The last few days have been gorgeous here, blue skies and sunny weather, it’s as if the summer has finally decided to show up now we are in ‘autumn’! So we thought a few kids garden activities were in order.
We’ve been out for a few walks, on bikes and playing in the garden. Whilst I was trying to tidy up inside the house on Monday I set up this simple little activity in the garden for the boys.
A tray full of soapy water, cars, sponge/dishcloth and a scrubbing brush. it kept them both happy for quite a while. You can make this even more like a car wash by using plastic bottles to make tunnels. The tunnels can be the car wash area. Hang some foam or felt pieces from the tunnel exit to make the sponges on a car wash.
O was happily scrubbing his cars clean and telling A not to stand in the water, ‘it’s for cleaning the cars, not for standing in!’.
A clearly couldn’t care less about washing the cars, which is fair enough, he’s only 20 months! Instead he paddled in it, sat in it and drove the cars through it.
Of course he also tried to steal his brothers cars and sponge too!
Do you like getting out the water in the garden for your kids? What other kids garden activities do you recommend?
The Breastest News says
OMG what a fab idea! Logan has a massive tub of cars which could do with a good old scrub. Might set this up on a warm day and let him do it after school 🙂 Start them young eh 😉
Mummy on a Budget says
Water play is so great. So many different ways to have fun with it! You killed 2 birds with one stone here with cleaning and water play! #whatevertheweather
Kaye says
Great idea, I think we need to make the most of what we have left of Summer and indulge in some water play. Also genius, so that the kids can clean instead of Mummy, haha. #whatevertheweather
Becky, Cuddle Fairy says
My kids love splashing in the water! My 2-year-old would be in heaven at your car wash – she too would be sitting in there! What a great idea for some summer fun. #KidsCorner
Crummy Mummy says
This is why I so want a garden! #WhatEverTheWeather
Something Crunchy Mummy says
This is such a great idea!! #whatevertheweather xx
Sarah says
Such a fun activity! My kids are 7 and 10 and can still entertain themselves for hours in a paddling pool 🙂 Thanks for having us on #WhatevertheWeather x
Emma's Mamma says
Emma loves playing with water! She normally runs to the shed to get her paddling pool out before running to the tap to get it filled. We’ll have to make do with the last sunny days before it gets too cold 🙂 #whatevertheweather
jeremy@thirstydaddy says
Mine will be happy to do anything as long as you tell her “its your job.” If she thinks she’s helping, I can keep her busy. I like the car wash idea
Let kids be kids says
Great to see a bit more sun again. What a lovely fun activity on a nice day. Fab idea.
Kate, Baby Routes says
Water play is always a hit in our house although they always seem to get soaked and need a complete clothes change just before going out. Really need to work on timing! Looks like a lot of fun was had from your photos. Good training with the car cleaning!
Lisa Ruggles says
They look like they’re having great fun. Little J loves his tin bath. He washes everything in it and spends hours getting wet. Who needs gadgets hey? 🙂
Mae @ OutdoorsMom says
We regularly have toy car washes. They are awesome because they don’t use much water and what kid doesn’t want to play with bubbles.
Sara | mumturnedmom says
Brilliant, we’ve done similar in the past. Great fun! #whatevertheweather
Everything Mummy says
Lovely fun activity for kids to do on a sunny afternoon they look like they had a lot of fun paddling about in the soapy water! Thanks for linking up to #KidsCorner x
Catherine @ Growing Family says
Brilliant idea! We love getting the paintbrushes out and ‘painting’ the garden walls with water, it’s always a big hit.
Mummy here and there says
Fantastic idea and who better to love bubbles then sproglets X
Jenny Eaves says
Thank you! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
That’s a fun activity too! Thanks for commenting! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
They had great fun! Thanks! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
It’s great fun, although we’re having a wet week now, so won’t be doing that for a little while. 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Exactly, bubbles are amazing to kids! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Ha ha, yup, no gadgets required! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Ha ha, yes I have to time it so where not going anywhere, whenever water is out they get completely soaked! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Thanks Karen! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Excellent idea, will try that with my two! 🙂
Jenny Eaves says
Hope you have a few more sunny days with the pool! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Water is great for kids of all ages, must get a bigger pool for my munchkins next year! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Thank you! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Thanks Becky! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Definitely, get them cleaning early! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Yes gardens are great for kids in the summer! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Ha ha, yes, much better to get them cleaning early! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Ha ha, definitely! Hopefully we have a few more warm days left! 🙂 x
Chloe says
This is such a brilliant idea, so creative. I love that they’re playing with it in different ways with it too. It’s so lovely that they do so much together. I wish we’d had some sunshine down here! xx
Jenny Eaves says
Hope you’ve had some more sunshine at the weekend? We have had lots of rain, hoping for some better weather soon. 🙂 x
Su says
I sometimes do that with my kids too. But the water can get cold quickly and so they don’t last long outside. 20 mins max before they come running in! lol! Love that the kids get along so well together. I think I need two separate area for my kids to be able to get along. hehe #whatevertheweather
morna says
I think summer might be finished sadly! My kids like washing rocks in the garden – completely pointless but they are happy for hours!
Jenny Eaves says
That was always a favourite of mine too, my collection of rocks were very clean, I used to move the water around on my skateboard! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Ha ha! That was a rare moment of peace, my kids can be good friends occasionally, but normally they is a lot of screaming! 🙂 x