Every morning from my kitchen window, as I look out at my thermometer, I see the arrow on 80 or 90 degrees so I know I need to plan activities for the children inside —  even on into the evening.

It is so important for young children not to be exposed to these high temperatures during mid-summer. In planning a summer day, think of it like a “rainy day” in getting creative on how to keep your young children entertained. Parents, the house may get a little messy, but the children can help you clean up their messes. This is part of the fun!

Young children will remember more the family togetherness and fun you had as they grow up —  rather than always having a “clean” house.

So relax as I make a few suggestions for having fun indoors on a hot day!

• Young children can do pretend play all day long! Let them pull out old sheets and towels to build carnival tents and create costumes. Let them do talent shows, letting mom and dad be the audience as well as having siblings and friends to take turns on different parts. With their favorite library books, they can act out the actions in the books.
• Go on a scavenger or treasure hunt with some of their favorite items in the house. They can hide their favorite toys over and over as you give them different clues on where to find them.
• Set up a craft center in your kitchen or area you don’t mind getting messy. Set out fingerpaints, washable paints to come off of hands and clothes, markers, crayons, watercolors, a lot of paper, and modeling clay. Your child will spend hours creating different projects. Dollar stores have all your supplies you will need and inexpensive stickers to let your child know he or she has done a good job!
• Your bathtub can serve as a fun activity center while your children cool off. Add some bubble bath, water toys that are safe for young hands, and put out some extra large towels on the bathroom floor so your little ones can make waves and blow bubbles that spill over to the side like a mini ocean or pool!

Patience is the major ingredient in providing a fun time for your little one in the kitchen. There are so many child-friendly recipes of summer treats to add delight to an indoor day.

Beth Pinyerd lives in Daphne and serves as director of younger children at Faith Family Fellowship in Spanish Fort.

Her column appears regularly in The Bulletin.