Mixed Prints Life

End of Summer Shindigs

Today, we have Sarah from Toddling Around Chicagoland. Her blog is a great place to find fun, family-friendly locations to take your kiddos to throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.
She has two littles of her own (boys, no less!) and is currently expecting baby #3 (will find out this month – my official guess is GIRL!)
You can find her family on Twitter & Facebook.

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It’s August already. AUGUST. Most kids will be starting school later this month and the summer will officially be over. This is usually the point when I realize that I haven’t done half of the things I’d like to do during the summer and I feel the rush to fully appreciate these last few weeks. What better way to do that than throw a party or playdate with a great summer theme? Here are a few fun outdoor summer themes to use:

Art Party 
The beauty part of an outdoor party is not have to worry as much about the mess, just be sure to let parents know to put the kids in clothes they don’t mind getting messy. Give the kids some chalk and let them decorate the sidewalk, and fence, and porch… whatever. It’ll all come off the next time it rains or you can hose it down! Easels and canvases are especially exciting for kids so let them paint with brushes or their fingers and use some washable markers and crayons. Everyone can help create a giant mural if you hang some butcher paper or roll of paper onto a fence. Serve fruit or treats in rainbow colors and send your guests home with their artistic creations.


Wet & Wild Party
A kiddie pool, a sprinkler, squirt guns, and bubbles are an invitation for summer fun, and if you’re feeling brave you can even have some water balloons prepared. Be ready to get wet! There’s probably not much need for activities – just let the kids run wild and splash. “Water”melon makes a great snack and if you want to serve a fun treat make some blue jello in clear cups with gummy fish floating in it.



Ice Cream Social
I scream, you scream, and all the kids in your backyard will scream for ice cream. Start with some basic ice cream flavors (chocolate and vanilla), and put out bowls of fun toppings – crushed cookies, sprinkles, nuts, candy, fruit, cereal, and whipped cream. Let the kids go wild making their own sundaes. If you want a other snacks, serve cut up fruit in ice cream cones. For extra fun, let each child fill a small sealable bag with some of the less-perishable toppings (cookies, nuts, candy) so they can use it to make a special sundae at home.

Camp Out
You don’t need to have a sleepover for a camp out party. Put up a tent or two with some flashlights inside. Don’t worry, the kids will be happy to use flashlights in daylight! Set up a kiddie pool and toss alphabet magnets in it and let the kids go “fishing” with a paperclip on a string. Get out some energy with a scavenger hunt – have the kids collect things like a leaf, a rock, a small stick. Scavenger hunts are even more fun with binoculars or magnifying glasses to examine nature. Have lunch or snacks on a picnic blanket and follow it up with some no-campfire-needed s’mores (just prepare the s’more sandwich and put it on the grill or in the oven broiler for just long enough to melt the marshmallow and chocolate).

Thanks for sharing, Sarah!

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