Things to do outside with crawlers in the heat

[feelingsicknow]

We're in SW London/ Surrey. DS is 10 months and a confident crawler/climber/cruiser but no obvious signs of walking yet.

Any ideas of places to go and things to do in this heat? Friends have mentioned splash pads nearby but I couldn't let him crawl about on them, could I?

I feel like he's a bit bored. We have a garden with a swing, but I have no money to buy a sandpit or paddling pool.

Is there anywhere geared up for outside activities for crawlers?

Obviously I can let him crawl about the back garden but he eats grass, soil, stones etc and there is no shade.

Any sort of outdoor soft play things?

Sort out some shade in the back garden somehow (sheet?) and fill your biggest storage box with water.

I don't really know of any outdoor soft play areas but I bring DD out (factor 50, sun hat, long pants & top) top playgrounds and then let her crawl around the grass (we don't have a garden so a park is a novelty).
However, I wouldn't stay out too long in the heat so would just bring her to normal indoor playgroups too

He can definitely crawl around in the splash pad at Wimbledon Park, but you will need to be right there with him to protect him from being trodden on. There’s a sandpit that’s good for crawlers there, too. If you go early it shouldn’t be too hot and there should be some shade.

Thanks folks - good tips there. Never thought about using a storage box as a paddling pool - now that I can do!

Funnily enough we did our usual indoor playgroup today and he got tired so much more quickly than usual. This bloomin' heat!!

Rig up a shade somehow - a sheet over a washing line will work just fine!

Washing up bowl with water and bubbles and play washing up (hand soap much kinder to skin than actual washing up liquid).

A tray with cling film on, then shaving foam and paint, then another layer of cling film. Tape the edges and then let them "mix" the foam and paint inside the cling film sandwich.

Spray bottle water "fight".

Washing line/airer and sheet to make a shady tent for a picnic.

Paint brushes and a pot of water to "paint the patio/path/fence/wall.

Once you have sorted some shade and a blanket on the floor, all your indoor toys become available again - build towers and knock them down, roll balls to each other across the blanket, teddy bear picnic.