Staying Cool with Kids - Parents - Families.com

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

07 Jul 2012 11:57 PM

It's so hot... my neighbor's chickens are laying omelets.

It's so hot... squirrels are picking up nuts with potholders.

It's so hot... you can wash and dry your clothes at the same time.

It's so hot... you can catch fried fish in the lake.

The last one's no joke.

The heat wave that has blanketed much of the nation, including here in Wisconsin, has caused a rash of deaths among local fish.

Thousands of Northern Pike and Perch are dying in area waters because of the recent string of record breaking hot temperatures. DNR officials say the fish can't survive in the extreme heat which has elevated water temperatures to nearly 90 degrees.

If you think the heat is intense, try being exposed to the putrid stench of 600 dead fish less than a mile from your home.

If the 115-degree heat index doesn't prompt you to keep your kids indoors, the horrid scent of floating dead fish most certainly will.

I'm all about letting my kid soak up precious Vitamin D by playing outdoors in the summer sunshine, but when the mercury hits 105, I prefer to keep her safe in our air conditioned home.

If the unbearable heat is putting a damper on your outdoor plans, consider keeping your kids entertained indoors with these fun activities:

Stepping Stone: My 7-year-old received a stepping stone kit from Hobby Lobby a few months ago, but the clever craft can be made just as easily with materials you have sitting around your home. Start by rounding up a few disposable planter bottom inserts, some marbles, gemstones, broken tiles or seashells from your last trip to the beach. If you don't keep home improvement concrete mix like Quikrete around the house, you'll need to buy some and mix the powered substance with water. Stir the Quikrete until it takes on the consistency of cake batter. Then, slowly pour the mixture into the planter bottom. After shaking the insert to remove any air bubbles, your kids can place their hands in it to preserve their prints or have them use a wooden chopstick to write out a message or their name. Let the concrete sit for approximately one hour, and then have your kids decorate the stone by placing marbles or gemstones in a pattern. When the kids are done embellishing, allow the stone to set for a couple of days before removing it from the planter base.

Water Xylophone: Gather 6 to 8 empty glass bottles, food coloring, water and a metal spoon. Next, fill each bottle with a different amount of water. Then, add a drop or two of food coloring to each bottle, and mix to give each one a different color. Have your kids tap the metal spoon on each bottle to see what sound it makes. If any of the bottles emit a similar sound add or remove water to change the sound. Line up the bottles from the lowest pitch to the highest. Tap the spoon on the bottles to play a song. You can modify the sounds by using different sized glass bottles.

Related Articles:

Rainy Day Fun for Kids

Summer Fun for Kids in the Great Outdoors

Super Summer Sanity Savers for Parents

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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