7 Fun Ideas for Little Kids to Beat the Heat - MetroFamily Magazine
MetroFamily Magazine

Where OKC parents find fun & resources

7 Fun Ideas for Little Kids to Beat the Heat

by Kirsten Holder

Reading Time: 5 minutes 

Every summer the triple-digit temperatures catch me off guard. I find myself asking, “Has it always been this hot? Was it this hot last year? Why am I sweating just walking from my front door to my car??” This heat sensitivity has only been exacerbated by having kids, particularly toddlers. We are full-on in the “do it myself” stage, which usually means I’m standing in direct sunlight while trying to refrain from scooping up my daughter in the painfully slow process of getting in the car. I know I’m not alone here!

We tend to do best during the dog days of summer when we have an activity we can all enjoy that is active, engaging and cool. Here are seven fun ideas for toddlers and little kids to beat the heat!

1. Trusty go-to museums

A toddler looking at herself in the mirror maze at Science Museum Oklahoma. This is a great fun idea to beat the heat.I see a friend every time we visit a museum so I know this one is the top of the list for many parents with young children! Science Museum Oklahoma is a favorite with so many different areas to explore, plus the ability to buy a coffee for mom, and pack snacks/lunch for the kids. I have two kids, and one is a runner! When we pick museums to visit, we try to eliminate breakable displays and instead seek out indoor/outdoor options and hands-on features. Other favorites that fit the bill: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, The Firefighters Museum and the Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum.

2. Take a short road trip

A little boy drinking a glass bottle soda through a straw at Pops. This is a great fun idea to beat the summer heat for little kids.It feels like a “getaway,” but it’s really just exploring a new part of town! We recently visited Pops 66 Soda Ranch with the kids. It felt so novel and, of course, ended in something sweet to drink, too! We stopped for dinner at Chicken Shack in Arcadia, which is the perfect place to eat and run around after a bit in the car. The restaurant is indoor/outdoor, with a few climbing areas and a playground for the kids. The food is fantastic, and there is often live music playing. It felt like a total win!

3. “Make it” time

When the kids get a little stir crazy but it’s too hot to be outside, crafts and kitchen activities are definitely the first thing they gravitate towards. I always look for out-of-season or sale wooden paint activities and keep them stored in the closet to use in a pinch. Spread out some newspaper or paper bags for super easy clean-up! This time of year, we also love making popsicles! Because there is no better way to beat the heat with little kids than a tasty treat. The kids help me go through the fridge and decide what colors our popsicle sticks should be. Then we pull out all the fruits and veggies that match that color! The best part about this activity is that you can make them mid-day, freeze them and then pull them out for a popsicle bath to eliminate mess (taking a tip from @busytoddler here!).

4. At-home water activities

A brother and sister are playing outside and painting their slide with shaving cream. Ideas to beat the heat with little kids. Grab your water table, or even just a large Tupperware bin, and set up “washing stations!” This outdoor activity can be set in the shade and is magic every time. Small toys get covered in shaving cream and then have to be “washed” clean in the water table. Add ice cubes for some extra texture and challenge! We even let the kids “paint” the slide with shaving cream and spatulas, then wash the whole slide clean with the hose. They get some fresh air and stimulation and I get to sip my afternoon iced coffee in peace. Voila!

5. Mix up a well-loved space

Kids are playing on a netted-in trampoline with colorful ball pit balls around their feet.Favorite big toys at our house include our outdoor trampoline and indoor couch cushions. Both are fun for burning off energy! To make these “old” spaces new and interesting, consider adding some color and texture. We grabbed a ton of plastic balls from a garage sale and decided to dump them all out on the trampoline! It sounds simple, but adding colorful plastic balls, balloons, bubbles or pom poms is a great remix on favorite spaces.

6. Splash pads

A toddler having fun at a splash pad on a sunny day. Splash pads are a free and fun way for little kids to beat the heat. Our family LOVES a good splash pad! We pack lunches and make a whole morning of exploring new splash pads about once a week! Our favorites are The Myriad Gardens for all there is to see, and all the shade they have too! Another awesome place is the Little River Splash Pad in Moore. It has a smaller fountain area for toddlers and little kids, and large water slides for the big kids. We cannot believe it’s a free, community park!

7. Library classes and story times

The Metro Library is one of the most valuable resources for families in the summertime. We frequently attend the free toddler music and play times, and my son is working through the summer reading program with hopes to win prizes! Another great new option for story time is the Harvey Bakery and Kitchen Saturday reading time. They alternate every other weekend with books for littles and books for bigs. It’s always a captivating time that ends in a delicious, sweet treat for everyone.

Summer should be all about fun, but that doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice what is fun or tolerable for you as a parent. I’ve tried to let go of the “we only get so many summers” mindset and the pressure that comes along with it. In the end, kids are going to remember our attitude and energy and will match it! We cannot give them a memorable summer if we are drained at every second. I hope these fun ideas for little kids to beat the heat give you some inspiration and reprieve so that you can take back summer, even in 100-degree temperatures. Enjoy!

A mom with her preschool-aged son and toddler daughter sitting outside under a tree.Kirsten Holder is a transplant from Michigan but calls the “land that is grand” her home. She graduated from Oklahoma City University and is passionate about the arts, community development and small business. She lives in a historic pocket in OKC with her young kids Jimmy and Millie, husband Andrew and puppy, Roserock.

more stories