What to Do This Summer?!

Baby pools saved my life when my kids were little! Three babies and no air conditioning of any kind! We filled it up every day and dumped it every day, the water was always clean. They made 'forts' on crappy days by draping bed sheets and towels over the dining room table, they 'packed' a case to bring with them on their 'trip'. Snacks, juice boxes, small favorite toys, etc. They 'cooked' on the floor of the kitchen or at the island with some plastic bowls and various safe untensils......they 'helped' me with all the housework, folding clothes was a favorite....we walked and walked around the neighborhood even through everyone's refuse to sit in the stroller days...they learned to tell time by waiting for the ice cream truck every day, the dug to china in the back yard (the holes drove my husband crazy while cutting the grass!), we got a puppy, a golden retriever, one of the best things I ever did for them........and yes, they even watched tv (GASP) while I scrurried around cleaning up after all the things I just mentioned, tehehe. Best years of my life when my kids were little, now they are 17, 15, and 13...would love to have just ONE more lazy summer with the babies!! (sorry, starting to sound more like a Grandma these days!) I hope this helps!

Hi A.- After reading Theresa's post below I have to say her kids will cherish that sweet childhood someday. With a 7 & 11 year old I too see how time flies and how I will miss those precious childhood summers. Everything she said worked for us too and an awesome family of giirls next door didn't hurt either. The best thing about little ones is you don't have to do much, everything takes on a newness at that age.
A few more ideas-
Sidewalk chalk
Sprinklers
Livingroom Dance Parties-loud music and jumping on the furniture manditory ;)
Putting on Plays-we had a dress up box filled with thrift store stuff that provided hours (and years) of entertainment
Baking or making play dough
Reading aloud a summer chapter book- Your 3 year old would love Charlotte's Web and if you can get the little one to play quietly a few minutes it would work or maybe save it for the little one's naptime.
Gardening- my kids loved to plant sunflowers and then tend to them. They sprout and grow quickly and have a great payoff.
Have fun and enjoy every minute, even the crazy ones, it DOES go by so quick!

I've noticed that my kids (and many I know) tend to bicker with each other when bored at home or have too much extra energy. There's no reason you can't get out of the house. Go for a walk around the neighborhood. Go to a local park/playground. The Carmel library is great for playing and storytimes. Hit the zoo, children's museum, etc - my son was a 'handful' (autism spectrum) and hated the stroller soon after his 1st birthday. Once he could walk, he hated to sit. So just walk at his pace. All my kids were done with the stroller around 2nd birthday - they would just walk all day at the zoo, state fair, conner prairie, children's museum, etc. Their behavior at home was MUCH better in the afternoon/evening after a morning burning off energy walking/running around the zoo! And the more we went, the quicker they learned the rules about walking near me, not wandering off, appropriate voice level, etc. If they never or rarely go, how do you expect them to learn how to behave in those places?

As for indoor... I kick my kids outside to play pretty much all day long on good weather days. When it's hot, there's the slip 'n slide, sprinkler and water table. When it's rainy (but warm/hot), it's old clothes and getting all muddy (on a hot day, what's the difference between rain and sprinkler?). Since they are outside so much, when they do stay indoors, they are engaged in their toys, crayons, play-doh, etc since they do not play with them as much. Since they are busy, they do not bicker and fight as much.

Remember that your attitude has alot of influence on their behavior. Summer is a fun time full of wonder, discovery, playing and adventures!

A BALL pit! Saved my life on rainy days when I was running a daycare!
You can probably find one on Craigslist for cheap and the bags of balls are $10 at Walmart.
Or you could even buy on of those blow-up baby pools and fill it with balls.
Also, edible finger painting is always a hit. Just color some vanilla pudding with food coloring and let 'em go crazy!