It's Playtime: Keeping Cool & Having Fun

I know some of you are in the midst of winter, but here in Southern California, it's summer at it's finest.  Not it's hottest yet, that's sometime between August and October (yes, October, usually around Halloween!), but still hot enough to avoid the outdoors after 10 a.m.  Knowing I am not that only one attempting to beat the heat and keep my kids away from the T.V. I am dedicating this weeks It's Playtime to activities that will keep us cool while having fun.

My kids are always asking for Slurpees and slushies in the summer to keep them cool.  Well now we can make our own Healthy Slushy thanks to We-Made-That.com.  She includes the recipe for a yummy strawberry or blueberry slushy.    

Happy Little Messes made Frozen Tempera for a creative, outdoor, art experience.  

Do you have any of those cool floor puzzle alphabet pieces?  Take them outside and add water for some Alphabet Water Tracing fun!  Thanks to Crafts-N-Things for children for sharing this repurposing idea with us.

Playdough to Plato shows us how to recycle and have a bit of water fun with their Junk Boats.  

OK, one more!  There were so many good posts this week it's hard to stop.  Check out the Ice Balloons over on Sugarsnips for some cooling sensory fun.

If you were featured this week, don't forget to grab your special "featured button."

  

<a href="http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEYKQj4S7oHoLKfsA3PoeXgaNMJ5dxkdUxIphbmwXOlbFg78Gwl73-rT8AdMTgmqYmIJZrkJRYOqOEItkCbR_exui4YhZqLlwZaBHXhC5slGyqPScnxvq-zrQezw9-MdIUiecgW3fxKg/s1600/featured-messykids.jpg" width="150/" /></a>

These activities plus more can be found over on the It's Playtime Pinterest Board.  Happy Pinning! 

Now, on to this weeks play date! 

It's Playtime is a community and Thursday link-up hosted by:

* Rachele : Messy Kids (That's me!)
* Anna : The Imagination Tree
* Rachel : Quirky Momma
* Jamie : hands on : as we grow
* Jenny : Let the Children Play

How to Play :

* Link up a post about a playful learning experience enjoyed by kids.

* Give us love and pop a button into your post/blog. Invite your readers to the weekly play date!

<a href="http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VWLA7lm_Fqc/TaNHGpGSuVI/AAAAAAAAEX0/DGSvqIT7fyU/s320/RED-itplaytime.jpg" width="150" /></a>

* Stop by one of our blogs every Thursday and add your link about play. Your link will show up on each of the blogs in the It's Playtime community.

* Each week the playtime hosts will choose favorite posts to feature. (By linking you are giving us permission to use an image and link to you, if featured.)

* Be sure to visit some of the links that catch your eye. Commenting on posts that you find interesting or inspiring is a wonderful way to develop your own playful community.