35 Free or Cheap Summer Activities for Kids

Having Fun While Social Distancing

little boy running through sprinkler

Social distancing has put a damper on summer plans and fun for many people. School is out and my kids are mostly over being on their iPads after using them for school multiple hours every day. We had been looking forward to spending time at the pool, going on a long road trip, and driving up to the North Shore of Lake Superior. Coronavirus has put a stop to those plans. Although many people seem to be pretending everything is back to normal, many of us still want to engage in social distancing to prevent the spread of Covid19. But just because we have to social distance doesn't mean we have to give up on fun.

35 free or cheap summer activities for kids

  1. Get a pass to the state parks near you and go exploring. Stay 6ft or more from others and plan short trips so bathrooms won’t be necessary.

  2. Explore lesser known parks and trails near you

  3. Roast hot dogs and marshmallows in the backyard or at a firepit in a park.

  4. Turn on the sprinkler

  5. Make a scavenger hunt of things in your neighborhood. Include families in your area to share the fun

  6. Draw pictures with chalk on the sidewalk

  7. Make a backyard obstacle course

  8. Time your kids to see how long it takes them to run, skip, or walk backwards around the house

  9. Plant and tend a garden

  10. Go for walks. Let your kids pick the route.

  11. Find a big parking lot of a school or something that is closed and let the kids bike or scooter.

  12. Play old-school games like Kick the Can, Capture the Flag, or Four Square.

  13. Have a dance party

  14. Let the kids “camp” in a different room of the house.

  15. Build a fort

  16. Find an online guide to animals or plants in your area and see how many you can find

  17. Do online tours of museums and zoos

  18. Check with your local library and community education programs to see what options are being offered this summer

  19. Write letters to friends and family

  20. Have an ice cream taste testing

  21. Get a projector and a white sheet for outdoor movies

  22. Make popsicles

  23. Picnic

  24. Make ice cream

  25. Have game nights

  26. Get an inexpensive inflatable pool

  27. Collect sticks and build something

  28. Choose a country or region, learn about it, and make a meal from that area.

  29. Pick a topic and spend the week learning about it in different ways (reading, art, experiments, videos, etc).

  30. Learn a new skill or language with free online resources

  31. Cook or bake something that you normally buy

  32. Draw, paint, color, sculpt

  33. Make playdough

  34. Find an online workout, dance, or yoga video for kids and do it with them

  35. Practice ball handling skills: dribbling, shooting, kicking, catching, throwing, etc

For more ideas for free or cheap summer activities for kids, follow my Free Fun Pinterest board.

free or cheap summer activities

free or cheap summer activities

Previous
Previous

Pantry Essentials for Quick and Affordable Meals

Next
Next

7 Ways to Improve Your Finances Right Now