Y’all! I am so excited to share with you! I have
85 great family friendly activities for free (or extremely cheap)
!
I am sitting here listening to B being his ‘normal’ self (which is definitely high on the negative side today) while K bakes a cake and Addy is pushing everyone’s button to see who she can get a rise out of. Oh the joys of parenting, right?
I am fully aware that I am not made to be a stay at home mom so anytime I am home with them; I need something to do with them. More often than not; I want (and need)
cheap
family friendly activities to do with them. (Like heading to
for a mile and a half walk with the family like we did this day!)
Free Activities
Movie Day
Keep it free by watching movies you own or can find on your Netflix/Hulu/Amazon Prime account. You can spend a little money (still keeping it cheap) and rent movies from Redbox. Pop some popcorn, have some homemade snacks, curl up and watch movies as a family.
Clean
Cleaning is never any fun, but you could make it fun. Create a challenge or a contest from it. It gives you and the kids something to do. It cleans your house. It can be fun if you make it!
Re-decorate
This probably ranks up there in “fun” with cleaning, but re-decorate the kids’ rooms. Let them be involved and change the way it all looks. Give their room a makeover.
Hopscotch
You can find hopscotch foam pieces at stores, but you can use tape to create a hopscotch on the carpet or tile to create your own hopscotch game!
Cheap Activities
Science Experiments
Ultimately, the cost of this activity will depend on what experiments you do and what you have on hand at home. Google some science experiments to do at home and have fun leanring while experimenting!
Paper chain countdown
Again, cost will depend on what you have and what you need, but you could use any recycled paper in the house to create a paper chain for a countdown. Countdown to a holiday, a birthday, a vacation, school break starting (or school break ending for mom and dad!) or just count down for when summer ends and school starts!
Host a circus
Cost is dependent on what you have, but invite some friends over (big or small), paint their faces like clowns and put on a circus! The cat is a lion and needs a tamer! Clowns juggle! The dog is a tiger who can do tricks! Use your imagination and have fun! (The kids can make fliers to advertise the circus and they can make tickets for admittance! This could be a several days worth of activities!)
Fishing
If you have poles, it can remain cheap and affordable. You will likely need a day fishing license depending on the laws in your city and bait. Other than that, you should have everything else you need!
Paid Activities
Performing Arts
The Performing Art Center, theater, Children Theater, dinner theater, etc. are great family activities depending on the show and of course, how well your child sits still during a show.
Day Trip
Pile in the car and take a day trip. For us here in Arizona, further north or further south are cooler than where we live so a day trip is always fun to get out and explore and find cooler weather!
Boating
If you own a boat, that is obviously a bonus; but many lakes have rentals that you can rent for the day. Kayaks, canoes, paddle boats, fishing boats, pontoon boats, etc.
Make a lemonade stand
Another couple day project with making fliers, making the stand, and then selling the lemonade! It will definitely keep the kids busy and would make for a great lesson in money!
Want to see the other 85 ideas NOT listed above? Enter your email and you will get immediate access plus a copy sent to your email inbox!
Is there anything else you would add to the list that I missed (or isn’t in the download?) Let me know and I will get it added!
Talk soon!