As soon as the bell rings and youngsters flood out of their classrooms on the last day of school, parents are faced with a challenge. Without school and afterschool activities to fill the days, parents must find new ways to entertain and stimulate creativity in their kids.
Plopping little ones in front of the TV isn’t ideal, while summer camps can be expensive. Happily, there’s plenty of stimulating, kid-friendly summer fun to be had — and it doesn’t have to cost you a dime.
This season, keep your youngsters engaged with these eight free summer-break activities:
Check out the library.
With virtually every book ever written accessible on mobile readers, it’s easy to forget about your local library. But libraries are much more than houses of literature — they’re community hubs, learning spaces and activity centers. Main branches often host an array of free events and activities, from story time and puppet shows to family movie nights. And of course, libraries are a treasure trove of delightful stories and eye-catching illustrations.
[See: 10 Fun, Frugal Ways to Spend Your Free Time.]
Visit a farmers market.
Colorful, bustling and full of local vendors, farmers markets aren’t just fun — they’re learning opportunities. At the farmers market, you can introduce your kids to different types of vegetables and fruits and get them excited about eating healthy. Through meeting with local vendors, your little ones can learn about all the work that goes into growing and harvesting food.
Cook together.
The kitchen is a fantastic place to stimulate creativity and encourage healthy habits in your children. When you cook with your kids, you can spark discussions about nutrition and the benefits of eating wholesome foods. Try whipping up healthy, kid-friendly dishes like baked chicken nuggets, whole-wheat pizzas and fruit smoothies.
[See: 10 Meals to Make When You’re Trying to Save.]
Volunteer.
When you volunteer as a family, you can instill in your kids important values like empathy, gratitude and community responsibility. Wonderful volunteer opportunities abound for families of all sizes and interests. You and your youngsters could deliver meals with a local charity service like Meals on Wheels or visit a nursing home to spend time, play games and work on crafts with the residents. You could play with orphaned pets at a local animal shelter or serve meals at a local food bank — the list goes on!
Go for a hike.
Hiking gives kids a chance to exercise, breathe fresh air and explore the natural world around them. The secret to a successful hike is to combine learning with fun. Encourage your kids to look for wildlife or wildflowers, or set up a scavenger hunt for natural objects in different colors and shapes. Make rubbings of tree bark or hunt down leaves for making moose and bird crafts. Be prepared to take plenty of breaks, when you can refuel on snacks and take in the sights and sounds of nature.
Create a campsite in your backyard.
Dig out the tents and sleeping bags and set up a campsite in your own backyard. Don’t have a tent? You can make your own using your clothesline and sheets. Your family can set up the campsite together, gathering pillows, tents and supplies. Sing campfire songs and fire up the grill to sizzle up some hot dogs, burgers and veggies. At night, tell ghost stories, stargaze and have a shadow puppet show with your flashlights.
Help your kids start a business.
The lemonade stand is a time-honored American tradition, but it’s not the only kid-friendly entrepreneurial opportunity out there. With your guidance and encouragement, your children could start a dog-walking, lawn-mowing or car-washing service. Starting a business can help children learn about the value of money, while boosting their confidence and improving their communication skills.
[See: A Guide to Launching Your Side Business.]
Create a backyard waterpark.
Skip the high admission fees and crowds of ordinary water parks and build one in your backyard. You can create a sturdy Slip ‘N Slide with a plastic tarp or a large plastic garbage bag (or two) cut lengthwise along the sides. After securing the slide with towel-padded stones, use the hose to send water gushing down the slide, and add baby shampoo to maximize slipperiness.
After constructing your slide, you can set up a sprinkler for your whippersnappers to scamper around, and fill a bucket with water balloons for a water balloon toss. You and your kiddos can scheme up additional features for your backyard water park — odds are, they’ve got some imaginative ideas.
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