by Deidra Romero posted in Parenting

Summertime with kids can be magical. Later bedtimes, extra popsicles, long days spent by the pool, and endless movie nights. But sometimes you just need to tackle your to-do list. Keeping your kids busy during those summer days so you can be productive is no small task! Here are 10 ways to encourage independent play so you can actually get stuff done.
Slime Time
We love making slime at our house. It keeps my 4-year-old busy for at least half an hour, which in kid time is basically 4 hours. Here are some amazing slime recipes to experiment with.
Hidden Toys
I like to box up some of my kids? toys and put them away in a closet. After a few weeks I pull them out and they are like brand new toys. Keep rotating the hidden toys for constant access to ?new? toys.
Busy Bags
Busy bags are plastic bags with homemade puzzles and games inside. They can be as simple as paper shapes and a glue stick or as complex as a felt strip with buttons and button holes. You can find a ton of ideas for easy busy bags on Pinterest. It takes a little time investment up front, but these bags pay off big time with toddler and preschoolers. They are a genius tool because you hand them out when you need 15 minutes of time to get the laundry done or just take a break.
Craft Paper
I buy huge rolls of brown craft paper and cover the floor with it (so cheap on Amazon!). My son loves to spend the day creating a huge masterpiece right there on the floor of our kitchen.
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