Free or Cheap Summer Fun For Kids
If your kids are home with you during the summer you probably are always searching for something fun to do with the kids. Finding inexpensive or free activities is not always easy. If you aren’t careful, you can spend a lot of money each week just trying to keep them entertained. I’ve compiled a list of my favorite free/cheap things I like to do with the kids to keep us busy during the hot summer days.
1) Play dates. I usually schedule at least one play date a week. More can be stressful so I stick to one. The playdate usually involves inviting one school friend over to play for the afternoon or to swim. I find that adding even one friend to the mix creates a totally different dynamic between my three kids. They seem to get along beautifully and the kids stay busy. Free!
2) Trip to the library. Browsing through books, playing on the library computers, and the kids corners can give your kids a couple hours of fun time (and some good reading time for you too!). Your local library probably has story time play or arts and crafts so check their summer schedules. You can also check with your local Books-a-Million to see if and when they host their weekly story time. When we go to BAM, I always tell my kids that we are not buying a thing just so I don’t walk out of there $45.o0 worth of books later. Free!
3) Vacation Bible School. This is my favorite of the bunch. VBSs are not just great experiences for the kids but also cheap! The cost will run you about $5.00-$20.00 per child for the entire week for your typical 9am-12pm program. I usually only do one a summer but I think this summer we’ll do two.
4) Lemonade stand. You probably won’t do this every week but the kids will really enjoy it. We make signs on poster board, make a trip to the grocery store to buy the lemons, then we set up shop at the corner of the street. This usually takes a couple of hours and the kids have a blast. We did one last week and my daughter made a $7.50! She was beyond ecstatic!! Costs about $5.00-$7.00 per stand for lemons, lemonade mix, and sign.
5) Visit Krispy Kreme. What’s better than a Glazed Hot-n-Ready Donut? Getting a dozen for free and watching them being made! We had a quiet day earlier this week and I remembered I had a coupon for free dozen donuts. We loaded up the care and drove to our nearest Krispy Kreme. I was not in a rush to get back home so we went in (instead of the drive through) and I was surprised to find that it was like a donut factory/museum! We saw donut making in the works, the kids each received bakers hats, and before I knew it, my kids each ate 3 donuts each (I was obviously in a good mood and not paying attention.
6) Visit a Farmers Market. The farmers market is a great place to buy fresh fruits and veggies, desserts, or enjoy the art of local artists. You never know what you will find each week. You can also eat a pretty inexpensive lunch at the market.
7) The gym! Most gyms offer a kids corner that offers a great indoor playground, especially on a rainy day. If you don’t belong to a local gym, you can usually find great summer deals. If you already belong to a gym, you can usually add your kids to your membership for about $5.00 a visit. Not a bad deal especially when you consider the time you’ll get to yourself! If you are like me, nothing better than breaking up the day with a stop to the gym!
8) Gardening. Planting seeds, watering your plants, taking care of them- what a great way to teach your kids how to care for something and stay involved outside. You can also end the gardening with sprinkle time with the hose.
9) Cooking. My kids enjoy helping me cook. Whether its pancake, making pizza, or a grilled cheese sandwich, it’s a great way to get your kids off the couch and in the kitchen. And not surprisingly so, the kids usually find that the food tastes “soooo delicious” when they make it themselves.
10) Fishing. My favorite thing to do with the kids when the weather is nice. Once you make the initial investment of buying some poles and tackle, you won’t have to spend much more. You can use corn, bread, or uncooked chicken for bait. But if you really want to catch fish, you can purchase enough shrimp bait for a good couple of hours of fishing for about $3.00.
11) Movies. A trip to the movies for a family of our four or five can cost an arm and a leg these days. Thankfully there are usually some great deals in the summer. One of our local theaters offers $5.00 movies each Sunday and a free matinée on an oldie but goodie movie each month. Check your listings for details.
12) Museums. My kids never get tired of the museums but I’ll admit, I do get tired of going only because we don’t live too close. The trip is usually well worth it since museums offer great programs for the kids. We went to a train exhibit not too long ago and both my boys absolutely loved it.
13) Bowling. I just found out that one of the bowling alleys here offers a family summer pass for $25.00 for the entire summer. What??!! Sign.Us.UP! Even if you don’t find this great deal, you can usually get a deal on family bowling night where kids bowl free.
