5 Fun Free Activities to Do With Your Kids This Summer
Believe it or not, summer vacation is right around the corner. Soon you’ll be figuring out ways to keep your kiddos happily entertained for around 10 weeks.
Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do with your kids that are free. Yes, you read that right — free. As a bonus, they are fun and your kids can do some of them all year long.
Turn your backyard into a water park
You don’t need a backyard pool to stay cool and have fun. Kids have an inherent love of hoses and sprinklers — even your teens might join in the fun. Head to the backyard with water guns, water balloons, a bunch of popsicles and sunscreen and let everyone have a blast. If you have a baby pool handy, fill it to dip your own tootsies in as the kids run around the yard.
Print out some puzzles
A great way to pass the time is with brain teasers and puzzles. As a bonus, you can customize some of the puzzles to fit your kids’ interests and ability levels. They will get a kick out of doing a word search that includes their friends’ names, and they’ll give their brains a bit of a workout while they are at it, which is always a nice thing during summer break.
Head to the library
Yes, you know that the library is a great place to read and check out books in air conditioned comfort, but did you know many libraries offer free programs, workshops and other fun activities at no extra cost? Look up your library online or swing by to pick up a schedule — you will be pleasantly surprised at the variety of events.
Nurture their love of science
If your kids constantly point out the birds they see in your backyard, Google local bird species in your city and print out a list of what might fly through your area. Encourage them to try to identify what’s landing at your home. Teens who seem fascinated by space can download free planet apps on their phone. You can also search for simple science experiments that you can do at home, using supplies you probably already have on hand.
Play board games
Chances are you have a pile of board games gathering dust in a closet. Pull them out, dust them off and get the whole family involved in the fun. You can also organize a board game swap with friends and neighbors; this way you can try out new games without having to spend money. Up the ante and reward the winners with sweet treat or a night off of chore duty.
We hope you enjoy these fun free activities with your kids this summer!