STAY COOL & HAVE FUN THIS SUMMER WITH YOUR TODDLERS & PRESCHOOLERS IN DALLAS

With toddlers and preschoolers in the household, there are never enough games and toys to keep them entertained, and even harder to keep them outside, away from the television shows and iPads – especially with summer heat in Dallas. Claire’s Day School recognizes how important it is for kids to have outdoor play and exercise, so here are a few DIY backyard water park ideas to keep your kids playing outside through the end of the summer.

1. Sprinklers

   Sprinklers aren’t just for watering your grass, they’re also tons of fun to play in on a hot day! If you already have a swing set, grab a sprinkler and put it underneath the swings for a fun DIY backyard water park swing set. Your toddler can play with kicking the water as they swing by the streams, staying cool and having fun at the same time! Click for spinning sprinkler from Amazon or click here for an oscillating sprinkler from Amazon (also available at your local hardware store).

   

2. Water Balloon Piñata

   Water balloon fights can get out of hand pretty quickly, often ending up in someone slipping or getting hurt. Instead take the balloons filled with water, tie them to a clothes line or tree branch and have your kids break them open with a stick, getting a refreshing splash every time they are successful. Plus the clean up is much easier when most of them are still tied to the line!
   

3. Water Bomb Dodgeball

   If you’re wanting to take a more ecological approach to the traditional water balloon fight, water bombs are a great alternative to add to your DIY backyard water park. You can play the usual tag style game, or add a dodgeball element for some friendly competition. Easy to make from kitchen sponges and reusable so pick up is much faster and fun – click here for a tutorial.
   
   

4. Enhanced Kiddie Pool

   Kiddie Pools are always a great attraction for your DIY backyard water park, and adding a sprinkler either in or beside the pool makes it even more fun! Make an obstacle course jumping over the sprinkler and into the pool to keep your kids cool and entertained all day long. You can also add a toddler friendly Octopus fountain for more spraying water action. Various kiddie pools are available from the cheaper classic plastic hard shells to bigger inflatable pools. There are also many toys that you can add that makes playing in the kiddie pools more fun for your little ones.

5. Astroturf / Synthetic Lawn

   Another great addition to any backyard water park, but maybe not DIY friendly, is to replace the grass with astroturf or synthetic lawn, like we have in our backyard playground at Claire’s Day School in Dallas. Unlike grass, astroturf won’t get muddy when wet and will keep your toddler much cleaner when they’re running around in their backyard water park and provides a safe surface for them to play on. Plus, it stays perfect without having to water it, cut it, weed it, etc! There are several synthetic lawn options out there where you can barely tell the difference, such as SYNLawn.We love our astroturf backyard at Claire’s Day School, and the kids do too!

So whatever you decide to do this summer, make an effort to get outside and stay cool doing it! Also – don’t forget the sun screen!