35 fun and free summer activities for kids

Summer is here and the kids are out of school. It can get a little challenging for parents to keep their kids busy with 3 months of no school. Camps are a good solution but are often very pricey. I wanted to get ahead of the game so I did some research on fun things I can do with my kids. We are traveling for part of the summer but I want to be able to keep them entertained while we are at home. Here is a list of budget friendly ideas to help keep a little sanity in your household this summer.

1. Set up play dates with your kids’ friends. Make sure you alternate the location so you can have a break too.
2. Go to the beach. You can even have a summer goal to collect sea shells for a fun end of the summer project.
3. Make a fort out of cardboard boxes or even blankets (my kids use chip clips to hold the blankets). This is fun and helps fuel your child’s creative side.
4. Go visit a local famers market. Let your children help you pick out some fresh fruit and veggies. This helps teach them about clean and healthy eating.
5. Have a backyard campfire. Use the grill to BBQ and use the fire pit to make smore’s.
6. Go for a family walk around your neighborhood.
7. Help your kids set up a lemonade stand. You can have them donate the money they make to a charity of their choice.
8. Have a water balloon fight.
9. Have a pool day. If you don’t have a pool a lot of times there are some public ones located right in your community.
10. Plant a garden.
11. Visit a museum you have never been to.
12. Be a tourist for the day. Just because you live here doesn’t mean you can get out and explore.
13. Go fossil hunting near a lake.
14. Get a hummingbird feeder and have your kids write a journal about the birds that visit.
15. Make your own birdhouse.
16. Make a sidewalk mural. This can be a project for all of the neighborhood kids to work on together.
17. Have a block party.
18. Make jewelry.
19. Go on a staycation.
20. Visit an amusement park or a water park.
21. Have a pizza party. You can make your own pizzas with different toppings.
22. Visit an animal shelter.
23. Have a movie night at home.
24. Go to an outdoor festival or carnival.
25. Watch a movie in the park (many local parks have this for free).
26. Have an arts and crafts day (you can get many ideas on pintrest).
27. Camp out in the backyard with sleeping bags and a tent for the night.
28. Go to a ball game.
29. Have a family game night with board games or games your kids make up.
30. Have a talent night where each person performs a dance, skit, etc. Have fun and get creative.
31. Go to a free workshop at Home Depot, Lowe’s, or Pottery Barn.
32. Go try a new type of cuisine.
33. Have a cooking day, where each person in the family can make an item.
34. Have a game day and set up and obstacle in your front or backyard and have the neighbored kids go through it!
35. Have a lazy day and hang out in your Pj’s.

Enjoy your summer and quality time with your kids. We are looking forward to hanging out as a family and crossing some of these activities off our list!