Summer Fun

Summer is in full swing, which for me means lots of fun in the sun with my own 5 children (ages 2-17!) This is the time of year where I make up for working late during the school year. All of those nights where I was too busy cutting out lamination, writing lesson plans and preparing for a class full of students to focus 100% of my attention on my kids. I'm not in back-to-school mode yet, so it's all summer fun, all day long at our house!

One of my go-to shops for that summer fun is Oriental Trading. I've written before about how I use their products during the school year. They have a great educational line and lots of activities and games that can be used in the classroom. Oriental Trading also has a ton of summer products, that my own kids love!

Summer Crafts:

They have so many crafts that are perfect for when the weather isn't cooperating for outdoor play. My 2 year old loves to dress up and pretend play, so masks are a perfect choice for him. These Magic Color Scratch Animal Masks are fun to make, so even the older kids get into it!

Summer Toys:
Let's face it, those summer days can be long....and with the heat in Oklahoma above 100 degrees, we're practically living at the pool or lake. That's fine...until you hear the dreaded "I'm bored!" Luckily, OT has some inexpensive summer toys that make any day more fun.

One of the things that I love is that often I can get multiple items for a low price - like these mini inflatable beach balls that are only $6.50 for a dozen. That's plenty for my kids, and even enough to share with a toddler at the pool who becomes fascinated with them (Sullivan is pretty good about sharing his toys, but it's nice to have an extra or two so no one's feelings are hurt!) I may or may not also hide a few to use in my classroom lol!

There are lots of options for more active play too - like this Monkey Bean Bag Toss Game. This is another item that will sneak its way into my classroom after summer lol!

Party Supplies:

I think everyone knows that OT is the go-to place for party supplies. We have 3 summer birthdays in my family so inexpensive, FUN party supplies are a must! From luau decorations for my daughter to a Dino Dig theme for my son, I can get everything I need from OT! And since they have free Project Ideas, I don't even have to spend hours trying to find ideas on Pinterest lol!

And of course, while I'm shopping for summer fun items, I always take a peek at the Teacher Resources page.  If a pocket chart or two make their way into the cart, well what can I say? You can put a teacher on summer break, but there's always going to be that small part that is turning over new ideas for the classroom lol!

Don't forget to enter to win a OT's Classroom Giveaway too - a $500 Grand Prize and 6 $100  gift cards are up for grabs! Click here to enter!

*I received free products in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was provided.*