If you’re not willing to spend extra money for summer camp but want the kids to enjoy a fun and carefree summer, consider putting together a calendar of activities they can enjoy in their own backyard. You can give kids a chance to play and learn as they participate in organized activities that won’t end up costing a fortune. And, they can even learn some valuable skills for the upcoming school year along the way.
Here are just eight frugal, fun and educational activities to add to your kid’s summer roster this year.
1. Spend Time Gardening
Whether you want to start your own garden bed at home or have the family volunteer at a community garden, getting your hands dirty and cultivating plants and flowers can be a fun summer activity for kids of all ages. Kids will learn how plants grow, what it takes to create the perfect environment for different types of plants and also learn some basic principles about biology.
[See: 10 Ways to Save While Gardening.]
2. Organize a Book Club
Encourage kids to keep up with their reading habit and build social skills by having them join a book club. Book clubs are the perfect way to keep kids reading while encouraging them to share their thoughts about different stories and authors with their peers. Try starting with fun books like “Harry Potter” to get them hooked, then sneak in some classics from your kid’s school reading lists.
3. Lead a Neighborhood Recycling Drive
Teach kids the importance of recycling and show them how you make the effort to recycle items around your home. You could organize a recycling drive in your neighborhood or via community groups so that other kids can get involved and learn new skills. An informal presentation about the importance of recycling and how recycling efforts affect the environment can be a fun way to introduce kids to some key concepts while educating them about basic science and environmentalism.
4. Take Your Kids to Work
If you have an interesting job or even if you work from home, invite your kids to be your assistant for the day. Show them what you do on a daily basis. This can be a fun and educational activity for kids who have always asked about your job or are curious about how things work at the office. These types of experiences will teach your kids about the real world and possibly inspire them to pursue a similar career path.
[See: 10 Fun, Frugal Ways to Spend Your Free Time.]
5. Host a Fun Contest
Teach kids the value of sportsmanship and teamwork by organizing a neighborhood contest to make paper airplanes, construct a tent or complete other hands-on projects in a competition format. You could host the event in your backyard as part of a neighborhood picnic or just run a contest where everyone shares their creations through a Facebook event. This can be a fun way for kids to learn some science, survival and other practical skills with their friends.
6. Teach Kids Magic Tricks
This is a great way for kids to learn how to think creatively. They can also practice in front of family members and peers as they learn public speaking and performance skills. You could walk them through YouTube videos or online tutorials on different types of magic tricks or demo a few tricks you know so they can improve their hand-eye coordination and practice presenting for an audience.
[See: 10 Summer Savings Tips.]
7. Host Weekly Board Game Nights
Give kids a chance to learn some logic, sportsmanship and strategic-thinking skills by teaching them how to play chess, backgammon, Scrabble and other classic board games. This is a great way to pull kids away from the computer screen, smartphone and tablet for a few hours so they can learn how to think and solve problems without the help of a digital device.
8. Oversee a Backyard Sports Competition
Host a mini-Olympics event for the neighborhood sports enthusiasts to encourage kids to participate in physical activities and promote healthy competition among peers. You could put together a series of Olympic-style games and award prizes or medals for top contenders. This can be a great way to get kids outside and “train” for a specific event or activity. These types of activities will also build up their athletic skills.
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8 Fun, Cheap (and Shh!) Educational Summer Activities Kids Will Love originally appeared on usnews.com
