Regular readers may remember that at the start of the year we put a lot of time and effort into Operation Garden renovation. Turning our junk heap of a garden into a nice place to be. We hoped it would be ready in time for the summer, so that a lot of time could be spent outside enjoying it. With me being pregnant we were particularly keen on this idea as it would mean that there would be days where I could easily occupy Monkey outdoors, without having to go anywhere! The good news is that we managed this and have already been spending a lot of time out there, doing various activities (I will list some of our favourites below).
For Monkey’s birthday in May we bought a second hand climbing frame on ebay complete with swing and slide, to have in the garden. Unfortunately with all of the illness that surrounded his birthday weekend we never actually put it up, and with one thing and another we just hadn’t ever got around to putting it up! This all changed last weekend though and we finally have a lovely climbing frame in use in our garden!
Monkey absolutely loves it. He was climbing all over it before it was even put up, and was desperately chomping at the bit to get up the steps and down the slide!!
For me, I love knowing I can get him outside to burn off some energy even on days when I have no energy to go anywhere!
Aside from our lovely climbing frame we have spent a lot of time outdoors this summer, and here are some of our favourite activities to play in the garden.
Basically using the tuffspot and sand table as the ‘beach’ and paddling pool as the ‘sea’. Lots of fun fun to be had!
Do you have spare cardboard lying around? Why not make it into a big tunnel in the back garden, plenty of space to run around and crawl through it!
Another use for all that fantastic spare cardboard is to use it as a big canvas and let your kids go mad and create with paint 🙂 So much fun but be prepared for the clean up as it does get messy!
A much less messier version of painting but great on a hot day – simply mix water with food colouring and freeze, then use the ice cubes as paint!
A very messy one that I wasn’t remotely prepared for but Monkey did enjoy it – for a little while anyway! Not for the faint hearted but worth a go if you are feeling brave 🙂
Water Painting
A lovely simple activity and all that is needed is a brush and some water (in this case a puddle lol!) . The ultimate in mess-free outdoor play, though I guess they may get themselves a bit wet.
Pavement Chalking
We obviously drew these numbers on the patio but Monkey loves drawing all sorts of shapes and scribbles and lines! He also likes declaring every smiley face or stick man we draw “Mummy!” or “Daddy!”
Bubble Blowing
What child doesn’t love bubbles? Running around chasing after them, trying to pop them, stamping on them if they rest on the grass, trying to blow them themselves and sometimes succeeding!
Monkey loves helping out at this age so on occasion when we need to get a few jobs done in the garden. He loves digging and weeding and carrying. keeps him busy and gets jobs done!
In the garden or anywhere really , little Monkey loves a nature hunt – he adores flowers at the moment, mainly dandelions and daisies bless him! Pine cones and twigs usually find their way home with us too though :).
There are more things I would still love to try too, like making a fantastic water wall like this one by Karen at Let Kids by Kids. I haven’t quite figured out how to rig one up in our garden…. I may try and attach one to the new climbing frame…. somehow or other!
So playing in the garden really is a very frequent ordinary moment these days, and I just love seeing Monkey potter about out there! Sometimes even just running around in circles on the grass :).
These are beautiful pictures with great activities to keep them busy! Thank you for sharing these amazing ideas 🙂 xx
Thank you hope we still have enough of a summer left for you to enjoy them 🙂 xx
Love all these ideas- I really must get out the big chalk and do it on the drive again, Mads loved doing that last year and LL would be able to do it now. Thankyou for reminding me, hopefully we will get some more sunshine so we can get out there still! xx
Thank you, yes I hope all this rain passes and we can get a bit more of a summer to enjoy yet 🙂 xx
Love all of these, especially the carboard painting. Love the mess 🙂
Thank you! The cardboard painting is my fave too, love being able to let him go mad and get really messy 🙂 xx
I love the cardboard tunnel idea, it looks so much fun and I think Z probably wouldn’t leave it 🙂
Oh it was so much fun and Monkey was out there for ages so I bet Z would love it too! xx
Such a fab range of ideas, we love outside play too!
thanks! It’s great to make the most of it while we can isn’t it? xx
What fantastic ideas. I can’t wait for the sunshine to come back so we can get outside and try some of these activities! Thank you for sharing these wonderful ideas! Amelia x
ohlittleonesweet.blogspot.co.uk
Thank you and glad you like them! Hopefully the sun will come out soon so you can have a go! 🙂 xx
Oh wow, fab ideas there-love taking the crafts outside to save mess too! #whatsthestory
Thanks lovely, it is one of my fave things baout summer, being able to keep the mess outside! 🙂 xx
It has been so great to have the weather to get out there, hasn’t it? Loads of fab ideas here 🙂
It really has, hopefully we will get a few more weeks of sun yet too 🙂 xx
All great ideas and ones I recognize from Country Kids posts. Lovely to see them all together here
Thanks Fiona, yes I may have linked up one or two but nice to have them all in one place 🙂 xx
Thank you for mentioning our water wall. Lots of great ideas there and lots of fun. x
Pleasure, it’s a fab idea and I need to work out how to do it too! xx
Some really lovely ideas here.
Thanks for sharing.
thank you 🙂 xx
Lovely ideas for outdoor play and that climbing frame looks like a great buy 🙂
thanks it is fab, gotta love ebay!
I love the simplicity of these activities … and despite being quite a lot older my two still love a good cardboard box to play with!
Thank you, ooh yes simple fun is the best and I’m not sure we ever grow out of cardboard box fun do we? xx
Cool and simple ideas. I have to make time and do each of these with my daughter. 🙂
Thank you, I am sure she would love some of these ideas 🙂 xx
Some wonderful ideas that hopefully I can use once this weather brightens up. #mummymonday
haha I know typical I post this when the weather starts to turn! xx
We got a huge climbing frame from ebay and it has been a huge success. Bubble and chalk always go down well too #whatsthestory
Ooh thank goodness for ebay eh? Yep simple outdoor fun at it’s best 🙂 xx
WOW bab this is great! Such a lot of work! This is a pinterests dream. I am defo going to do the ice painting with the kiddies. And congrats on hosting the linky! Enjoy reading xxxxx
Thanks lovely!! I bet they will love it! It was busy but lots of fun! xx
Such fun ideas and your garden is looking great!
#mmwbh
Thank you! xx
I love the fun that can be had with a cardboard box. We do the nature trails too, and chalk is always a winner! #MMWBH
I know cardboard boxes are fab whatever their age aren’t they? xx
It looks like a lot of fun in your garden. The ice painting is such a ingenious idea! I’m not very good at thinking of these crafty things and activities – so I am nicking this one! xx
Thank you and please do, I’ve nicked most of them from somewhere else in the first place 😉 xx
Some great ideas on your list. Now our little one has just been born, I look forward to recreating some of these in the near future!
aww so exciting, you will be enjoying messy play before you know it! xx
All easy to do. Needs less effort and FUN =) #LetKidsBeKids
Exactly! 🙂 xx
Great ideas!! It looks like you”ve been having a lot of fun x
Thank you, we have been making the most of the summer! xx
ah man you have managed so much this summer I am impressed and rather embarrassed for myself!
Love those cardboard tunnels, my boy would adore them too!
Thanks for linking up to #PoCoLo
Thank you, I do like to keep him busy, mainly for my own sanity! 🙂 Aww I bet he would love it! xx
What a collection of super fun ideas! I loved the cardboard tunnel idea. I know my kids would LOVE that! Must remember to keep the boxes I get next JUST for that purpose, lol! Thanks for linking up with {my hashtag button no longer works, haha} MMWBH xx
thanks lovely, absolutely, well worth keeping all the boxes!! xx