Tags: Summer Fun Ideas
6.26.11 at 12:32 am
Steel Magnolia comments:
These are great ideas. Since my children were home with me last summer, I think we’ve tried them all except for fishing and bowling. And the lemonade stand! Maybe we can fit those in this summer. And since our sad little tomato plant had exactly ONE tomato, and it died along with the flowers we planted, I guess we can try gardening again this summer, too!
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6.29.11 at 9:21 pm
danet comments:
@Steel Magnolia,
yah, i agree with you Steel. Fishing and bowling is my most prefered leisure and i am sure i can do it every week this summer cuz of my vocation this year
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7.6.11 at 11:51 am
Dee comments:
I loved this post! Great ideas. Except for #10. Um…No way!!
I couldn’t find a contact link on your site and I would love to talk to you guys about AboutOne – I am trying to reach out to some southern bloggers as I work on a hurricane preparation.
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7.7.11 at 5:13 pm
donna comments:
Wow, all wonderful ideas for enjoying the summer with kids. I think no. (8) Gardening, (9) Cooking, (10) Fishing, (11) Movies and (12) Museums will be very pleasing for my kids. I’m very grateful to you for providing these nice tips.
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7.13.11 at 4:51 pm
Diana comments:
It’s nice to see that my favorite free entertainment (Libraries) is up on #2 on your list. There are also a bunch of other great ideas I am going to add onto mine, thank you!
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7.14.11 at 6:27 pm
Nancy comments:
Love these ideas (and have done about 6 of them already this summer)! In my 10 years of parenting, I have NEVER done a lemonade stand . . . looks like we’ll have to try that one soon. :o)
Nancy
7.18.11 at 3:16 am
Cher Shives comments:
This can be a great idea for all kids and for all the parents too…Thanks for the idea!!
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7.19.11 at 7:40 pm
Richard comments:
Outdoor activities could be more educational and fun for the kids this summer. Lemonade Stand will help your kids know something about buying and selling stuff. Who knows they could become rich by practicing small and fun business games.
love reading your post. very much appreciated.
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7.21.11 at 10:00 pm
Andy Clint comments:
We all want the best for our kids… I think this can be a great idea…
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7.22.11 at 6:47 am
Thomas comments:
Summer is one of the best season we always waiting for because of vacation destinations…
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7.29.11 at 6:28 am
Joe comments:
I like them all, except vacation bible school. In its place I will be teaching my four children how to play the euro millions lottery.
8.1.11 at 4:24 pm
Maggie comments:
You have some really good ideas for cheap summer fun here! I’ve been doing a few of them like cooking and gardening with my kids, but taking them fishing is something I never thought about. Great list!
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8.8.11 at 9:43 pm
jim comments:
our family is in super activity mode since the summer is coming to an end and our daughter will be going to school.I never thought of bowling , so bowling it is this friday.:)
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8.11.11 at 11:33 am
hannamay comments:
you have an amazing ideas.. I love the playdate thing.. I love my child to win a friend and when I was a child I love my friends to come over in my house.. the playdate made my child memories so much fun!
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8.16.11 at 1:25 am
kenny comments:
The important thing is you guys agreed to go to a certain place where your children won’t nagged about going to the other one they like. It should be planned between each family member’s suggestion.
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8.18.11 at 9:21 pm
Helen Chris comments:
Summer is one of the seasons that kids wait and this is perfect for them!!
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8.19.11 at 10:45 am
Robin comments:
Kids are always having fun especially when summer times and they always love what they are doing…We have to support them and make them happier…
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8.24.11 at 12:29 pm
Mauimi comments:
Your ideas are so great! I like the most is visiting the Krispy Kreme.. I love their Donuts! I really appreciate that you share this to us..
Mauimi´s last post: Dominos pizza menu
8.25.11 at 3:59 am
Maria comments:
I like all of your ideas that are elaborated here. I just learn that we should not always spend a lot of money just to enjoy our summer vacation together with our kids. Parents would totally agree with this blog. I would try to follow some of your ideas this coming summer.
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8.26.11 at 3:23 am
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9.5.11 at 11:52 am
Mamie@does breast actives work comments:
Summer is the most awaited time of all kids. They have more time to play and play and play..Every summer, I send my son to a Vacation Bible School in our church. Thanks for those ideas, very helpful to us parents.
