Keeping kids busy enough during the summer can be tough. Activity costs add up. Here’s an arsenal of inexpensive ideas…
EDUCATIONAL:
- Learn sign language
- Write letters to people from another culture/language
- Make a quilt
- Pin a bug collection
- Visit local farms and stables to learn about animals
- Join a library summer reading program
- Try new recipes
- Make homemade bubbles, dog biscuits, playdough
FAMILY BUILDING:
- Make piñatas for all the birthdays in your family
- Have a “frontier” weekend (no electronics)
- Discover a new park and have a picnic
- Camp in your backyard
- Make ice cream
- Pick berries
- Fly a kite – even try making your own!
- Make up silly names for each other that you can only use at family meals
- Visit a splash pad
- Shop a farmers market
- Have a rainy day indoor picnic
- Make s’mores and catch fireflies
FITNESS AND OUTDOOR FUN:
- Have a work-out challenge on the Wii or X-Box
- Enjoy family game night with outdoor games
- Make a goal to walk/run/bike 30 miles total
- Set up inexpensive lessons, such as swimming, tennis, or other summer sports
- Attend a day camp
- Go biking or hiking on nature trails
COMMUNITY BUILDING:
- Take a walk around your neighborhood and meet neighbors you don’t know
- Make bake goods to bring to church and give to two random Sunday school classes each week
- Organize a walk-a-thon for charity
- Pick out toys to give away (mom and dad too!)
- Send letters and/or care packages to the troops (including prepaid phone cards, old cell phones)
- Volunteer to walk animals at your local shelter
- Attend a vacation Bible school
With a little thought and planning, there’s much that can be done to keep summer fun and busy without breaking the budget.
About SavingsAngel Di (blog angel)
