7 Summer Activities For Kids That Won’t Break The Bank

7 Summer Activities For Kids That Won’t Break The Bank

With school almost out and the summer fast approaching, it’s time to think about fun activities to enjoy with our little ones.

The truth of the matter is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have fun this summer. In fact, I think that the most fun of summer activities can be those that are free or cost little money at all!

You might be surprised at how many fun activities you and your family can do together without breaking the bank! Here are 7 of my favorite ideas that I hope you’ll find as fun as my family and I do!

Take them to a plant nursery.

When I was a child, we often went to plant nurseries and I absolutely loved it!

There are so many sights and smells to be found in a nursery, and there are so many lovely flowers for your tots to explore. Not only is a great opportunity to spend some time outdoors, but it’s also a great opportunity to introduce younger kids to the different sights, textures and smells.

Encourage them to smell the flowers and enjoy the lovely scents, and ask them to touch the leaves to feel the difference between them.

Don’t forget to pick out a plant (or seeds) that you can take home and plant together! This will depend on the time of year, but it’s also a great experience that’s not only fun but educational too. Your tots will love watching the seeds or flowers grow, and it’s a great opportunity to teach them about how these things happen.

Go for a walk.

Walking or hiking trails are a fun way to enjoy the outdoors in the summer! It’s great because it allows kids to get as messy as they want, and maybe you’ll even see some squirrels or other animals along the way. There will definitely be birds to listen to!

Be sure to pack some healthy snacks and drinks to bring along the way, and keep them in an insulated bag to keep them chilled. You could even bring a blanket along and plan a picnic!

If you’re going to be in a wooded area, do be sure to apply an effective bug spray to protect you and your children from mosquitoes and ticks. I have a guide on effective bug sprays that you can read here.

Explore the local library.

First of all, the library is a great way to beat the heat, because they will usually be air-conditioned.

The library is a great (and free) way to spend a few hours, and even if your children can’t read yet, there will be lots of fun books for them to look through. Be sure to look for story times that your local library might have. Often these sessions will take place at least once a week, and they’re a great way to not only introduce your child to new books, but to spend time around other kids and practice social skills.

Build an obstacle course.

Building a backyard obstacle course with items like hoses, buckets, hula hoops and any other items you have around can be a blast. Just be sure to only use safe items, and nothing that your little ones could injure themselves on.

The great thing about this is that you can make it as simple as necessary according to your child’s age, and it’s a fun way to keep active, too.

Visit the local pool

Most cities will have pools open to the public, which are a great way to beat the heat and have fun too.

Of course, safety should always be the number one priority at the pool, and if your kids are old enough, enrolling them in swimming lessons is a good idea. If they’re not potty trained yet, outfitting them with a proper swim diaper like these will make sure no accidents happen, and most times public pools will mandate them.

Explore the free activities in your city.

A little research will often find lots of fun and free activities that you and your little ones can partake in during the summer!

For example, sometimes museums will have free or low-cost days aimed at children, which can be both a fun and educational way to spend an afternoon. Or maybe you’ll find a free summer concert for the kids.

Even just spending a day at the park can be a ton of fun and a great bonding experience. Think about how much you loved swinging on the swingset with your mom or dad as a child!

Create a treasure hunt.

Hiding objects around the house (or outdoors) to make a treasure hunt can be so much fun!

Depending on the age of your children, you can give clues to make it easier for them to find the hidden objects. A simple way to give clues is by playing “hot and cold”: as they get closer to a hidden object, you tell them they’re “hot” and if they’re going away from it, they’re “cold”. Try to resist the urge to tell them exactly where the objects are, as finding them on their own is half of the fun!

You can get as creative as you want with the treasure hunt, and you can do it anywhere you want. You can even go the extra mile and make it a themed treasure hunt!

Jennifer Taylor
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3 Comments

  1. I think its an excellent idea to do the planting thing…I tend to go nuts on instagram when I head to anything with flowers LOL … but even container planters for tomatoes or strawberries would be such a learning experience.

  2. Love these easy summer ideas! I know we will be hitting the library and going around the city finding fun things to do and see while school is out. Loved the obsticle course idea!

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