Finding Bugs by Juhan Sonin
Fruit Platter by littleyiye/flickr3)
The Games
A) You don’t need to waste water to keep the kids happy in the summer sun. Try getting a group juggling game going. Have the kids stand close together in a circle and throw a ball back and forth to the player standing across from them. Make sure everyone gets a chance to throw and catch the ball once. Continue throwing and catching the ball, repeating the same pattern. Once the pattern is established, throw another ball into the sequence. Once you have a few balls going, it will appear as though the group is juggling, just like a magician.
Between Sisters by Angela Vincent
B) To keep the kids entertained for a while, try the ESP scavenger hunt. Take turns designating the “psychic.” That player will write down a list of things that are available in the yard, such as a leaf, a blade of grass, a pebble, or a ball. The player will tell the other kids how many items to search for, and those kids will take a few minutes to retrieve the appropriate number of items. When they bring the items back to the “psychic,” the player who has the most items that match with those on the secret list wins.
C) Another option to keep the kids busy is a play parachute. You can pick one up for less than $30, and it’s a great developmental and social activity. Kids can stand around it in a circle and grab the edges to bounce balls around inside of it. They can also create a parachute igloo by lifting it high over their heads, then by bringing the edges low to the ground and sitting on them. This creates a magical, colorful space where the kids can hide.
The summer is the perfect time to hang out with your family and friends. Don’t cram everyone inside your air-conditioned home, though. Take the party to the backyard. Fresh fruits and veggies won’t go bad at the buffet, and with a little planning, you can keep the kids busy all day.
About the author
Marilyn Baker is the mother of twins and a content contributor for magicwhiz.com, an online magic shop featuring a multitude of books, DVD’s, and kits full of magic tricks .