3 Outdoor Activities to Beat the Heat

This post is in partnership with Simply Popsicles®. However, all opinions expressed are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that encourage my creativity.

Playing creative games that get the kids outside and allow us to spend time together is a great way to spend our summer afternoons. And today, I want to share with you some of the fun games we like to play that keep my kids, and I entertained for hours!

My children particularly love summer because we have “The Games of Summer” where each week we pick 3-5 games to play and they become a marathon of activities in the afternoons. And, to cool off with a summer treat, we head to the freezer! I love Simply Popsicles®, because not only iconic but also their colors and flavors are from natural sources, made with real cane sugar, no high fructose corn syrup, and only 40 calories per pop!

This week we picked the outdoor color search game, where all you need is a paper bag and some color pencils or markers. I start by choosing a couple of colors and scribbling small squares onto the front of the bag. I then pass the bags to the children, and when they find an item that matches one of the colors, they place it in a bag. It’s a simple game, but the “search” can take a while.

Another favorite family game is sponge bullseye. This activity is perfect for those high-temperature days when you need an inexpensive summer activity. And yet, you don’t want to fully turn on the hose and sprinklers and get the kids changed into their bathing suits.

To play the sponge bullseye, start by filling a big bucket of water and grabbing a couple of sponges. I then draw a large bullseye and assign point values to each circle of the target. The kids stand at the starting line and toss their sponge at the target. They each use chalk to add of their points and try to come up with unique strategies to get their sponge into the bullseye.

Sometimes we play in groups too, parents against children…even though they always seem to win 😉

Finally, there was the request to do the classic hula hoop competition. I like to play some fun music while the kids try to keep their hoops moving for as long as possible. And if your kids are good with the hula hoops, it’s fun to make the contest more challenging by calling out new hurdles every few minutes like “stand on one foot” or “kneel down.” Whoever remains hooping for the longest time is declared the winner!

Summer can truly be a time for rest, fun, and relaxation if you plan it right. These activities are easy to put together and affordable, making simple games enjoyable! It’s always fun to finish the afternoon cooling down with Simply Popsicles® because they’re fun to eat and the kids love them.