The excitement and novelty of summer can wear off quickly for kids. Before you know it they are mulling around the house complaining about how boring it is to be home. Keeping the kids busy in the summer can be difficult, but not if you know all the cheap things to do in the summer that will keep them complaining less and having fun. Try some of these cheap things to do in the summer this summer with your kids.
Make The Backyard An Oasis
Who says you must travel during the summer? While travel is great, it can get expensive even for a family of four. Cleaning up your pool with a pool cleaning service can ensure that the kids (and you) have a great place to hang out this summer. About 17% of homeowners report that having a pool installed in their backyard has improved their family’s lifestyle tenfold, according to Home Builders Association.
Connect with a swimming pool contractor to learn more about the types of pools you can have installed and ask about payment plans. Having a pool installed initially will be an out-of-pocket expense, but it adds value to your home and will be there for years to come. The right pool company will have easy terms to make your pool installation more affordable. Going to your own pool in your own backyard is one of the cheap things to do in the summer that keeps the kids happy and improves everyone’s lifestyle.
If you dread the idea of keeping up with cleaning the pool, there is an easy solution. Pool services to maintain the pool will ensure that you are not out there managing it on your own. Many great childhood memories are made in backyard swimming pools. Creating an oasis in your backyard that is built around having fun with the family is a great way to ensure cheap things to do in the summer.
Imagine a space where you have a pool, maybe a hot tub, a playset in the yard, a place to lounge and cook all right in your backyard. How convenient it would be to create your very own staycation space for you and your kids.
Take Advantage of The Free Things To Do
Some things to do in the summer are not only cheap things to do in the summer but are free things to do in the summer. For example, many museums offer free admission or ask for a small donation to help cover costs. A day trip to a museum is a great way to get the kids out of the house and make some memories. Visiting a museum also delivers the added benefit of sneaking in some education during the long summer break period.
Of course, you do want to make sure that you are choosing museums that are age-appropriate for your child. For example, a two-year-old will not enjoy the fine art at your local fine art museum, but they would love a hand-on experience at one of the kid’s museums. Choose your destination carefully to get the most out of the experience.
Museums are not the only cheap things to do in the summer. Have you visited your local park recently? Parks are another one of the cheap things to do in summer that is actually free. Pack a lunch, bring some drinks and make a day out of it. If you do not have any nearby parks, take a hike. Make it a scavenger hunt by coming up with things that the kids need to find on their walk. It does not have to be a complicated list. Simple things like finding a red leaf or a specific type of rock on your list can help kids to stay busy while they are on the trail.
Leading up to the planned day, you can get everyone interested by doing a count down and keeping track of things like the weather forecast, using a grain marketing approach to “forecast” what will happen if it rains, what happens if it is too hot out, or what will happen if everyone has too much fun. Make the days leading up to the planned outing just as fun as the outing. It will keep the kids focused on the fun they will have enjoying some cheap things to do in the summer.
Host Themed Dinners
You do not have to hit up your local Italian restaurant to have a great Italian meal (of course you could). Consider having a themed dinner once a week. It is one of the cheap things to do in the summer to keep the kids occupied and looking forward to something that you would normally do anyway. Choosing a country each week to try a dish from can be a family affair. Gather on Sunday to take suggestions for the next week’s “international themed” night.
You can prepare a simple dish from the country that was picked and add some fun facts on index cards that everyone can read from to learn more about this country. You can send the kids on fact-finding missions about the country and allow them to present their findings. Find decorations or even better spend a few hours with the kids making decorations that represent the country.
The National Restaurant Association reports that about 49% of American families eat out more than three times per week. While going out to eat is a nice treat, it will be a much bigger treat if you put that extra effort into meal time once a week. It will help you hone your cooking skills while giving the kids something fun to participate in and look forward to.
