20 Fun and Inexpensive Summer Activities for Kids

Summer is here. Yay!… or is it? Sometimes it is hard to find out new ways to entertain children. I have a 9-year-old girl and a 3-year-old boy. They are fun, but when there is ‘nothing’ to do, things get a little tense at home. For that reason, I decided to write down some of the activities we have been doing lately that are fun and budget friendly.

Recently, I came to the realization that I am not a homebody. I love going out, but when I do, I end up spending more than what I should. For that reason, I began planning my outings and coming up with new things to try around our city.

What are some things you like to do for fun that are inexpensive? I’d love to hear it in the comments.

Before I get to the list, I’d like to make another list for you. These are 5 activities that can be done in the summer that take a little longer to plan and possibly a little more budgeting too. This is the “fancy” list if you will.

5 Planned Summer Activities to do with Kids

Camping

Summertime is all about enjoying the hot weather. Where I live, we are considered lucky if we have 2 full months of continuous warm days out of the year. So soaking up the sun is a must. For that reason, camping is a great option. You can enjoy:

tubing
canoeing
campfires
singing family favorites

Themed lunch menus

I have not tried this yet, but it’s been on my to-do list for a while. Make it fun and less stressful to come up with what to prep for lunch. I know I struggle with coming up with lunch ideas. Having a themed lunch menu helps.

Idea: pizza day, pasta day, soup day, grill day, etc.

Amusement Park visits

If you are thrill seekers, then this is a great activity to plan for. Enjoy roller coaster rides, pools, lazy rivers, and a turkey leg.

Aquariums

Explore a new aquarium with your kids this summer and have fun with at the closest thing to ‘under the sea’ you can be.

Hotel stays

Sometimes it’s fun to take a day or two and go to a nice hotel near you. Enjoy their breakfast, the pool, a stroll through the city’s downtown, and leave the stress of constant cleaning back home.

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20 activities to try this summer with your kids

Library (read and/or play + story times)

Trips to the library have been very frequent for us lately. My kids love story time, finding new books to read, and playing at the library’s play area. There are over 10 libraries near me that we hop back and forth from to get the most out of our visits.

Playgrounds

Explore new playgrounds and have a fun day at the park. Make sure you take snacks and water!

Pools/splash pads

Public pools and splash pads are a fun way to enjoy the summer break. Find the ones you like best and go splash! Check if they have discount for residents where you live.

Chalk painting

You can buy chalk or make it at home. I recently found this idea where you put tempera paint in ice trays and put a popsicle stick in them and create an ice-paint popsicle for the kids to paint with outside.

Board games/card games

Guess who?, memory, card games, etc. These are a few ideas for games to play with your kids on an evening, or a cloudy/rainy summer day.

Day bonfires (for the cooler summer days)

On those days where the temperature is cooler, enjoy a day bonfire. No need to wait for the nighttime to make a nice fire and enjoy time outside.

Fruit u-picks (mornings preferably)

We recently went strawberry picking, and it only took us 25 minutes to complete our picking. Find u-picks near you and take a morning to go pick your own fresh fruits.

Hiking

Enjoy a nature walk and find different rocks, plants, birds, mushrooms etc.

Zoo

If you have EBT or any other kind of government assistance, I suggest you do some research on your own and you might be surprised at how many FREE or discounted programs they have for families. If not, either way a trip to the zoo is often inexpensive and is very fun. You can take your own lunch and save money that way.

Petting zoos

Petting zoos are fun and often heartwarming. There are baby goats, bunnies, and other cute animals you can pet and feed.

Farms (farm playgrounds, petting zoos, fresh baked goods and ice cream!)

Farms are also very fun and inexpensive. Many of them have their own farm-style playgrounds and other activities you can enjoy with your family.

Local road trips

Have you ever just gotten in your car, gas it up, and just taken a drive? Explore surrounding cities and neighborhoods and find new shops this summer with your kids.

Backyard or park picnics

A tablecloth, basket, fresh fruit and juice, and great company. These are the main ingredients for the perfect picnic.

Movie days or nights

You’ve heard of movie nights, but have you done a movie day? We have done this a few times and especially enjoy it when it’s a cloudy day out.

Crafting

There are many ideas out there for crafts that are easy and inexpensive. We have done play dough, flowers, and summer decorations. Another great way to find craft ideas is to look for the yearly calendar and see what holiday the day you are crafting in is: bicycle day, hug day, umbrella day, etc.

Thrifting for kids’ books/toys

We have been thrift store hunting for a while. We have found toys, books, and other things in great condition. Check out your local thrift store and see what you can find!

Decorate play area with construction paper crafts (themed for more fun!)

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Decorate your children’s play area by season and let your imagination flow.

Outdoor free time

Chalk writing, water play, water balloons, sports, etc. Just take some time to go out and let the kids play. Encourage them to play by themselves so they can expand their imagination.

Sensory bins

Grab a bucket and make slime, or seek-n-find orbeez buckets, or other sensory bins. These are great for kids to enjoy time by themselves while doing something fun.

Doll/toys wash in the sing or bathtub or bucket

My kids love washing their toys in the sink. I just fill one side of the sink up (you can use a bucket instead if you prefer) and just let them play there. I supervise them and have them wear shoes as the stepping stool can get slippery.

Bonus!

Cook Together

Another great way to spend time together is cooking together. Try a simple recipe such as this ONE together.

I hope these ideas give you even more ways to have fun with your kids this summer. If we plan ahead, we can be prepared for those days when we, as moms, get overwhelmed. I hope you have a great summer! Let me know in the comments which idea was your favorite.

Sincerely,

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