By: Venchi Balendez
Can you feel the summer heat? Summer is here and it’s time to face the challenge of keeping your kids active, at the same time, productive throughout the whole summer. Your kids have all the energy and enthusiasm to beat the summer heat. With all the summer activities awaiting, plan your kids’ summer activities that will not only make them enjoy this summer, but also let them grow, build confidence and learn new things.
BUT, it doesn’t mean that they have to do homework and assignments. It doesn’t also have to be that expensive to engage your kids in these activities. So we gathered some ideas to plan inexpensive summer activities that your kids will surely love without ruining your budget.
Before anything else, it is better to plan your activities with your kids. Involve your kids in the preparation of your activities. Help them research events and activities near you and guide them in choosing activities that will fit your budget. This way, you will get more of their cooperation in sticking to the budget. Plan your time and resources appropriately. I’m pretty sure your kids will never forget their camera for picture taking. They can create a scrapbook afterward for their unforgettable and fun moments.
Here are some ideas for your activities this summer that will fit your budget, even when it means spending nothing at all. You can consider a few activities each week that does not involve spending.
Free Summer Activities
- Take a walk together.
- Play your favorite ball game such as basketball, volleyball, tennis or badminton at a court near you.
- Visit the library.
- Water fights using water guns or spray bottles.
- Do a manicure and pedicure session with your kids.
- Take a hike together at a nature spot near you.
- Set up a dinner outdoor or at the park.
- Watch a free movie or concert.
- Create a calendar with drawings and cutouts.
- Take a virtual tour to a place that interests them.
- Construct paper airplanes, paper dolls or robots.
- Organize a book club in the neighborhood.
- Help kids decorate their room.
- Play with clay to develop your kids’ creativity.
- Make something out of recycled materials in the house such as toys out of water bottles, paper beads, and the likes.
- Make a collection such as rocks, and research each specimen online.
- Read storybooks with your kids.
- Create your own musical instruments using recycled materials around the house.
- Do a connect-the-dots activity.
Affordable Summer Activities
If you have a bit of budget to spend, you can opt to do some of these:
- Take them for an ice cream treat.
- Play bowling, basketball, volleyball or any game they like.
- Rent a movie.
- Make fruit shakes.
- Go swimming at a pool near you.
- Go to a lake or nature park near you.
- Attend an art class together.
- Make bead accessories.
- Paint pots or mugs together.
- Plan a cooking lesson or your kids and cook together.
- Make a homemade bubble solution.
- Do a paper-folding activity together.
- Create a flip book out of old notebooks and paper.
- Make ice cream in a bag, ice candy, or fruit shake together.
- Involve your kids in volunteer activities in the community.
Worth-the-Price Summer Activities
It is wise to spend for summer activities that can develop your kid’s social, physical, and mental skills. Here are some activities that are worth the price:
- Visit a theme park.
- Watch a basketball game together.
- Go boating or similar outdoor activities.
- Go on a family camping.
- Visit a zoo or a museum.
- Enroll your kids in a music lesson.
- Enroll your kids in a language lesson.
- Enroll your kids in a sports lesson.
- Enroll your kids in summer classes such as dance, drama, martial arts and the likes.
This summer, it is important to know your kids’ likes and dislikes. Determine their interests and start from there to plan appropriate activities for them this summer. Summer is the best time to nurture their hobbies, make them explore the community and let them have fun at the same time. The important thing is to create wonderful memories with your kids, no matter how simple it is.
Enjoy your summer!
References:
Venchi Balendez is a registered nurse and mother of three, working as a part-time article writer.
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