Somehow, summer is here, and it's totally caught me by surprise yet again. Maybe it's our homeschooling lifestyle , or maybe it's that everything has been totally upended by the health crisis, but the fact that we are well into the month of June startles me.
I live in the Southern United States, and it gets hot, sticky, and humid down here. In fact, in June we are still in the good months, the ones where you don't feel like you're swimming every time you go outside. That doesn't mean it's not humid yet (because it most certainly is); it just means that it'll get worse before it gets better.
Since our family is still planning to be spending plenty of time at home this summer, we're starting to get creative about how to turn our yard into a place that's fun to hang out. In other words, we need to find a lot of outdoor fun essentials for our 11-year-old so that he doesn't only play Apex Legends for the next two or three months . Because if left up to his own devices, that is absolutely exactly what he would choose to do.
With that in mind, here are a few outdoor fun essentials that I'm buying, have already bought, or wish I could buy.
1. A Slip-and-Slide
OK! First on my list was this slip-and-slide that I bought online from Target. It's super easy to set up, and if you have more than one kid, they'll probably appreciate that it has two lanes. Let me go ahead and warn you, though: Using a slip-and-slide as a child and using one as an adult are two totally different adventures, and you should not carelessly fling your body across the surface if you are the latter. Take it from me and my scratched and bruised left arm.
Shop Now: Double Water Slide (Target, $15)
2. A Sprinkler
We had one of these basic outdoor sprinklers set up when I was a kid, and I bought one for my own child a few years ago. Now sure, there are lots of options out there, and some of them are quite cute, but this one gets the job done and is a downright delight. Plus, it's pretty inexpensive.
Shop Now: Gilmour Light Duty Adjustable Rectangular Sprinkler (Target, $10.99)
3. Inflatable Bumper Balls
Holy cow. These inflatable bumper balls have "super-fun summer requisite" written all over them, right? I think your kids could run around and bounce off one another for hours in these things.
Shop Now: HearthSong Buddy Bumper Balls (Target, $48.99)
4. Nerf Football Set
This game is pretty straightforward: You throw the football at the target and score points! Your kids can take turns, or since it's under $20, you can save yourself a lot of drama and just buy more than one. Choose your own adventure!
Shop Now: Nerf Dude PerfectSmash Football (Target, $18.99)
5. Outdoor Volleyball/Badminton Set
If you're looking for something that you can enjoy alongside your kids, this volleyball/badminton set is a pretty clear winner. You get two sports in one package, and you can have as many people as you want play volleyball.
Shop Now: Beyond Outdoors Standard Volleyball/Badminton Set (Target, $49.99)
6. Shark Toss-and-Catch
Technically, this shark toss-and-catch game is billed as a pool toy, but there's no reason it can't be played outside as well. Parents, beware: It will inevitably get a certain song stuck in your kid's head forever and ever and ever and ever and …
Shop Now: Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Shark Toss and Catch Game (Target, $13.99)
7. Outdoor Chair
Listen! Summer isn't just for running around, getting sweaty, hitting balls, throwing sharks, and frolicking in sprinklers. Some of us, including the youngest, just need a nice spot to sit, watch the birds, and read our books.
Shop Now: Little Tikes Garden Outdoor Portable Chair (Target, $6.99)
