Question for parents with small children...?

Question

I live in hot and sweltering Central Florida. I've got a six year old daughter,and I have many health problems,one of which is a heart condition and also asthma. I can't be outside when it's 110 degrees outside,but I know this is unfair to my daughter. I do take her out early in the morning,and late in the evening,but it's still in the mid 80's. Does anyone have tips for fun things to do inside? I don't have a pool,we do have a kiddie pool,but it's proving too much for me to clean and set up each weekend. Thanks

We do alot of baking,but it's too hot to even turn on the oven right now. I try to do baking as much as possible in the toaster oven. We do biscuit pizzas alot with bicuit dough,she loves that. On Sundays we do "movie day" inside with popcorn,turn off the lights,make it dark and watch movies.

Answer 1

Can you consider moving? That sounds really hard on you...if not, here are what I can think of

A lot of big cardboard boxes, paint them and build a city..she can design different buildings...one box for the library another for the church...cut in windows and doors....

Tray gardens...collect as many palnts, rocks and flowers in the morning as you can and then take an ordinary tea tray, line it with earth or moss and build a mini garden,,,make a pond and a bridge, tiny flowers and a swing whatever you want.
Good Luck!

Answer 2

I have a 5 year old and living in Arizona, we have the same problem...it's consistently in the 100s for 2 months straight. You just can't go outside. To combat the boredom, I let him play on the computer longer than I normally let him during the school year, we watch movies, play Wii (which gets you up and moving, particularly Wii Sports), Hullabaloo, board games, play doh, craft stuff...Also, there's a place called Jump N Play and one called Pump It Up where you pay a flat rate ($8 for unlimited time) and you can be in the A/C with big bouncies, tunnels, etc. I also made sure there was a play date with friends scheduled at least once a week. School started for him last week so it's getting back to normal!

Answer 3

Don't feel bad. I'm in NY and there have been many days where it was too hot for my kids (2 and 6) to play outside.

We do a lot of crafts. Painting. Playing in the sink or tub. It's really nasty, but my daughter LOVES playing with wet play doh, and it keeps her busy forever. You could also do McDonalds or any other place with an indoor playplace. We usually pick a theme for the week, like the ocean, or dinosaurs, and do things related to that. I always throw in some worksheets for my daughter. You could also get the book, "The Out Of Sync Child Has Fun." It's an activity book for kids with sensory processing disorder (which mine do have) but the ideas are really fun. There are tons of indoor activities in the book.

Answer 4

Go to Wal Mart or Target and get some craft kits. There are a bunch to choose from and little girls love these type things. There are kits to make jewelry, hair pretties, wall hangings, stained glass, etc. Pick some up and do them together.

You could also do some baking. Little girls this age love to help mom in the kitchen. Make some sugar cookies and decorate them together.

Let her have a friend over to play. There are so many things to do if she has an imagination.

Answer 5

Anything you do with her is wonderful and she will love it. If she is not used to being outside all day then she wont even know its something shes not doing. make cookies, get a sand table (messy but worth it) arts and crafts stuff is fun, pretty much anything :)
About your kiddie pool...why take it down every week? there are pool sanatisers and clorine for kiddie pools and you wont have to drain and clean it every time.

Answer 6

there are so many things to entertain kids these days that don't require them to go outside...get a game called crainium...(that's what my great-niece calls it, i'm not sure of the title) anyway, you place little mats on the floor at intervals and there is a box that tells you what to do...such as spin to a blue square, or put your elbow on a yellow triangle...it's kind of like twister but for preschoolers...it's just as fun to watch adults play along...plus there are the games like "i spy" and you could always read books that need some action to enhance the story...

Answer 7

you need an air conditioner. Play board games, cards, computer, non oven baking. Art and craft, reading. And if desperate PS2.

Answer 8

Craft kits are great. Michaels, Orientaltrading.com. Or if she doesn't like crafts maybe board games or computer games. Paper dolls, Dress Up. How about any movies, books, etc...

Answer 9

Hide and seek. Kids love this game. I know I used to. Games are a big hit also. My 5 yr old stepdaughter loves to play games and do puzzles. Maybe you can do a puzzle together?

Answer 10

Can you get a big parasol and bring a fan outside to cool you down...also put on a sprinkler system for your little girl to keep her cool...