Low Cost Summer Activities for Families
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Here are a number of wonderful low cost summer activities for kids and families that help families keep their hard-earned money in their pockets.
With each of these ideas, you might fashion “what to do” boxes. Create two boxes — one for "outside" and one for "indoors" — containing index cards with activities written on them. Rotate who in the family gets to pick the card for that day. This is a great way to avoid activities that cost a lot of cash and a fun way to create a family plan.
Low or no cost outings and activities are something to consider for your own kids or a group of friends getting together that will create fun and memories without heating up your wallet or credit card bills:
- Visit a farm, pet store or the animal shelter
- Visit a fire station
- Have cooking lessons at home (bake bread, make homemade ice cream, grandma's cookies)
- Visit a pizza store (they’ll sometimes let the kids make one for little or nothing)
- Visit a television station, radio station, or newspaper facility
- Visit the Department of Conservation’s nature centers and enjoy educational exhibits
- Learn to knit or do needlework
- Get a giant piece of paper and colored pencils and draw your dream house interior view with all the details
- Participate in free summer reading programs and story times offered by many local libraries
- Visit zoos and museums that have free or reduced rates for kids on special days
- Have paper airplane or paper boat races or try making and flying your own kites (books at the library have the instructions)
- Put on a theatrical performance, a puppet show or a talent contest
- Write and illustrate a story
- Plant a small garden or container garden and watch it grow
- Have sack, peanut or egg races
- Plan a picnic as an activity
- Hold a bring-a-dish block party
- Rent a movie and have special "movie night" snacks
- Take your kids on a tour of family history and photos
- Search garage sales as family fun and walk away with a few really good deals
- Play board games on rainy days
- Go swimming at the local lake, pond or pool (you can ask for a one day guest pass at a local YMCA to check out the facilities)
- Visit Vacation Bible Schools, Summer Bible Clubs, Kids Camps, Day Camps
- Walk, hike, and enjoy nature
- Go camping in the backyard
- Visit the Johnson County Fair July 31 – August 7 in Gardner, KS.
Do-It-Yourself Bubble Solution:
- 1 tbsp Glycerine
- 2 tbsp Dish Soap
- 9 oz water
- Mix it all up (the glycerin added to the mixture is key)
- Pour it into small plastic bottles or a pie pan, grab your favorite wand and enjoy big beautiful bubbles.
Source: eXtension, http://articles.extension.org/pages/21475/wonderful-low-cost-summer-activities-for-kids-and-families
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Joy Miller
Family and Community Wellness Agent