20+ Inexpensive Ways to Keep Your Kids (and yourself) Entertained This Summer

7/1/2016

Summer break is definitely in full effect! If your family is like mine, you're probably being inundated with complaints of boredom and/or constant hunger, which is another whole different problem all its own. For a few tips on feeding your brood, check out my post, 6 tips for saving $ on your grocery budget during summer break.

Unfortunately, feeding them isn't enough, they will also want to be entertained, so here are a few inexpensive, family friendly, (hopefully) fun ideas to help keep your little angels busy and yourself relatively sane, until school starts back.

20+ Inexpensive Ways to Keep Your Kids Entertained this Summer

Have a backyard scavenger hunt. It's free, easy and will keep the kids entertained for a while. {Especially if you put items on the list that are not present in your backyard}
Watch a movie together. Let your favorite child pick out a movie and force the others to watch it. (kidding) Family movie night is always a hit in our house, especially when everyone agrees on the movie.
Go visit a public garden in your area.
Make someKool Aid Play Dough.

Play a game of Uno. Because of its simple color/number matching format, Uno is a game most younger kids can learn fairly easy. (It's way easier than trying to explain to a kid why a straight beats 3 of a kind)
Go to the park and feed the ducks. (if your park doesn't have ducks, feed the pigeons or squirrels...improvise)
Most of us are within relatively close proximity to a park that has ducks. This is a cheap way to keep the kids from killing each other, if only for an hour. Check out your local bread store and ask if they offer discounted bags of day old bread. I affectionately refer to this as "duck bread". At my local bread outlet, $1 will get you a bag filled with enough day old bread to choke a small army of ducks. (not that I recommend choking ducks, with bread or otherwise)

A photo posted by Niki Stutts (@midlifemommyadventures) on Jun 30, 2016 at 6:12pm PDT

Contact your local bowling alley. A lot of them offerfree bowling for kids on certain days.
Find a friend or a relative or a friend of a relative or a relative of a friend, that has a pool and invite yourself over.
Pitch a tent in the backyard. Light a fire in the grill, roast marshmallows and tell the kids stories of "back in the olden days, when I was your age". You'd be surprised how little things like the story of your first heartbreak, or not getting picked for a team or being picked on for your spikey Bart Simpson hair do (not funny), mean to your kids. It makes you more relatable & almost human to them.. (it also gives them ammo against you in future arguments, so you might wanna be careful what stories you decide to share)
Bake cookies with them. Yes, it'll be way messier than if you just make 'em yourself, but the memories you're making and life skills lessons you're teaching are so worth it. Besides, you can always make them help clean up. Isn't that why we had 'em in the first place?!
Play a board game. Yes, kiddies, there are games that do not require electricity. Board games are great and teach kids lots of great skills. How to take turns, how to count, how to tell colors and most importantly how to be a good sport regardless of whether you win or lose.

A photo posted by Niki Stutts (@midlifemommyadventures) on Jun 30, 2016 at 8:27am PDT

Water balloons and water guns can be either a whole lotta fun or a whole lotta drama. If your kids are scared to get wet or assaulted, this is probably not for them.
Visit a nature center in your area. Since deciding to home school Micah, our nature center has become an invaluable resource in our learning adventures. Our local nature center offers age appropriate activities every week for kids (and adults) of all ages.
Go to the library and pick out a book (or 12) or movie or watch a puppet show or just hang out and play. Your local library can be a great place to be, in the Summer. Most libraries even have aSummer reading program, with prizes for meeting your reading goal. (I am not above bribery, when it comes to sneaking in a little extra learnin')
Go geocaching. (Don't let my husband hear me say that) Geocaching is kind of like a modern day treasure hunt, using your phone's GPS and an app. Only instead of finding gold doubloons, it's usually a mossy tin full of gumball machine trinkets. As is most things in life, it's all about the journey. Pack a picnic lunch, charge your phone and go find some junk.
Get lost! Seriously, just get in the car and drive. Let the kids tell you which way to turn and just get lost, discovering the neighborhoods close to you that you probably never have even noticed before. Admire the houses, the flowers, laugh at people that are bent over, tending their garden, while your husband makes fart noises. Enjoy each other's company.
Go get ice cream at a real, old school dairy dip. It sounds like a simple idea, but you would be surprised how much those things mean to the kids, when they are older. Besides, it may be the only time you get them away from their gadgets.

A photo posted by Niki Stutts (@midlifemommyadventures) on May 25, 2016 at 11:01am PDT

Go fishing. Bait is fairly cheap (or free, if you dig it up out of your back yard) but the memories you will make with your kids are immeasurable. Note: Laws differ from state to state and county to county, check your local game office for regulations and licenses.
Go to a museum. Learn something new. Most museums offer free days from time to time throughout the year.
Go see a movie. Regal offers$1 kids' movies throughout the Summer. All titles are family friendly and are a great way for you to get a few minutes peace.
Volunteer to pick up trash along the side of the road. (A safe road, in your neighborhood) This is a great "teachable moment".
Go visit a historical site near you. Kids are visual learners. They will remember more, if they have something tangible to relate to.
Go volunteer your time at an animal shelter or for the older kids, maybe a soup kitchen.
Go visit places you've never been before, even if it's just in your own neighborhood.
Go creekin'. Find a creek and go explore it. All you need is a pair of good shoes and a net and bucket from the dollar store.

A photo posted by Niki Stutts (@midlifemommyadventures) on Jun 23, 2016 at 8:29pm PDT

Summer is a time for your kids to relax and unwind and a time for you to make some great memories. As I've learned the hard way, our kids are only kids for a little while. Before you know it, they're graduating from high school, getting summer jobs, driving cars and all of a sudden,they don't have time for you, so make the extra effort and spend some quality time goofing off with your kids this summer.