Overview

• Parents are converting yards and living spaces into water play zones featuring DIY stations like toy car washes, sponge relays and obstacle courses.
• Ice-based activities such as colored-ice art and frozen-toy excavation challenge children to stay engaged while beating the heat.
• Homemade fruit- and yogurt-based ice pops paired with blind taste tests turn refreshment into a playful guessing game.
• Simple household items such as bowls, sponges and cups serve as the building blocks for engaging water stations without specialized equipment.
• Inflatable pool accessories—from flamingo floats and volleyball nets to water blasters and floating drink holders—are topping summer wish lists.