Bleach Bottle Megaphones- Submitted by Patrisha

Cut off the top halves of several bleach bottles that have handles and wash them very carefully. Let the children use them outdoors for megaphones.

Cable Spool Tables- Submitted by Patrisha

Collect empty wooden cable spools from electricians, hardware stores, etc., and use them as outdoor project tables. Place them in the middle of the sandbox for stand up play. Or use the spools as outdoor snack, play dough, art project or mud pie tables.

Clothesline- Submitted by Patrisha

String a clothesline between two trees, chairs or other sturdy objects. Set out a basketful of small clothes and spring type clothespins. Let the children take turns hanging up the clothes.

Soapy Water- Submitted by Patrisha

Set a plastic dishpan filled with warm soapy water next to a clothesline and let the children wash the clothes before hanging them up.

Riding Props- Submitted by Sherry

Car Wash:

Cut off both ends of a large cardboard appliance box. Reinforce the box by wrapping tape around its sides. In the center of the box hang a row of plastic strips across the top of the box. Have the children ride their tricycles through the “car wash”.

Cardboard Box Vehicle:

Cut the top and bottom off a cardboard box. Decorate the box to resemble a police car, a fire engine or other emergency vehicle. Attach two ribbon straps to the box that go from the front to the back. Help a child step into the box and place the straps over his or her shoulders. Then have the child drive his or her emergency vehicle through the tricycle lay area.

Gas Pump:

Cut a small hole in the side of a medium sized card board box. Cut off three or four feet from the end of an old garden hose. Insert the cut end of the hose into the hole in the box and securely tape it in place. Attach a pistol grip nozzle to the other end of the hose. Add details to the box with felt tip markers as desired.

Licenses:

Make a pretend driver’s license for each child. Thread the licenses on loops of yarn for the children to wear while they are riding tricycles. They will be more likely to follow the safety rules if they know that there licenses will be suspended for reckless driving.

Parade Prop Box:

Keep a box filled with the following parade props; crepe pa per, streamers, large feathers, balloons, ribbons, stickers and masking tape. Let the children decorate tricycles and wagons and ride along a designated parade route.

Permanent Roads and Parking Spaces:

If you have a concrete tricycle riding area, you can create permanent parking spaces and roads by painting white or yellow stripes on the concrete.

Temporary Roads and Parking Spaces:

Make temporary stripes for roads and parking spaces in your tricycle riding area with chalk and masking tape.

Tow Truck:

Tie a six-foot length of rope to the back of a tricycle. Let a child tie the loose end of the rope to another tricycle, a wag on or a box and tow it.

Traffic Signs:

Cut plywood into geometric shapes and paint them to resemble real street signs. Nail wooden stakes to the signs and stand them in cans filled with cement or dirt. Place the signs around your riding area and encourage the children to follow them. To keep the children on their toes, periodically move the signs around.

Wagon Panels:

Cut two long narrow rectangles out of cardboard. Decorate the rectangles to look like the sides of a bakery truck, a fire engine or other vehicle. Attach the rectangles to the sides of a wagon. Let the children use the paneled wagon in your tricycle play area.

Swings- Submitted by Sherry

Board Swing:

Cut an 8 by 14 inch rectangle out of ¾ inch wood. Drill a hole in each corner. Thread a sturdy rope through a hole in one side of the board and up through the other hole. Tie the end of the rope to the rest of the rope six inches above the holes. Repeat for the other side of the board. Tie the ends of the ropes securely to a sturdy tree branch and adjust the ropes to make the seat hang evenly.

Box Swing:

Purchase a sturdy plastic milk box. Cut off the front of the box and sand any rough edges. Tie sturdy ropes securely to the box by looping them through holes in the sides. Tie the ends of the ropes to a strong tree limb.

Tire Swing:

Tie a sturdy rope to an old tire. Hang the tire from a strong tree branch.

Toy Swing:

Attach yarn or ribbon to the arms or around the middle of a stuffed animal. Tie the yarn to a tree branch. Let the children take turns pushing the stuffed animal back and forth.

Water Props- Submitted by Sherry

Car Wash:

Help the children set up a neighborhood car wash on the sidewalk or in a driveway. Hook up a garden hose and get out a few buckets and sponges. Let the children help you wash your car or have the invite their friends over to wash their tricycles.

Handy Squirter:

Use a straight pin to poke a hole at the tip of each finger of a rubber glove. Fill the glove with water. Let the children squeeze the fingers to make the water squirt out.

Paint brushes:

Give the children buckets of water and large, clean paintbrushes. Let them pretend that they are house painters and have them paint the sides of a house with water.

Rain Gutter:

Buy a 10 foot section of plastic rain gutter (available at home and garden stores). Raise one end of the gutter and let it slope gently into a tub of water. Let the children take turns sliding objects down the gutter into the water.

Shower Bucket:

Make a simple outdoor shower by punching holes in the bottom of an old bucket and hanging it from a hook or a tree limb. Run a garden hose from a water spigot to the bucket, tying the hose in place as needed. Turn on the water and let the children run and play under the outdoor shower.

Tire Moats:

Cut an old tire in half to make rounds. Lay both rounds on the ground and fill them with water to create moats for pretend castles or circular rivers for sailing toy boats.

Wading Pools:

Set several small wading pools in various areas around the yard. Fill the pools with water for the children to play in.

Water Slide:

Place a 3 by 8 foot piece of vinyl on a grassy slope. Secure a garden hose at the top of the vinyl so that the water will run down it, keeping it wet. Let the children take turns sliding down the vinyl. Supervision is recommended with this activity to insure that only one child at a time takes a turn.

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