Delegate Some of the Summer Fun Duties
You do not have to be fun central. There are cheap things to do in the summer that your kids can participate in without you. Many schools have “summer” hours where they hold day camps, crafting classes, and more, usually for a small fee. A learning center daycare for half-day fun can also be one of the cheap things to do in the summer that will keep the kids busy without breaking the bank.
Your local YMCA may be offering some summer classes and options that are more affordable than you think. Some programs even offer scholarships, but you do have to move quickly because they are very competitive and sort after.
Call your local community center and see if they have any summer day camps or other programs that will help you to find cheap things to do in the summer for your kids. Again, it is important that you start looking for these things early on, like early spring, because spots fill up fast. Every parent is looking for ways to keep their kids busy during the summer without having to take out a second mortgage. You may have to give up a visit to the salon studio to get that new hair cut but in the end, it will be worth it.
Community Pools
Community pools are a great source of fun in the summer and one of the top cheap things to do in the summer for kids. In most cases, there is a nominal fee for entry into the pool area. Spending a day poolside is affordable and fun. The best part is because it is in your community it is very likely that the kids will know other kids there that they can play with.
If your community does not have a pool, is there a local lake? Most state parks have somewhere to swim. How about a splash pad in your local park? You get the idea that one of the cheap things to do in the summer is to take the kids swimming wherever that may be. A day of fun in the sun is just what the kids need to have great summer memories.
Try Backyard Camping
Pitching a tent in the backyard and looking at the stars is one of the traditional cheap things to do in the summer, but you can take it up a notch by setting up a “movie premiere” in the backyard using a sheet hung from a clothesline or other structure and a projector. Projectors are very inexpensive right now and very easy to use. Set up the backyard with tents and bales of hay to sit on and create a movie night outdoors.
If you do not have a tent, you could invest in cheap blow-up pools (small ones that are a foot deep), line them with blankets and pillows and use those as a place to sleep under the stars. The more creative you get, the more money you will save all while the kids really enjoy themselves.
There is a whole world of fun waiting in your own backyard that will help the kids to have a good time this summer. Roasting marshmallows over the fire pit, cooking hotdogs on sticks and gazing at the stars create great summertime memories, and it is cheap. For the cost of some snacks, you can be the hero this summer.
Visit the Zoo
If you are within driving distance of a zoo, take the kids there for the day. Zoos are usually pretty affordable, and many times they offer group discounts. Maybe you can convince friends or neighbors to make the trip with you and get a group discount.
Zoos are a great place to spend the day and can be one of the cheap things to do in the summer that is educational. Many zoos have educational programs to help raise awareness about the animals that live in the zoo. Many of the activities at the zoo are included in the purchase price of the admission ticket. This is one of the cheap things to do in the summer that you can even make less expensive by taking a picnic lunch from home. Pack a cooler full of sandwiches, drinks, and snacks to save even more on this day trip.
Go Bowling
Bowling used to be up there on the list of the great American pastimes. It may not be at the top of the list of things that you normally do, but it can be a cheap thing to do in the summer that will get the kids out of the heat and enjoy something different. Many bowling alleys have mid-week specials that you can take advantage of to save even more.
Check Out a Minor League Baseball Game
Minor league baseball games are a great family experience. The tickets are usually very affordable and there are always special giveaway nights where you can get some freebies. Minor league ballgames have all the action of the big leagues at a fraction of the cost. The kids will love the opportunity to see a baseball game. Of course, if you are close enough to a major league team, you can find some great deals if you buy tickets way in advance and the game is not a “big one”.
Check Out What is Happening In a Park Near You
Many cities and municipalities offer cheap things to do in the summer in the parks. For example, outdoor movies in the park are big, and festivals and other gatherings held by the municipality are usually available. These events are usually either free or offered at a very low admission cost. You can search for events in your own town or events in a town over.
There are plenty of things you can do with the kids this summer that will not break your budget. Before you know it, summer will be over. Take advantage of all the cheap things to do in the summer before it is gone.
