“Mom, I’m bored.”
The 3 words we all dread. Mainly because it’s usually said in a super whiny voice (my oldest just said this to me not 5 minutes ago – whiny voice and all), and because you wonder how your child could possibly be bored so early into summer vacation. Most of us automatically feel like we need to do something to entertain them – just to make the whining stop. Then, we end up planning something fun and expensive to make them smile, right? Wrong! At least, you don’t have to.
Our family is all about what I like to call the 3 F’s of Summer: Free. Family. Fun. Just because my kids are home doesn’t mean we have to spend a fortune to keep them entertained. There are so many things you can do together that are fun and FREE!
Want ideas? I’ve got ‘em!
Backyard Fun – Your backyard is absolutely free. Invest a little time and money into your outdoor space and you’ll get hours of entertainment back throughout the season. Our kids have a sandbox, slides, a badminton net, a holey board game, a trampoline, enough room to play a mini game of baseball, a sprinkler, etc. We could easily spend hours back there having a blast and we do! Almost daily!
Geocaching – We just started getting into Geocaching a couple months ago and the boys love it! It’s like a giant treasure hunt. All you need is the app on your phone and away you go! We plan to hit a couple trails down the road from our house that are covered in geocaches.
Parks & Splash pads – Our area has some really great parks and splash pads nearby and they’re all free! We pack some snacks and the boys spend the afternoon cooling off in the splash pad, playing tag with other kids, scootering around the skate park and having fun!
Free Community Events – Almost every area offers fun, free events throughout the summer. Ours has wildlife events, family swims, festivals, craft days at the local library and more. Check your local websites and Facebook pages and you’re sure to find all kinds of activities.
Day Trips – Day trips don’t have a cost a fortune to be fun. We have a really great zoo about an hour away that costs nothing! So, we often pack a picnic and hop in the SUV for an awesome family day trip. The zoo also has a park area and splash pad, plus a train you can ride!
Walks & Bike Rides – I’m a big fan of family walks, and the boys love riding their bikes. So, we do a little of both throughout the summer. We also have an awesome trail in town that the hubby and I like to walk along. On weekend mornings, we pack the kids scooters and they zoom around while we walk!
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to keep the entire family entertained without draining your bank account this summer. I hope this gives you some ideas, and I hope your family enjoys their free fun as much as we do!
