Winter Fun In the Summertime: Movie Marathon

Image courtesy of clker.com

At the beginning of summer, I posted an idea to have winter fun in the summertime when it gets dangerously hot out there. Yesterday we put into action #5: the (Indoor) Movie Marathon.

After swim lessons in the morning and a sweltering trip to Target, I decided I wouldn't put the children out to play in this heat.

We have young children, so rather than choose a theme of favorite summer or winter movies, I allowed each one to choose a movie. I closed all the blinds, put popcorn in the microwave, and set them on the couch with the first-choice movie. Whew! An air-conditioned house feels really fabulous after a car ride.

If you start to feel guilty about plopping the youngsters in front of the TV, go all out with the theme of the movie and put fun themed props on the coffee table in front of them. My children spend just as much time playing pretend as watching the movie. Oh, and they also spend a lot of time on serious popcorn-munching.

Caution: The American Academy of Pediatrics lists popcorn as one of the foods that poses a high risk of choking among children.

Image courtesy of clker.com

It's not that my little ones aren't watching TV anyway at certain times of the day, but I always feel better when our mindless activities are scheduled in. Do you?

Winter Fun in the Summertime

Some of us live in climates where the heat of summer is more punishing than the cold of winter.

During the winter season, there are posts everywhere to help families have fun when it's just too cold to take the children outside.

Let's twist that and talk about finding fun when it's just too hot to take the children outside. 

In the summer, those who live in hot climates will still have their share of picnics and water play...heavily shaded with sunblock or clothing, of course. (Especially if your family has fair skin and a history of melanoma like ours does.)

But what to do when no one wants to go outside or when the temperature is actually dangerously hot?

My Number One Summer Tip for Parents In Hot Climates:

Take another look at those winter activity posts and do them now!

Image courtesy of clker.com

Some involve snow play, which won't be possible, but even those can be tweaked. Get creative, and don't forget to ask your children for input.

Activities:

1. One example of a winter post I found useful in summer was Surviving Winter: Bath Play from Children's Learning Activities.

2. Another way to do water play while avoiding the glaring sun is to locate the indoor pools and water parks near your home. Does your YMCA have an indoor pool?

3. Now that it's summer, get serious about checking out those museums you've been wanting to take your children to. Don't forget to look up "free museum days" for the museums near you.

4. You know those vintage-y pictures of people by the fireside drinking hot cocoa and playing games? Make homemade slushies (from The Motherload) or old-fashioned lemonade instead to drink while you play Uno, Settlers of Catan, or Candy Land.

5. Movie Marathon! You could go two ways with this: Either watch everyone in the family's favorite summer movie or make a list of favorite winter movies and watch those.

6. Go to the library. The local library might be our country's most underused resource for the number and value of programs it usually offers. Pick up a copy of the summer calendar.

7. Get a head start on Christmas by holding a Christmas Planning Day. This could be combined with #5 for great ambience if you choose to watch favorite winter movies. Everyone can make a list of things they'd like to make or buy for other people. After the lists are completed, plan to go garage-sale-ing to look for bargains or start your homemade projects.

And of course, get outside when it's not dangerous and not quite as punishing!

I will elaborate on each of the examples above as summer gets underway, so look for those Winter Fun in the Summertime posts.