For the Pacific Northwest July 4th is considered the beginning of summer. When I was a kid, summer meant visiting my cousins in Arizona and Texas. Talk about sun, heat and fun! We would play outside for a majority of the day. And, to be able to live through the heat, we were either in the water or on the water or using water to stay cool. (I really should say cooler because I don’t think anyone can say their cool in 110° heat!)
I’d look forward to going to the pool or floating down the Verde River* but some of the MOST fun we had were water fights in the neighborhood streets! And those battles could last more than one day! Water balloons thrown back and forth; hoses letting loose with a gush on anyone who ventured out in no-man’s land!
Do you let your kidlets throw water balloons at each other? Water balloons are a lot of fun! But I acknowledge, they can be problematic if they’re thrown at someone’s face. One solution: Have them throw the water balloons at the side of a house, concrete wall or down on the sidewalk! Another problem: All the pieces of balloon the need to be picked up after they popped!
Do you want to avoid the potential for injury that comes with water balloons?
Are you dreading the idea of picking up pieces of popped balloons?
——————Sponge bombs could be the perfect solution!
Sponge bombs can soak up, and release, water on impact without risk of injury. Also, they don’t leave pieces of themselves all over. An added bonus: Use sponge bombs over and over again!
Sponge Bomb
Materials Needed:
Kitchen sponges, variety of colors- 3/sponge bomb
Scissors
(1) hair elastic
Instructions:
• Gather materials
• Cut sponges into thirds length-wise (making 9 sections)
• Wrap hair elastic around cut pieces
• Pull/arrange sponge sections so the are evenly distributed
• Let your kiddos soak the sponge bombs in water and either throw them at each other (or opponent’s buckets) either way they’ll give wet!
I’ll be heading to the Mid-West soon. I was in St Louis around this time last year. I couldn’t believe how hot and humid it was–I thought I was going to melt! We kept Grandbub #2 cool and entertained in the pool. I can’t wait to see what he does when I add the sponge bombs this time around! Let me know if you try them!
Yours in Play!
Teacher Karen
*Back then I don’t think I gave a thought to water safety but now, as a parent and grandparent, I know how critical water safety is!
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