14 Free Summer Activities for Kids (Yes, Free & Fun)

Let's get to the point because I'm pretty sure if your summers are like mine, we need to tackle the famous summer boredom with these free summer activities for kids.

It's crucial to keep kids moving this summer, and I know it might not be as simple as that because, you see, we must be conscious of how much money we spend.

Believe me, I get it.

For many families, summer can affect them financially even more than the holiday season! But, the one thing I want you always to remember is this:

You don't need to spend money to have fun this summer and create memories.

So, keep that in mind.

free summer activities for kids - kid painting a wooden house

How do you entertain kids with no money?

There are plenty of ways to entertain kids with no money. First, get creative! Encourage them to make crafts, read comic books, or build a fort with blankets and pillows. You can also play board games or card games that you already have at home.

Another great way to keep the kids entertained is by having an indoor scavenger hunt where they search for items around their house.

Also, you can play educational games with them, such as making up riddles or word scrambles. Finally, take them outdoors and explore the neighborhood together on a nature walk. This will allow them to experience nature without any cost while also getting some exercise!

Need more ideas? Check out the list below:

Entertaining kids with no money:

Organize a scavenger hunt using household items or in your backyard
Encourage creativity with arts and crafts projects using materials available at home
Set up a movie night with a favorite film and homemade snacks
Create an obstacle course in the backyard or at a nearby park
Have a picnic at a local park or in your living room
Visit free attractions, such as public parks, libraries, or museums (on free admission days)
Encourage reading by starting a book club or storytime session

What are good summer activities for kids?

If you are looking for some good summer activities for kids, remember that there are plenty of fun ways to keep them entertained without breaking the bank. Here are some ideas:

Go camping in your backyard or a nearby park
Have a water balloon fight
Visit the local beach for swimming and building sandcastles
Create an outdoor scavenger hunt in the neighborhood
Take a nature walk while looking for birds and other animals
Visit a nearby farm to learn about agriculture and animals
Have a picnic in the park with homemade snacks
Explore free attractions at your local museum or library
Organize an outdoor movie night under the stars with a family favorite film.
Good summer activities for kids:
Swimming or playing in a local pool, beach, or splash pad
Going on nature walks or hikes to explore local flora and fauna
Visiting farmer's markets or pick-your-own fruit farms
Participating in sports or outdoor games, such as soccer, frisbee, or basketball
Joining free or low-cost summer camps or workshops offered by community centers or schools
Engaging in gardening or planting activities
Riding bikes or rollerblading around the neighborhood or on designated trails

14 Free Summer Activities for Kids

Below is a list of free activities you and your child can enjoy this summer. Let's begin!

Work on a Farm

Check locally because you and your family might be able to work on a farm for free. In addition, some farms will teach you and your kiddos about farm life, and you get to do real farm work.

This all depends on the type of farm you stay on, and many have requirements. For example, you might learn how to feed chickens, milk goats, among other things.

To learn more about working on a farm this summer, visit this link.

Free Local Museum for a Day

Many museums offer free admission and outdoor events. In addition, smaller local museums and planetariums provide free events for locals.

Find out what those days are and plan for you all to attend and enjoy the day.

Free Building Workshops

Home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowe's offer free building workshops for kids. What's fun is that kids get free aprons, and goggles, plus the supplies and tools to build their projects.

Help is available as employees are available to help little ones with their build.

To find out when Home Depot will host its popular free kids' workshop click this link.

Go on a Picnic

Another free summer activity for kids is going on a picnic. Let's be honest; eating out is expensive, so why not enjoy a family picnic at the park with food you already have in your home?

Head over and read 8 Never Thought Of Tips To Help You Save Money On Picnics to help save money.

Arts and Crafts

Like free kids build workshops, many parks offer free crafts and art. You can even make some crafts at home.

Make valuable things like potholders, rock walkways, and art for the garden.

Check out these kids' crafts ideas:

Start a Garden

Another free activity you can do with your kids this summer is starting a garden. There are so many ways to start a garden, indoors and outdoors. You can grow herbs, and flowers. You name it. There are so many ways your kids can enjoy growing a garden.

Below are three kid-friendly gardening ideas.

Binge Watch Movies

This is fun to do on bad weather days or even weekly. You can arrange a weekly “junk and movie” night, watching movies from Amazon Prime or other streaming services or cable services. Eat some fun food, set up blankets and comfy seating, and cuddle and enjoy.

You can check this list of 100's of Kids Movie On Netflix to help you start planning.

Scavenger Hunt

Printable Summer Scavenger Hunt is a great activity to keep your kids busy during the summer break.

Bake Something Together

Cooking and baking are always fun for kids because it's like arts and crafts. They can get messy and get to eat sweets. Plus, they're naturally healthier when you make things at home, even if it's a cookie.

Visit the Library

Head to your local library and sign up for fun, free kids' events, such as the Lego club, where kids can build and have fun.

Volunteer Together

You can volunteer as a family in many ways, depending on the ages of your kids. For example, you can adopt a highway and clean up trash, volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, or help feed people in a soup kitchen.

Maybe pets are more your thing – then you can all spend time helping at your local animal shelter by feeding, walking, and cleaning up after animals.

Get More Involved in Your Church

If you attend church, this is another inexpensive way to enjoy family activities. Churches, especially large ones, have many activities besides church on the Sabbath.

Yes, you will have to join and pay your tithes, but usually, you only pay what you agree to, making the activities you do with your church inexpensive.

kids at church–14 Free Summer Activities for Kids

Sightsee Locally

Put on your tourist shoes and visit your town as an outsider. What do they look at in your area (or within an hour of your home)?

Do those touristy things. This may cost some money, but it's one of the few things on this list that does.

Money-saving posts you are going to love:

Walk Trails

This summer, a great free summer activity is walking on trails and seeing nature.

Doing fun things with your family without spending much money makes the time together even more enjoyable due to the lack of money-related stress.

Remember that no matter what you choose to do, the essential factor is spending stress-free time together, entirely focused on each other.

14 Free Summer Activities for Kids