With Summer approaching quickly, you may be getting stressed thinking about how you are going to keep the kids busy during their time off. Sure they can play at home or in the yard, but kids will start to feel cooped up quickly and having some planned summer activities is a great way to keep the stress levels down in the house.
Planning summer activities for the kids, though, does not have to mean spending a fortune. There are plenty of cheap activities out there for your kids to do that will keep them busy and occupied during their time out of school.
10 Cheap Activities for Your Kids to Do This Summer
Kite Flying
Go to the dollar store and purchase kites, then head off for a day at the park or the beach to enjoy flying them.
Discount Zoo Days
Most zoos offers discount days, typically one day per month where the admission fee is $5 or less. These days are likely to be extremely busy, but if you don’t mind the crowds, it is a great way to experience the excitement of the zoo for a fraction of the cost.
$1 Movie Days
Regal Cinemas has their Summer Movie Express program every Summer on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for 9 weeks. These are often not first run movies, but admission is just $1 and they are getting to see a film on the big screen. Well worth it.
Summer Day Camp
There are many Summer camps offered that are low-cost and even free. Do you have a college nearby? Call them and ask if they are putting any youth camps together for the Summer. Same goes for 4-H programs and Gardening Clubs. Many of these clubs want to get young people interested.
Overnight Summer Camps
While these are typically a little bit more expensive, almost all of them have scholarship programs for those who meet the income guidelines. Oftentimes these guidelines are higher than you would expect, so don’t be afraid to look into it.
Visit Local Factories
Do you have a factory that makes something great near you? Maybe ice cream or cheese or candy or anything?! It’s surprising how much entertainment kids get out of learning how things are made and it’s a fun splurge to hit the gift shop or deli on the way out.
Visit Local Farms
Many large farms offer inexpensive (or free) tours and visiting hours (sometimes with petting zoos). Be sure and check Groupon and similar sites for even better deals on these.
Aquatic Center or Local Swimming Pools
Aquatic centers and swimming pools are great during the summer (or year round if indoor). For a one day trip, it’s usually just a couple of dollars, so it’s fun to splurge on occasionally.
Local Festivals and Carnivals
We see a lot of local festivals and carnivals during the Summer. Admission to many of these is free, with only the entertainment and goods costing money. That means that you can set a budget for your kids to stick to.
See a Ball Game
Check out your nearest Minor League Baseball team. Tickets usually start in the $6 range, but still have the same excitement of the majors. Oh and if you feel like splurging on concessions, they are much cheaper too!
