Keeping kids busy during the summer is quite a job don’t you think. I remember the summer days when my kids would nag me about being bored and I was always looking for ideas to keep them busy. If you have the same problem hopefully we can help solve a few of those issues for you today.
I’ve joined with several other talented bloggers to come up with some ideas to help you out. You can find all their fun activities below the Cousin Carnival I did for my grand kids.
Getting together with cousins and creating lasting relationships is so important. Last summer we put together a Cousin Carnival for all my grand kids and we had a blast.
We were able to use our church gym to hold our carnival, but you could use a park or a back yard. We kept decorations simple by using bright colors and balloons.
We rented a bounce house which added to the ambiance and kept the kids busy. Part of the bounce house package we rented was a popcorn machine and a shaved ice machine which we took full advantage of. Below are some other carnival food ideas that we enjoyed.
Carnival Food Ideas
- Hot Dogs
- Pickles
- Chips
- Juice/Soda/Water
- Shaved Ice/Snow Cones
- Popcorn
You could also do:
- Cotton Candy
- Funnel Cakes
- Pretzels
- Caramel Apples
- Hamburgers
- Corn on the Cob
The big hit of the day was a balloon artist who came and created balloon animals for all the kids and even the adults. He was entertaining, told jokes, and kept the attention of all the kids. The artist is also a clown, but it would have been more expensive to have him come as a clown. I also decided it would be less scary to not have him dress up. You can find clowns in your area phone book or online.
Carnival Games and Activities
We put together several basic carnival games like:
- Fishing
- Pie Eating Contest (Whip Cream in Pie Pans)
- Face Painting
- Corn Hole
- Ball Toss
- Ring Toss
- Parachute
- Cake Walk (Using Cupcakes)
- Tic Tac Toe
- Photo Booth
There are so many ideas. We just searched online for Carnival Activities and went from there. We went with ideas that would be easy to put together and for all ages.
For prizes we went to our local party supply store and found little trinkets to give out. We also found several items at Walmart.
At the end of the carnival we had some happy and tired kids. They still talk about the fun they had. Even though we were super tired I would have done it all over again. The smiles and memories were all work it. Next time I think we are going to do a Cousin Camp.
Now, let’s see what else we can add to our Summer Activities list! Scroll down for new ideas being added every day this week! Pin this post or share it on Facebook and check back every day this week for new ideas.
Monday
21 Fun Summer Activities To Enjoy With The Grandkids @An Alli Event
Swing Painting Activity @Glitter On A Dime
Kids Make Dinner @That Fit Fam
Tuesday
Water Tarp Game @Intelligent Domestications
Toilet Paper Butterfly Craft with Washi Tape @Cookies, Coffee & Crafts
Easy Outdoor Flying Disc Game @DIY Adulation
Wednesday
Cousin Carnival @Polka Dot Poplars
Thursday
Friday
About Dru
I love this for so many reasons! Of course it’s a great way to entertain kiddos and have some fun, but it’s also such a fantastic way to help them bond with family. The relationships forged now will seriously last a lifetime. Love, love, love!!
What a fun time! This is.a great time for cousins to connect and make amazing memories together.
Wow! This is amazing! It must be so fun to get all of those grandkids together. We do Cousin Camp each summer and I know how special those memories are. This carnival definitely will be something they will always remember!