Keeping Kids Busy In The Summer When You Are On A Budget

Kids love to explore and what better way to do that then on a nature hike. Make sure to put on your bug spray, bring lots of water and bring your camera for photos along the way. Check with your local park system to see if they have any guided hikes during the summer. Make sure you stay on the trails and don’t go anywhere you feel is unsafe.

You can also go on a more casual walk around your neighborhood or other community location. If your kids are old enough, have them bring their bike or a scooter. You can spend the whole day out walking and riding bikes. Just don’t forget to apply the sunscreen.

If you have a dollar theater, make sure to check out what kid’s movies they have playing. If you don’t, your regular theater might have a special kids program during the summer with free or $1 movies. They might be older ones that your kids have already seen, but it can give them the movie experience without having to spend too much.

You might also check and see if your city has a movies in the park night where they show a movie on a big screen after the sun goes down. That can be a lot of fun for everyone in the family. They are usually free and you would just need to bring a picnic dinner for your family as well as a nice blanket or chairs to sit on.

If you are wanting to take your family on vacation, camping it is most affordable option, assuming you already have a lot of the gear. Campsites are not too expensive and you can have a lot of fun being in the outdoors. If nothing else you could always camp in your own backyard.

Why not host a play date in your home once a week? You could also do a themed playdate. Such as water or food fun. Meet up with other moms and plan to rotate houses during the summer. Your kids will love the playtime with friends and you can have some adult time with the parents.

You could go on Pinterest and find some fun crafts for the kids to do. There are plenty of ideas out there. Once a week you could also host a craft day. Everyone who comes can bring the supplies and you can all work on them together.

Now a yearly pass will cost you money up front, but it might be worth it in the end. You can get passes to the zoo, science center, amusement park or the local gym. Find out what would be best for your own family and think about how often you would go.

If you know you want to spend a lot of time at the zoo, it would be worth it to get a pass to be able to go for “free” all summer long. Check for specials or discounts before you pay for the pass. Also, make sure to check for blackout dates so you don’t plan a trip on a day you won’t be able to get in with your pass.

As you can see there are quite a lot of things you can do during the summer without having to break the bank. What would you add to this list?