As the weather begins to warm up, it’s time to start filling your garage with the things you and your family need to enjoy being outdoors this summer. Although you can just sit outside and enjoy being together, having a few simple pieces of equipment will make your time a lot more fun. Start scouring garage sales, thrift stores, and department store sales to get all of the items you need for some of the following classic summer activities.

Hawaiian Themed Party: Tiki torches, grass skirts, plastic flower leis and a bright beach umbrella can quickly transform your yard into a Hawaiian paradise. If you don’t have a gas or charcoal grill, be on the lookout for one of those as summer approaches. Once you have everything, invite some friends and neighbors over to cook up some meat on the grill and enjoy fresh fruit smoothies. To keep everyone entertained, put on a game of limbo using a pole of any sort, or even a jump rope, as a limbo bar.

Pool Party: Pool toys are a blast, whether you’re in a backyard swimming pool, a community pool, the ocean, a lake, or just a little wading pool. Look for foam pool noodles, inflatable inner tubes and rafts, diving rings or sticks, and plenty of colorful beach towels. Non-swimmers should have Coast Guard approved flotation devices to help them stay safe in the water. And if you’re headed to a sandy beach, also gather buckets and smoothing tools to make sand castles.

Bike Excursions: Biking is great exercise, and it’s a fun way to get to neighborhood events during the summer. Make sure every family member has a bike and helmet, or get a bike seat or trailer for younger kids to ride in. Because lines at bicycle maintenance shops are long when weather warms up, look for an air compressor to keep your tires properly inflated and a wrench to keep the tension right on your nuts and bolts.

Simple Outdoor Play: Kids can entertain themselves for hours outdoors with some basic outdoor play items. Sidewalk chalk is a must-have, as are basic toys, like jump ropes, hula-hoops, and a variety of balls for backyard or driveway sports. Younger kids also love bubbles, and even older kids may enjoy making bubble solution in a wading pool and using a hula-hoop to make giant bubbles. And of course, make sure you have sunscreen and sun hats to protect your skin from the damage of the sun’s rays. A pop-up shade tent is also a great thing to have available.

Summer fun is all about having a wide range of things available so you never face the dreaded phrase, “I’m bored.” If you have supplies prepared for these activities, you can set them up with just a moment’s notice and keep everyone in the family busy and active this summer. Start scouring sales for the items your family’s lacking, and organize a space in your garage to keep all your summer stuff corralled and ready to use.

Authors Bio-
Holly Watson is a stay-at-home mom, former financial adviser, and baking addict. She blogs on behalf of Sears and other prestigious brands she uses.