Involving children with cheap activities this summer will help to not only keep your kids entertained, but will also ensure they’re tired come the end of the day. But coming up with ideas that don’t cost a fortune can sometimes be a problem. Maybe this list of free/cheap summer fun activities will help keep your kids entertained and off their electronic devices and cell phones for a while.
Looking for free/cheap summer fun activities?
You’ll enjoy these free or cheap summer fun activities all summer long.
Go on a picnic. Make your lunch and take it outdoors. Whether you are at a park or in your own backyard, picnics are always so much fun. Not too sure what to pack for your picnic lunch? Here is a great list of picnic food ideas with recipes. Once the picnic is over why not have an afternoon of fun with a friendly game of kickball, tag, or flying a kite.
Go to the pool. Do you have access to a neighborhood pool? Or perhaps a friend has been saying you need to come over and swim sometime. Set a date and go! Your kids will thank you for it.
Plant seeds/flowers. Watching a garden grow is fun for kids of all ages. Though this isn’t a one and done activity, it’s still enjoyable. The kids can take part in picking out what will be planted, actually planting the seeds/plants, helping to water, weed, and then sit back a watch the plant transform over the course of the summer.
Go on a scavenger hunt. It’s always fun to have a list and check things off that list. Why not go on a scavenger hunt and check things off as you find them. Not sure how a scavenger hunt actually works? Check out these instructions on how to get one going.
Wanting to save money on summer camps this year, but also want your kids to still be part of one. Why not create your own summer camp? Sound too good to be true or thinking you don’t have the skills to pull something like that off? Think again. You have more skills than you give yourself credit for.
Outdoor games. Let the kids decide what game you guys will play together. They have a whole bunch of ideas tucked away in their back pocket waiting for the day you will come out and play. If they can’t think of a single game to play, here is a great list of 21 fun ideas for kids to do on summer break.
Community happenings. Does your community put on a community wide yard sale? Or a festival of some sort? Check out your local community calendar to find out more information.
Visit a State or National Park. If you and your family are feeling adventurous, why not make a day trip and visit the closest State or National Park. Entrance fees at state parks vary. Some parks don’t charge an entrance fee while others offer free days. Typically, the parks will offer free programs throughout the summer that offer hikes with a naturalist, educational nature programs and entertainment. Explore your state’s park website to find out what programs are offered closest to you. If you happen to be a military family, you receive an annual pass for free.
Make some homemade ice cream. Yum! Not sure there’s too much better than homemade ice cream and this recipe requires no machine. Set up a little station with lots of different toppings and enjoy the finished product!
Sneak in some easy, yet fun science projects. Who wouldn’t love to see a Mentos Geyser Experiment on a hot summer’s day? Especially since this one involves candy! It’s so fun to see what happens when Mentos meets diet coke. Perhaps, your family has already enjoyed that experiment. No need to fear, there are more experiments to be had in this Science Experiments For Kids book.
Take up photography and make it into a project. Have you met anyone recently who doesn’t enjoy taking pictures? Why not let the kids choose a theme and take photos all summer long related to their chosen theme. At the end of the summer they can turn those photos into a scrapbook, collage, online slideshow or even give it as a gift to relatives/friends.
Looking for more activities to do with your children? Here’s a list of Top 10 DIY outdoor toys and summer activities for kids.
Plan an outdoor movie night. It’s easier than you might think. Locate a projector, put up a sheet and invite friends over for a potluck movie night. Fun will be had by all! Why not go with a movie everyone will love like Ice Age, The Chipmunks, Frozen, or Beauty and The Beast.
Go to your local library. Local libraries have summer reading programs for kids of all ages to enjoy. Some programs have a children’s reading time and contests throughout the summer as well. If a reading program is what you’re after also check out your local bookstores, they have reading programs as well.
Local museums. Sometimes museums offer discounts on certain days of the week, certain times of the day, or maybe certain times of year. Contact your local museum and see what they offer. Just Google free museums, along with the area to check for free museums near you. Here are some ways to get free travel advice and coupons from tourist offices.
Movies. Want to catch the latest box office hit or perhaps an old classic this summer? Your local movie theater might offer a discount on a certain day of the week. Do you have a Regal Cinema near you? You don’t want to miss out on the Summer Movie Express. If you don’t have a Regal Cinema near you, there are other ways to save at the movies this summer. In fact, here are eight ways to find free and cheap movies.
Bowling. Go bowling! Hold a contest and see who can make the most gutter balls or the most strikes in one game. During the summer, Parents and kids can bowl three games every day, all summer long (shoes included), for one low price at participating bowling allies. There is another program that offers free bowling for kids this summer. All you need to do to find out if your area participates is enter in your state. You can always go to your local bowling alley website to see if they’re offering any deals during the summer in order to get the most bang for your buck.
Create a “cook with me” day. Watch your children get all excited about cooking when you let them help you prepare a meal. Let them decide what you guys will cook, go shopping with you to buy the ingredients, and prepare the meal. Then watch the sense of pride cover their face when everyone enjoys the meal.
Board games. Can’t go wrong with card games and board games. Kids of all ages will enjoy playing along. Some classics include UNO, Rummy, Sorry, Yahtzee, and Monopoly.
Skating. Does your family love skating? There is a national program called Kids Skate Free, that offers kids one free roller skating pass each week. All you’ll need to do is register your child with a participating skating rink to get the free pass.
Thinking you still don’t have enough ideas to last all summer long? Check out 11 ideas for free or cheap summer fun for kids.
Here’s hoping you and your family have a fun and adventurous summer with minimal costs involved.
Here are free and cheap things to do with kids this summer in cities around the country:
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Kids are naturally curious. So anything that can be educational and cheap can also be fun for them! Great list.