Unlike us adults, when kids are hot, they’d still rather play outside instead of coming indoors to cool off! Good thing they have us old folks around to help keep them cool. Here are ten ways to keep your children cool this summer without cutting their fun quotient too much.

10. Enjoy Frozen Treats

For some fruity flavors, chop up your children’s favorite fruit and freeze them overnight for a cool snack the next day. Making popsicles from fruit or homemade ice cream can be fun as well—though a trip to the ice cream parlor is also enjoyable.

9. Have an Indoor Adventure

Skip the 100-degree weather and head for an indoor attraction in your area. Art museums, science centers, children’s museums, and many other locations usually have free or low-cost admission prices. The mall is always a good place to cool off, as well; while we don’t buy anything (except for maybe lemonade and pretzels), my daughter likes to go there when it’s hot to play at the play place with other children.

8. Under a Shady Tree, You and Me

Good old fashioned shade—what could be better? Our oak is great for this, though any large tree will do. You could also make a homemade tent with vines, sunflowers, or even clotheslines and thin sheets.

7. Venture Underground

Explore a cavern or cave this summer for some chilly fun. Temperatures in these structures are usually much lower than the outside temperatures. If nothing else, you can always hang out in the basement if you have one as well.

6. Make a Splash

What is a summer without water play? Visit the beach, river, creak, lake, or whatever is closest to you and take a dip.

5. Use the Indoor Pool

If it’s simply too hot, make use of any indoor pools in your area. If you have a YMCA nearby, they usually have open swim daily. Our local rec center has open swim every other day.

4. See a Movie

Just about every theater I know of is having free movie showings this summer. We are alternating between three theaters to see a film each week. Between the three, it’s easy to hit a variety—many of which we didn’t catch the first round—in an air conditioned setting.

3. Play with Squirters

My mother recently purchased some squirt guns for my daughter, of which I was horrified. She knows I don’t buy toy weapons—she doesn’t approve of them, either, but she said that water guns were different! I sighed, and said I suppose it’s okay, but let’s call them squirters. It really didn’t make a difference, though, as my daughter knew they were “guns” already. They do make other squirters, though—such as balls, ducks, and other animals—if you’d like to buy them. And if you’re okay with squirt guns, those are readily available at this time of year.

2. Play in Wet T-Shirts

Soak down everyone’s clothes and just run around in the yard! Of course, you could also get the car clean out of this deal…

1. Eat Cold Food

What’s a picnic without peanut butter and jelly? Stick them in the fridge for some cool treats, and add cucumbers, pickles, strawberries, cold pasta, and anything else your family likes for a cool food picnic.