above the tie are the words “What I Like About My Dad!” On the tie are lines for students to write their answers on.

This is perfect for better time management at the end of a busy year. The project requires little preparation and no cleanup. It also stops dads from feeling left out. Students have plenty of time during school to make something for Mother’s Day, but due to the timing of Father’s Day, dads don’t always get a handmade gift. Now they can.

If desired, students can color in the tie before writing their answers in the provided lines. This simple activity will make dad’s feel special without making a time crunch for you.

You can find the PDF of our printable HERE.

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Enjoy the end of the school year!