Cool Summer Activities for Boys

Outdoor Science Experiments

• The warm weather outside will provide the boys with an ideal opportunity to take full range of the backyard for messy fun science experiments. Let the boys pretend they're in prehistoric times, by creating a live miniature volcano. Have them form a volcano shape with modeling clay and use their thumbs to create a well inside the volcano. Let them toss in a spoonful of baking soda and a few drops of red food coloring into the well. Then, have them pour a bit of vinegar on top and stand back to watch in awe as the volcano erupts. Alternatively, allow the boys to make a soda bottle volcano. Place a two-liter bottle of diet cola on a grassed area. Open a package of Mentos candies and let them drop four candies in the bottle. Have them run as fast as possible away from bottle to see the eruption.

Water Balloon Games

• With the increasing temperatures outside, you'll want to find creative ways to help your boys cool off. Let the boys change into swimsuits and prepare water balloons for a series of fun games. For a scavenger hunt, hide the balloons in secret spots around the backyard. Give each boy a bucket and have them collect as many as they can without bursting them. The winner will be the boy with the most balloons in his bucket. A classic water balloon fight will also keep the boys entertained. Let them throw water balloons in a noncompetitive way to try and hit each other. Alternatively, let them use a water balloon in place of a real ball for a variety of sports games. They can serve a water balloon back and forth over a net for a volleyball game or throw a water balloon through a basketball net.

Backyard Camping Party

• If the nearest campsite is miles away from home, transform your backyard into campgrounds. Turn off the video games and encourage the boys to invite friends over to have an authentic camping experience at home. Let them pitch a large tent and place their sleeping bags inside. Send the boys to take a hike around the neighborhood and collect nature samples, such as rocks or leaves. Then, the boys can head back home to play potato sack relay races or tug-o-war. When dusk arrives, the boys can gather around in a circle to eat hot dogs and beans and s'mores and take turns to try to tell the scariest story. Additionally, the boys can scope the night sky to identify constellations. Before retiring for the evening, the boys can play cards or board games or read books with a flashlight inside the tent.

Local Museum Trips

• Since the summer months will cause your sons to have an adequate amount of free time on their hands at home, a trip to a local museum will offer them a short getaway. Keep the boys' interests in mind to decide what type of museum to visit. If the boys adore sharks, head to an aquarium to see them and other sea animals up close and personal. They may even have the chance to take advantage of the aquarium's hands-on exhibits and touch live sea life, such as string rays and bearded dragons. Alternatively, if your boys are outer space admirers, spend the day at a science museum for them to explore the latest space technology. For boys who are adventure types, consider heading to a children's museum. They'll be able to burn out all their energy and explore kid-size exhibits and displays.