Ahh… those lazy days of summer are great for hanging around the house, catching up on your reading and relaxing in the shade. Well, if you’re an adult anyway. Unfortunately, the kids tend to want to do something a bit more "exciting" whether we are up for it or not. That is all fine and well, but unless you have a money tree growing in your back yard (and please call me if you do so I can come over and pick some!), we have to get creative about our entertainment. Running out to the amusement park or ice cream shop every day just can’t happen on the normal family’s budget. So we have come up with some free or budget-friendly options to keep the kids busy and your wallet happy.

Some of the most fun activities to keep the kids engaged can be done at home—or at a local park—for free! A Nature Scavenger Hunt can be done in your own backyard with friends, siblings or just Mom and Dad. Make a list of things found in your yard to hunt down and race to see who finishes first. Not only is it fun, but it can be a learning experience as well. Here is another site with great Scavenger Hunt ideas as well. Making your own frozen treats is another fun, and cool, way to beat the heat and expense of summer time. This site has a big list of Fun Popsicle Recipes for you to try with your kids. One of my personal favorites is Chalk Art. Not only is it a great, and cheap, creative outlet, you can haul out the hose and clean up the whole mess afterwards! That is great fun for everyone.

Other great things to do are to check your local paper or city website for free festivals held on weekends in your town. If you pack a lunch from home and bring thermoses of water, these can be great ways to spend the day without breaking the bank. You can see some great art, hear wonderful music and visit with neighbors and friends in your own area. If you enjoy hanging out with your neighbors, how about throwing a block party? These are excellent ways to enjoy the day with other families in your neighborhood. If you’ve never organized one, check out these sites with excellent ideas on how to get started: Block Party Fun and Block Party Guide. With their help, you can have the best party in town!

Picnicking at your local park, or even in your back yard, is always a great family event. Give everyone in the family a task to complete, so each member is involved in the planning of the fun. And for something a bit more low-key, how about reading hour at your local library? This is great for the younger kids! For older kids, you could bring them over to just find a new book about a craft they want to learn or just for something exciting to read. If you live too far from a library, you can check out the Internet Public Library to use in your own home.

For even more ideas on how to keep the kids active this summer, check out these great sites with tips with Fun Stuff for Kids.

No matter what you do this summer, we hope you have lots of fun doing it!


Julie is a wife and Mom living outside of Chicago with her husband and two sons. She looks forward to enjoying all the free entertainment she can find to keep her active boys busy this summer!