Summer has finally arrived! Now that the warmer months are here, we’ve collected some ideas to hang out with family and friends at home while staying cool at the same time.

Give Your Car a Wash

Knock something off your to-do list and stay cool at the same time! Grab two buckets of water: one with car soap and the other with clean water. If you have a hose, start by spraying the whole car to remove the first layer of dirt. Work from the top of your car down and use a soft towel or wash mitt to get rid of grime.

Throw a Water Party

Turn on the hose or sprinkler and throw a backyard water party. Find a few hydrating party activities, like squirt pistols, water balloons, and a slip-and-slide. Feeling crafty? Try water balloon painting or ice-dying t-shirts. For smaller children and toddlers, use a water-focused play table or kiddie pool…it’ll make a splash at your backyard extravaganza!

Elevate Your Movie Experience

Enjoy the thrill of the movie theater in your own backyard! With a projector (like this one) and a white sheet or light colored wall, you can set up a home theater in your yard. Grab some blankets or chairs for seating, bowls of popcorn, and you’ll be all set for a summer filled with fresh-air blockbusters alongside friends and family.

Plant Your Own Garden

While planting a garden might be a sweaty activity at first, you’ll love having fresh fruit, veggies, and herbs to revitalize your meals all summer long. Peas and lettuce are easy to grow from containers, and cherry tomatoes, summer squash, and cucumbers are low-maintenance additions to a garden bed. By the end of summer, you’ll be able to make your own refreshing salad, plucked straight from your backyard!

Build a Fort

Get creative with your existing furniture and let your imagination run wild! Pull off the couch cushions, scooch the kitchen chairs around, and drape some sheets for a totally fun indoor fort. Reusing extra supplies from birthday parties and other holidays can make decorating extra fun. Balloons and streamers will make your fort look unique, and string lights can make it feel extra magical while providing enough lighting for playing games or reading.

Have a Board Game Marathon

Board games are a great way to get the whole family to bond. Try making snacks to accompany your gaming fun! The best gaming snacks aren’t too sticky and are easy to munch on between turns. Plus, board games can help kids have a good time while practicing their critical thinking and math skills between school sessions.

Go Bird Watching

Stay inside, but keep an eye on the outdoors! Make or buy a bird feeder and keep track of what you see. Try rinsing out an empty milk or juice carton and cutting open a panel on the side for a DIY craft to kick off a summer of birdwatching. You can even paint and decorate the feeder before filling it with birdseed! Then it’s time to wait and watch. Try identifying the birds you see with this free bird guide app.

Stargaze

Enjoy the night sky once the sun goes down. Spread out some blankets, pop some popcorn, and look up at the stars. This free app can help you identify what you see or help you look for something specific. There’s plenty to admire, no matter where you’re located, as long as the sky is clear.

Stay cool and enjoy the summer season!