Activities to do with small children this summer

Think of the mess if this were inside!

It's generally Wednesday when Alba and I have our day together every week.  Unfortunately not a lot happens on a Wednesday.   

It's ok if the weather's fine as we can go outside, perhaps visit the park, take a walk along by the river and look at the trees and the birds and the dogs. 

Recently it's been very hot, so it's been on with the sun hat and the sun cream and outside with a bowl of water.  She's had fun with a funnel, sieve and containers of various sorts, including her watering can.  What she really enjoyed was a scrubbing brush to clean the paving slabs.  

We did some (very careful) weeding, somehow managing to only pick weeds, so she did really well!

But when it's wet then it's more of a challenge.  The toddler group near here's on a Tuesday and the local libraries are closed.   Sometimes we go to the supermarket but that has limited attraction.  If we can get to the shopping centre between showers then there's a small indoor play area which is designed mainly for the under-3s.

Here are a few ideas of things to do, some are outside but many could be enjoyed at any time of the year. 

Toddlers: http://mylifeandkids.com/10-great-ideas-keep-toddlers-busy-least-10-minutes/#_a5y_p=1483818

And here are lots more: 
https://www.pinterest.com/saraelkelly/toddler-time/

Ways to distract a toddler:  http://www.simplelittlehome.com/2012/03/50-ways-to-distract-toddler.html

For toddler tantrums, which are bound to happen somewhere along the way:
http://www.toddlerapproved.com/2012/04/toddler-tantrums-ways-to-deal.html?m=1
and
http://www.janetlansbury.com/2010/04/no-bad-kids-toddler-discipline-without-shame-9-guidelines/

Pre-school activities: http://blogs.babycenter.com/life_and_home/hot-pins-creative-pre-school-crafts/

Egg box crafts:
http://mollymoocrafts.com/easter-round-up-egg-carton-crafts/

For slightly older children: http://cuegly.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/75-kid-activities.html

Crafts activities, especially for boys: http://www.littlefamilyfun.com/2012/03/crafts-activities-for-boys.html

Screen-free activities: http://nurturestore.co.uk/screen-free-week-kids-activities

Seven things to do with your children this summer from Tearfund:
http://www.tearfund.org/en/blog/2015/07/7_things_to_do_with_your_kids_this_summer/

Learning about Africa: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/africa/

Easy face paint: http://www.kidsplaybox.com/2-ingredient-homemade-facepaint/

Summer boredom busters: http://www.somewhatsimple.com/summer-boredom-busters/


Kid-approved activities: http://cuegly.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/75-kid-activities.html

Slightly off-subject .... for those much older children, things to do with a teenage daughter: http://thehilljean.com/2012/11/things-to-do-with-a-teenage-daughter.html