Fun, Affordable Summer Activities for the Kids

Get ready, parents. School is out, or it's about to be, and kids are itching to celebrate their summer vacation. Here are a few ideas on how they can enjoy their summer in a safe and budget-conscious way. 

Fun and Inexpensive Activities at Home

There are an unlimited number of ideas of fun things to do at home with the kids. If your kids are crafty, stop by a discount store and spend less than twenty dollars on craft items. Then, have a fun artsy day at home with the kids. It's simple, fun, and doesn't cost a fortune. 

Another idea is to have an ice cream party; buy some ice cream and topping options and you're halfway to having an ice cream sundae celebration. All that's left to do is gather the kids and you've got a quick, easy, and delicious activity that costs you almost nothing.

Again, the sky's the limit here, so get creative with it. You could also do a movie theatre night with a family favorite movie, candy, and popcorn. 

If you have a backyard, you could set up an obstacle course or your sprinkler system for a fun day in the sun. Ask the kids to help you come up ideas and their summer is sure to be a blast. 

Ways to Get Out of the House

Do you and the kids have cabin fever and need to get out, but aren't sure where to go? One of the cheapest and most fun things to do outdoors is to go and enjoy a national park with the whole family. Research state parks within driving distance of home, plan your visit, then round up the gang and head out. State parks are large and chalked full of all types of activities and natural beauty to admire. 

If you're in a coastal state, see what beaches are close by, too. Beaches, especially hidden gem locations, are always a good, cheap choice for a day outing.

If you're looking to keep your activities more local, check out your community bulletin to see what activities are being thrown for kids. Of course, as always, it's important to stay pandemic-conscious for your family and others, but that doesn't mean there aren't activities that are safe for your kiddos to enjoy. See if the library or your local summer camp are holding any free day activities, along with checking out what the YMCA or local youth groups are up to. There are many outlets for these types of activities over the summer, so make sure you see what options are available right now.

Give Them Incentivized Activities 

Most kids don't want to touch a book or think about anything school-related over their summer break, but one way to keep them busy and their minds active is to throw your own reading competition at home. Incentivize with some kind of reward for reading a certain number of books before school is back in session. Be creative and make the reward something you know your kids can't resist. Whatever it is, it's likely to be worth the cost if it kept your kids sufficiently busy over the summer with something educational and productive for their minds.