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9.6.11 at 7:50 am
joannie comments:
Great activities! I’ll definitely have a good bonding time with my kids for sure.. can’t wait to try these activities with them. thanks so much for sharing!
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9.21.11 at 3:12 am
jessicatracey @ people search free public records comments:
We all know that summer is what most people are waiting for (aside from Christmas)especially the kids…This moment makes them free from school and other activities that they less likely to do…
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9.27.11 at 12:16 pm
Noraiza Braun comments:
I love this post! Great ideas! These are great activities together with my kids. Thanks for sharing.
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9.29.11 at 1:47 pm
marge comments:
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9.29.11 at 10:15 pm
kim comments:
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9.29.11 at 11:29 pm
jon comments:
Thanks for sharing this video I have thick hair and was told that sulphur would dry my hair out is MSM the same. Tell what you think, I am trying to grow my hair as long as I can. let me know if you can help
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10.2.11 at 9:14 am
Paris Presson comments:
Great idea. I will apply your idea to x’mas holiday. The main point is, it’s not necessary to spend a lot of money to have a happy holiday :-).
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10.4.11 at 12:42 pm
Victoria Taylor comments:
Great Ideas you have posted here. I might try these activities out. Thanks for sharing!
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10.11.11 at 8:42 am
Suzie comments:
those are a great ideas…must be really fun activities!
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10.12.11 at 12:25 am
Sheryl comments:
Wow, thanks for the ideas, I’ll pick a couple of your list and will definitely have fun with my kids :-)
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10.16.11 at 10:25 pm
Lana comments:
Great list here!!Anyway, if summer comes, we also have some list to do like going to beach and even just a simple celebration at home…
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10.18.11 at 10:39 am
Cameron comments:
I love the content! This is really a fantastic ideas of spending precious moments..
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10.20.11 at 11:30 pm
Jessi comments:
Thanks for sharing this video. Good idea! and I will apply your idea to x’mas holiday. The main point is, it’s not necessary to invest big money to have a happy holiday.
Jessi´s last post: Understanding Men in Relationships
10.25.11 at 10:27 pm
Wennie comments:
Hi…I love the content you have here for us and I hope I can share this too…
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2.14.12 at 10:42 am
Liza comments:
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3.9.12 at 12:57 am
party entertainers comments:
I’m looking for the best place to get a really cheap airline ticket. I want to to visit Eastern Europe this summer and would like tips on where to get access to the best chep flights.
5.3.12 at 11:54 pm
mgp scooters comments:
I’m 15, and I really want to go abroad this summer. However, I want to find the cheapest deal. I’d like to volunteer, but anything is fine. Programs like People to People sound good, unfortunately People to People is too expensive for me.
6.8.12 at 11:07 pm
Garage Door Replacement Panels comments:
Going to the library is the least of my favorite summer activities, but the kids like it. And i figured they’d learn something from visiting the library too so it has become a yearly event for us
6.19.12 at 2:19 pm
Ou Acheter
Twitter: ouacheter
comments:
As you say movies can quickly become very expensive but sometimes when it’s so hot outside going to the theater is just like being accepted in Heaven !
6.29.12 at 4:06 am
Interstate Removals comments:
I’m 15, and I really want to go abroad this summer. However, I want to find the cheapest deal. I’d like to volunteer, but anything is fine. Programs like People to People sound good, unfortunately People to People is too expensive for me. Can anyone help me find a good, yet relatively cheap summer program to get into?
4.20.13 at 2:16 am
click here comments:
If you want to know how to hypnotize someone step by step then I suggest you to keep reading this article until finish. I guarantee that you will know how to hypnotize people after you learn and implement all of the ways and tips about how to hypnotize someone step by step. Have you ever seen a hypnotic attraction where someone who is in a state of conscious suddenly lost consciousness and refuses to obey all the commands and suggestion from the person who hypnotist him? To avoid this happened then you need to learn how to hypnotize someone step by step properly. Some tips below will present some fundamental step by step ways to practice hypnosis. But before, we will discuss a bit about hypnosis first. Our brains work in 4wid e frequency. Beta wave shows that we are in a position fully conscious. The most mild trance can be felt in alpha wave for instance when you’re imagining things.