Remember the Wiggle Woggle and the Lemon Twist? The Wiggle Woggle was a water sprinkler that wiggled and woggled like a rocket with no direction. You never knew where it was going but you were guaranteed to get wet. Backyard activities were staples in our home. Their low cost and low maintenance appeal kept us having fun all summer long. But over the years more and more families do less in their backyards and more on the go.

If you’d like to spend a little more time in your backyard this summer see a few of my ideas below.

If you have a trampoline it offers not only a great workout but hours and hours of fun. To cool down add a water sprinkler to create a water park of your own. You can set up a backyard obstacle course with a slip-n-slide, makeshift tunnels, a small wading pool, and even use empty dish soap bottles to squirt water from. Make sure you have a filling station for refilling the soap bottles too - a large tub of water or using the wading pool should do the trick.

Backyard Bowling can quickly be set up by using empty cans, jugs, and containers. For your little guy or gal use a larger ball giving them a better chance at hitting something.

How about giving your artist large sections of butcher paper to hang on the fence, allowing them to paint their master piece. Just remember to use washable paints to insure no permanent art on the fence and don't forget bobbing for apples, a great way to cool down and get your fruits.