If you live in Maryland (or the surrounding states), you know how HOT it has been the past few days. Personally, I can only stand the heat for so long before getting tired, sweaty, hungry, and most of all… thirsty. I remember dreading the heat as a kid because I wanted, so badly, to play outside with friends.
As an adult, I don’t exactly play outside like I did when I was young, but I do enjoy being outdoors. When it is too hot to play outside, I feel I can’t help but become a bit lazy. To combat the heat and lackadaisical attitude, I turn to these five ideas:
- Play Wii (or another gaming system that has the technology to incorporate MOVEMENT)! One big thing I despise about the weather being too hot or too cold for outdoor time is the lack of exercise. I love to stay moving and without space to play, it can be tough. I am so grateful that the Wii was invented because it is a great alternative on those hot summer days and cold winter nights. My favorite games are Wii Sports, Wii Fit, Mario Galaxy, and Wii Resort.
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- Bake WITHOUT the oven! Okay, so I know this seems contradictory, and I suppose it is… but you can “bake” without the heat radiating from an oven. One dessert that is a blast to make (no oven required) is a no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookie. What is better than a chocolate cookie that can be whipped up in minutes?
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- Learn with science experiments! I love science, despite my lack of knowledge in the subject. I always enjoyed experimenting with products that are right in my home’s pantry. Two experiments that are fun for all ages (at least, I think so) are making a balloon rocket and walking water. Both are a great way to teach your child, and yourself, something new about how things work.
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- DIY with easy arts & crafts! DIY projects are not my strong suit. I prefer to come up with the ideas and watch others create them for me. That doesn’t mean I won’t try, though. An awesome arts & crafts project my mom had us do as kids involved paper mache. I know what you are thinking, “This seems more like a project for outside because of the mess.” I know, I know. But if you plan ahead of time and place a tarp or newspaper on the floor, I see no detrimental spills in your future. My mom made rules that your hands must NOT be dripping before leaving the table and you should always ask for help if needed. Click here for a list of teacher-approved paper mache projects to do at home!
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- Spa day, anyone? This may be more for the ladies, but that doesn’t mean the boys can’t enjoy a workout in the basement or watch a new movie while the girls have a spa day! As a pre-teen, one of my favorite things to do with the neighborhood gals was have a spa day. We would do makeovers, try new hair styles, paint nails, and have fun with mud masks. We ALWAYS had a great time, especially if the boys were more interested in video games than nail polish.
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So there you have it! Five ideas for beating the summer heat and staying cool indoors. If you have ideas you recommend for people of all ages, share them in the comments below! I am positive that if my readers are as hot as I am right now in Maryland, they will appreciate all the ideas they can get!
Stay cool!
Completely unwarranted life lesson from a married woman #13: Your spouse is probably sweating in the heat… bring him/her an ice cold drink without being asked. I promise they will appreciate it.
