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22 Fun and Budget-Friendly Summer Activities for Kids
Summer is a time for fun, adventure, and making memories with your kids. But you don’t have to break the bank to keep your children entertained. Here are 22 budget-friendly activities that will make this summer unforgettable without straining your wallet.
Outdoor Activities
- Picnic in the Park Pack a homemade lunch and head to your local park. Bring a blanket, some outdoor games, and enjoy a relaxing day surrounded by nature.
- Nature Walks and Hikes Explore local trails and nature reserves. Look for wildlife, collect interesting rocks or leaves, and enjoy the fresh air. It’s a great way to combine exercise with learning.
- Beach Day Spend a day at a nearby beach or lake. Bring your own snacks, toys, and sunscreen for a fun and inexpensive day out. Building sandcastles and splashing in the water are timeless activities.
- Backyard Camping Set up a tent in the backyard and have a mini-camping adventure. Roast marshmallows, tell stories under the stars, and enjoy the great outdoors without leaving home.
- Outdoor Movie Night Create an outdoor movie theater in your backyard with a projector and a white sheet. Enjoy a family-friendly movie with homemade popcorn and comfy seating.
Creative Activities
- DIY Crafts Use household items to create fun crafts. Projects like making paper mache, painting rocks, or creating homemade slime can keep kids entertained for hours and ignite their creativity.
- Scavenger Hunts Organize a scavenger hunt in your yard, neighborhood, or a local park. Make a list of items for kids to find or tasks to complete. It’s a fun way to explore and discover new things.
- Gardening Start a small garden together. Teach kids about planting, watering, and caring for plants. This can be a rewarding and educational activity, whether it’s in the yard or with small pots on a balcony.
Educational Activities
- Library Visits Visit the local library. Many libraries offer free summer reading programs, storytelling sessions, and activities for kids. It’s a great way to keep kids engaged and learning.
- Science Experiments Conduct simple science experiments at home. There are many online resources with ideas that use everyday household items, turning your kitchen into a mini-lab.
- Museum and Zoo Free Days Take advantage of free admission days at local museums, zoos, and cultural centers. It’s an educational outing that won’t cost a dime.
Water Activities
- Sprinkler Fun Set up a sprinkler in the backyard for a fun way to cool off. It’s an inexpensive way to keep kids active and refreshed on hot days.
- Water Balloon Fight Have a water balloon fight or set up a slip and slide for an exciting afternoon. These classic activities are always a hit with kids.
- Local Pools and Splash Pads Visit community pools or splash pads. Many offer affordable day passes or discounted rates for families, making it an affordable way to beat the heat.
Community Activities
- Farmer’s Markets Explore local farmer’s markets. Let kids pick out a new fruit or vegetable to try, and enjoy the live music and activities often available. It’s a fun way to spend a morning.
- Volunteer Together Participate in a community service project. Volunteering at local shelters, food banks, or community gardens can be rewarding and educational for kids.
- Local Festivals and Events Attend free local festivals, fairs, and events. Check community calendars for family-friendly activities that won’t cost much or anything at all.
Indoor Activities
- Baking and Cooking Spend a day baking cookies, making homemade pizzas, or trying new recipes together. It’s a delicious way to spend time together and teach kids some valuable kitchen skills.
- Board Games and Puzzles Have a family game night with board games, card games, or puzzles. It’s a great way to bond and have fun indoors.
- DIY Obstacle Course Create an indoor obstacle course using pillows, chairs, and blankets. Time each other and see who can complete it the fastest. It’s a great way to burn off energy when the weather isn’t cooperating.
Learning and Exploration
- Virtual Field Trips Take virtual tours of museums, zoos, and national parks around the world. Many institutions offer free online tours and educational videos, allowing your kids to explore from the comfort of home.
- Reading Challenges Set up a summer reading challenge with a list of books to read. Reward kids with a small prize for completing their reading goals. It’s a fun way to encourage a love for reading.
By mixing and matching these activities, you can create a summer filled with fun, learning, and memorable experiences for your kids—all while staying on budget. Enjoy the season and make the most of these warm, sunny days!
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How to have balance with kids, job and a life
Something so important to me is balance. Last year it took me a while to figure out what exactly that looked like for me. This blogging journey started back in March which added to an already busy lifestyle of being a mom of two kids. I have 65% of the time with me with, their activities, my full time job as HR for my parents company, and my side hussle of owning apartments. All of the fun that goes along with that and trying to fit in selfcare. Be that being working out, time to myself, cleaning my home and of course my great boyfriend of almost two years now Kyle, doing date night and spending time together.
Mornings
Since starting the #last90days challenge it teaches you to get up an hour earlier which has helped a ton. At first I was using this time to do my Instagram posting and engagement for the morning, but at 5 am you don’t see alot of activity. So I had to change it up and I really didn’t want to workout that early. When I workout I like to read a magazine, scroll social media, or watch tv. I don’t do a rough workout.
