Summers in Arizona are very long. Especially when you don't have a pool. 😢 I've been trying and trying to come up with indoor activities for my 3.5 year old and thought I'd share them. I'll keep adding on throughout the summer.
1) Rice bin: my son can spend hours pouring, scooping, and shaking rice. I have him a big lidded bin of uncooked brown rice (because my husband wouldn't eat it). Then I threw in old scoops from baby formula, empty spice containers, empty Parmesan cheese containers, spoons, and funnels. It can be messy, but actually it's very easy to sweep up uncooked rice and put it back into the bin.
2) Kinetic sand: This sand is amazing. It sticks together and has a very cool texture. It also can provide hours of entertainment. My only suggestion is that you buy a large shallow Tupperware to store it in (and your child can play with it in the container).
3) CUTTING! This is good for fine motor skills and my son loves it because he feels like such a big boy.
I save cereal boxes and cracker boxes with characters on them (the thin cardboard type). Then I give my son scissors and let him go at it cutting his favorite characters out. For example, he cut out Doc Mcstuffins from a fruit snack box, and the Minions from a Cheese Nips box.
REMEMBER TO SUPERVISE YOUR CHILD WITH SCISSORS!
4) Workbooks: These workbooks are good for one on one time with your child. Look for the preschool specific workbooks.
5) Playdoh: You can buy so many fun playdoh toys. My son's favorite is the garbage truck and Doc Mcstuffins.
6) Driving cars on a close mirror city: I drew roads and buildings on my closet mirror (and labeled everything for sight word practice) and A loves driving his cars and trains on the mirror. This is a good activity while I'm trying to get ready. *picture coming*