The days may be getting shorter and the nights a little cooler, but we’re not ready to say goodbye to summer just yet. Here are some great activities that can help your family make the most of every minute between now and the day school starts.
Disc Master (Ideal)
Combine a friendly game of Frisbee (aka disc) with the more precision-oriented golf, and you’ve got a pretty good idea of what Disc Master is all about. You start by designing your own nine “hole” course using the goal (which looks a little like a basketball basket mounted on a short tripod). Just like with golf, you make a series of shots that bring you closer and closer to the target. The player with the lowest number of throws wins. The package includes one very sturdily built target, two discs, nine flags, and a storage bag. All you need is a couple of acres of open space. Ages 8 and up. Retails for around $75 on Amazon. http://poof-slinky.com/
Pro Gold Flag Football Set (POOF-Slinky)
Golf is a pretty laid-back kind of game, so if you’re looking for something a little more energetic, this flag football set is for you. The rules are the same as regular football (the American kind), but instead of bone-crushing, concussion-inducing tackles, the defense stops the player with the ball by yanking one of the flags clipped to his or her waist. It’s a really fun way for everyone in the family—boys and girls—to work up a sweat, work as a team, and develop throwing and catching skills. Comes with everything you need for a 4-on-4 game (one foam football and two different-colored sets of eight flags (two per player)). For ages 5 and up. Retails for around $20. http://poof-slinky.com/
Lemonade Stand Start-Up Kit (Bizainy)
The vast majority of people who play sports will never make it to the pros. So you’ve got to have a backup plan. And what could be better than running your own business—especially one that can cash in on all those sweaty athletes? The Bizainy (a combination of “business” and “brainy”) Lemonade Stand Kit is a smart, creative way of teaching kids about business and money management in the most effective way possible: by putting them in charge of their own enterprise. Kids can learn about budgeting, marketing strategy, attracting customers, negotiating rates, closing the sale, and calculating profits. Those are all skills that will come in handy as they move toward independence. If this one isn’t your cup of, well, lemonade, Bizainy also has Charity Bake Sale and Babysitting kits. For kids 5 and up (adult supervision suggested). $30. http://www.bizainy.com/
Zoku Slush and Shake Maker (Zoku)
Make your own slushies, milkshakes, and smoothies without leaving home. Put the core of the Slush Maker into your freezer at least eight hours in advance. Then, just whip up your ingredients, pour them into the frozen core, and you and the kids can be drinking virgin daiquiris on the porch in about 10 minutes. The Zoku is sleek, colorful, and BPA/phthalate free. Zoku also publishes a beautifully photographed, 96-page book, The Art of Slush, which is packed with dozens of delicious sounding recipes, including blood orange mojito and purple antioxidant berry slushes, pistachio cardamom milkshake, and espresso vodka dark chocolate smoothie (to enjoy after the kids go to bed). Kids of any age can pour the liquid into the core, but an adult should be involved in the actual blending phase. The Zoku and the book each retail for about $20 at http://www.zokuhome.com/