After doing the 80 days and doing Orange Theory and all the things for so long I needed a break. Now I am walking on the treadmill for at least a half hour. I do this after the kids get on the bus and I have the place all to myself. During that early hour I now do things for me, like laundry or cleaning or just checking my email. I plan on doing more blogging during this time and that is one of my goals this year.
During the day
After workout is done I get ready and head to work. Sometimes to the apartments to see what needs marked off on the never ending list of to dos. At the office I do HR and all the fun things with it. I manage the payroll and also do the books for myself for my rentals when I get all of my other items accomplished for the day. Lunch lately has been taken at the desk with leftovers or soup. All while trying to get caught up on all my personal bills and emails and if there is time blogging.
Afternoon
Thankfully the mom thing I have down. I have kind of always been a single parent even when I was married so use to doing everything all the time. I did the pickup, drop off, doctors appointments and sports all on my own. So when I did get divorced it was a major shock to the system of having time alone. That is a whole other post for another day. Using a system of when they get home, met them from the bus, doing homework and snacks.
Then activities after that in which everyone goes is part of our quiet time in the car waiting that hour for them to be done. Piper will bring a book or something to do while Will is at practice. Will and I will do flash cards or books or just have some down time while we wait on Piper. This only happens twice a week so far so I am kind of lucky we aren’t running around all the time. Dinner is during or after homework and lately its been Hello Fresh because of the fresh ingredients and so easy to make.
Bedtime
After that its bedtimes, Piper heads to bed and Will and I read books, lately its been Dogman. These are his favorite lately and I love that he is willing to sit and listen to me read them.
Kyle is very understanding of all of my balancing and is there to support me in this wonderful journey. When I don’t have the kids we stay at his place and that can be a nice break. He also joins me in getting up early but he actually does go and workout lol.
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Our trip to Universal Studios Orlando
Earlier this last year I decided that I wanted to take the kids somewhere special this year after Christmas. I’m divorced so we have the super fun schedule of before and after Christmas and I had after which means I had 10 days solid with the kids before school started back up. I knew we couldn’t stay at home that long just chilling in the cold weather so Florida here we come.
Piper has been to Disney at least 5 times that I can think of and Will has been there once so I figured a new adventure was awaiting us. I just had friends that had stayed at Universal over the Summer and heard looks of good things about it so it was an easy decision. I booked our flights and hotel stay through Alligent Air and got the hotel Loews Sapphire Falls Resort. Our tickets we bought for the parks online and off we went December 28- Jan 2.
After one long delay we made it to the airport, quickly got into our rental car and drove the 40 min drive into Universal. The area to drive into was well mapped out with many signs and finding the parking garage was very easy. Checking in wasn’t difficult but it was 11 at night from the delay so straight to bed we went.
Our first day we slept in a bit and then got on the boats which are individualized for each of the hotels in Universal. No long waits, the boats come to the dock rather quickly and we were to the park in a few minutes. We entered City Walk upon leaving the boats and headed straight to Islands of Adventure because Will wanted to hit the Jurassic Park section first. I went ahead and bought the express pass tickets which are worth every penny if you have children. I don’t think mine would have been able to stand in the long lines, some were 120 minute waits.
From there we explored the rest of the park with ease even though it was plenty crowed. Food was not on the cheap side but thankfully my kids are not big eaters yet so that wasn’t really an issue for us. But when they were ready for a snack it was easy to find something everyone would enjoy. Also purchasing one of the refillable drinks also cut down on spending money on the trip.
Piper rode the rides that Will wasn’t able to alone but always made lots of friends while doing it. The park was full of very friendly people and it was easy to get a rental stroller for Will so he didn’t have to walk the whole time. Pipers favorite ride was either The Incredible Hulk Rollercoaster or Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket. No fear in that one. Will loved the Transfomers ride and Jurassic park ride along with the Curious George and Jurassic park Discovery zones. We all enjoyed the Harry Potter areas where Piper got a wand and tried her hand at magic on the windows. We each a mug of butterbeer and loved walking thru the streets. Seeing the Dragon at the top of the bank was also a highlight of our trip.
As for the hotel we loved ours. The pool area had a slide and games for the kids every hour in the afternoon. Our pool included a beach area so Will and Piper could sit and build sandcastles while I got to relax with a fruit tray brought out by the staff. The food was excellent and the entire resort was very clean.
My tips for going to Universal:
- Stay at Universal, the boats make getting around so easy
- If you can afford the express pass, get it
- Rent a stroller- only 14 and so worth every penny
- Go to Chocolate emporium between the two parks, get a milkshake
- Breakfast at Voodoo donuts- so good
- Stay at Loews Sapphire resort if you want the beach- was so much fun
- You get to enter the park early if you stay at Universal properties, the earlier you go the less crowded-we would go in the morning, head back to the hotel for naps and pool time during the afternoon and dinner back at the parks and rides
- I did this by myself, a 6 year old and an 11 year old- if I can do it so can you, go out and make memories this year
