Backyard vacation: Seven ways to have fun in your own backyard

Editor's note: This story appears in the Summer 2012 issue of Southeast Missouri Living. Look for the new issue in the July 6 edition of the Southeast Missourian.

By Robyn Gautschy

The sun is shining, birds are singing, butterflies are darting from flower to flower -- and kids everywhere are saying, "I'm bored!" Eliminate this complaint by heading out to the backyard for an afternoon of fun. Here are some ideas:

__1: Invent your own game.__ Make an outdoor version of Twister by spray painting rows of dots in different colors on the grass. Save your empty ice cream containers and line them up for a game of "Bozo buckets." Play tag with the hose or limbo under the sprinkler. Play "hot potato" with water balloons or, for a smaller group, toss the water balloon from person to person, backing farther apart after each round. Whoever bursts the ballon is out, and the last man standing gets a prize.

__2: Have some bubbly.__ Blowing bubbles is enjoyable in itself, but you can also make a game of it: Whose bubbles last the longest? Who can blow the biggest bubble? For added entertainment, blow bubbles for the family pets and watch them go crazy trying to catch the bubbles.

__3: Relax poolside.__ No pool? No problem. Fill a cheap kiddie pool with cold water and let the kids splash around -- this is always a blast, regardless of the size of the pool. When it's naptime for the kids, take your turn with the pool. Drag a lawn chair up to the edge, stick your feet in and chill out. Your feet and ankles have pulse points, so keeping them cool will help you feel cool all over.

__4: Pack a picnic.__ Get the kids involved in making a unique picnic lunch, then pack up the goods and head out back. While you eat, play the alphabet picnic game: "I'm going on a picnic, and I'm going to pack an apple." Then, "I'm going on a picnic, and I'm going to pack an apple and a beach ball." Make your way through the entire alphabet, trying to remember what you packed for each letter.

__5: Have an outdoor scavenger hunt.__ It's a fun and educational activity to do with your children, says Shannon Anderson, a licensed professional counselor and clinical director of Tender Hearts Child Therapy Center in Cape Girardeau. Make a list of items to find or photograph, then create a display with them so your child has a keepsake of the backyard adventure. Here's a suggested list from Anderson: A pine cone, flat stone (one that could be used for skipping), colorful rock, dandelion, maple leaf, oak leaf, acorn, picture of a ladybug, picture of a red or blue bird, and picture of a butterfly.

__6: Make a songbird habitat.__ All you need to provide is food, water, shelter and a place for birds to raise their young. Supply food by making your own bird feeder out of recyclable materials like soda bottles and milk cartons. Fill these feeders with different kinds of bird foods. Then, place a dish filled with water near the area and ensure there are nearby native plants or trees. Now that your habitat is ready, visit savethesongbirds.com to pledge to care for your habitat and receive an official songbird habitat certificate. The organization's goal is to create 50,000 acres for songbirds.

__7: Create seed bombs to share and plant in fun spots.__ First, use a mixture of potting soil and flower seeds. Wildflower seeds work well, but a blend of annuals and perennials is also nice. Once the seeds are selected, carefully mix the ingredients together and form balls. Have your children wrap two or three "seed bombs" in colorful tulle, secure with ribbon and hand the packages out to family and friends to plant. Once planted, the seeds will germinate and blossom all season. Find fun spots in the neighborhood or community to plant, too -- just be sure to ask the property owner first. Continue the project by returning to the planting sites, keeping the mini-gardens watered and beautiful all summer long.

ARA Content contributed to this report.