I don’t know about you, but I get excited about extra time with the kids during the summer months. There are so many beautiful places to explore such as parks, playgrounds, zoos, museums and hiking trails. Knowing how expensive it can get being out and about all the time, I also like to make sure that our home and backyard have fun options as well. Setting your house up in a smart way can beat the boredom busters before they begin and set your children up for successful fun. Check out the suggestions below on ways to make your home more user friendly for the kids.

FUN FOR KIDS: WITH CRAFTS

Creativity is something that all kids can enjoy regardless of talent. To facilitate this, I like to have a corner of the home set aside for materials and a workspace.

In fact, by setting aside a creative space, it is possible to encourage kids to work creativity into their everyday lives. Something that will continue to serve them well as they get older and, as an added bonus, you will also always have an answer to the dreaded, ‘What can I do now?‘ question.

Your home creativity corner doesn’t need to be a massive space. A simple table and some storage for resources will do just fine. In fact, you can even get a fold down desk that can be put away when not in use. Combine this with some freestanding and mobile storage like an Ikea trolley cart, or even one of these craft cases. Stock them with paper, pens, glue sticks, beads, scissors, play doh and other crafty (but age appropriate) items.

FUN FOR KIDS: OUTDOORS

Next, to make your home more fun consider the backyard. In fact, having enjoyable outdoor space is such a lifesaver during vacations, as the kids can head out there and blow off some steam, and you get five minutes for a coffee or mojito! Celebrate: Five minutes of freedom as a mama!

To make your outside space as fun as possible there are many things you can do. One is to install a sandpit where they can dig and play. Although, it is vital to remember to get play sand to fill it, and to have a cover to prevent creepy crawlies from joining the party.

Another entertaining addition to the backyard is a playhouse like the ones Summerwood sheds offer. These can be painted in your children’s choice of colors and it provides them with their very own space to read, draw, and even host tea parties in.

FUN FOR KIDS: IN THE KITCHEN

Lastly, never forget that kids adore cooking. This is especially the case if it’s something fun they can eat afterward! With that in mind, it can be a fantastic idea to provide a place in the kitchen for resources for your kids. Of course, this isn’t something that you want them to do unsupervised. As the kitchen is primarily a practical space, it may just be a draw with kid-safe tools and a hook to hang their apron on.

Nevertheless, making room for them in the kitchen environment can help kids think of cooking as a fun activity. This is something that, in turn, helps to keep them enthused about the opportunities they do get.

Are you uncomfortable with kids in the kitchen? Read my article on Why I Let my Kids Destroy my Kitchen for a different perspective.

Photo Credit: Mojitos and Munchkins, Pixabay, Photo by Gyorgy Bakos on Unsplash