Sunday, July 24, 2011

How to stay cool in the summer heat - Fun in the Summer Sun


Welcome to the Fun in the Summer Sun event!

Each Monday until September 7th
Mama to 4 Blessings along with Harvest Moon By Hand,
Adventures of Mommydom, Sweet Diva, and Sweet Phenomena
will be hosting Fun in the Summer Fun link up events.

Here's the line up:
1st Monday of each month: link up your "Kid-friendly summer activities"
2nd Monday of each month: link up your "Kid-friendly summer crafts"
3rd Monday of each month: link up your "Kid-friendly summer recipes"
4th Monday of each month: link up your "How to stay cool in the summer heat"

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With the temperatures rising this past week to a rather tropical level (dewpoints were in the upper 70s and low 80s and temperatures in the 90s making some days feel like it was 110-116 degrees), it's a perfect week to look at ideas for cooling down. 

Make a Pinaqua

This idea is from the Family Fun June/July 2011 issue. This is a candy-free version of a pinata that is filled with water. To make it, fill a medium plastic trash bag with 1-2 gallons of water and knot the top.

Tie a rope or piece of twine beneat the knot. Toss the tree end of the rope over a tree branch and either tie it securly or have an adult stand by to raise and lower the pinaqua.

Pinaqua.

After being blindfolded and spun around three times, each player takes three whacks at the pinaqua with a broom. The winner is the one who manages to break the bag and unleash the wave.

Go Swimming

The girls enjoyed going swimming with a family friend on Wednesday. She took them to their favorite beach where they swam and played in the water for about an hour and a half. Afterwards, they enjoyed a little snack on the beach before coming back home.

Square Lake Beach.

Stay Indoors

On the hottest days when it literally felt like an oven outside, we chose to stay cool by staying indoors. The girls read and/or listened to books on CD, embroidered, played board games, practiced the piano and harp, did puzzles, and sewed doll clothes.

We also homeschool around the year (with a slightly more relaxed scheduled during the summer months), so they also worked on math, history, science/nature study, and government this week.

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Now it's your turn! What are some ways that your family stays cool during the summer?


4 comments:

Mrs. Spangler in the Middle said...

Hi! I am following from the Fun in the Summer Sun link-up. I also just followed you on Twitter.

We also work to beat the summer heat by staying indoors. We swim in the morning and then find fun things to do inside for the afternoon heat.

Love your crafts!

Unknown said...

I love the idea of a Pinaqua, that's just fantastic! Its pretty steamy here in the southwest right now but nothing like my family just went through back in the muggy northeast...bleh...they could make good use of ALL these suggestions!

Ticia said...

It took me about 3 reads to realize you hadn't mispelled pinata, but were instead adding aqua to the end.......... I'm such a ditz sometimes.

Love this idea!

Tiffany said...

Pinaqua - genius!!! I think we'll be trying this!