10 Ways to Entertain the Kids

While it’s great to have the kids home for the summer, planning enough activities to keep them entertained can get expensive in a hurry. Fortunately this doesn’t have to be the case. Here are several budget-friendly activities that your kids are sure to love:

1. Play Dress-up

With the right clothes, dress-up can provide hours of fun. Take your kids to a thrift store, and let them search through the clothing racks until they find the perfect outfit.

2. Host a Shopping Spree

A shopping spree may sound like an expensive outing, but it doesn’t have to be. Give each kid $5, and set them loose in a dollar store. They will have a lot of fun deciding how to spend their money.

3. Go Swimming

A trip to the pool is a guaranteed winner. To make time at the pool even more exciting, purchase a disposable underwater camera. The kids will have great fun capturing their underwater antics.

4. Start a Garden

Pick up some flower pots, and seeds, and teach your kids a few gardening basics. To maximize the fun, take your kids to a garden center, and let them pick out the seeds.

5. Get Cooking

Everyone has a favorite meal. Choose one of your kids’ favorites, and then teach them how to make each dish. For even more fun, let them turn your kitchen into a restaurant for the night. Your kids will have great fun setting the table, taking orders and serving.

6. Have a Tea Party

Pull out your best table linens and dishes for some fancy fun. Let your kids help you whip up some tea sandwiches and cookies for the big party. Then get decked out in your fanciest clothes, and enjoy!

7. Plan a Casino Night

Your kids may be to young to visit a casino, but they’re not too young for some good old casino fun. Set up several card tables around the house, and teach them how to play a few casino games. Then, at the end of the night let them turn in their tokens for a prize. 

8. Go on a Picnic

Sometimes a change of location is all it takes to keep kids entertained. Pack up your lunch and a blanket, and head outdoors for a picnic. Whether you stay in your own yard or venture to a nearby park, you’re kids are guaranteed to have a blast.

To stretch out the afternoon, surprise your kids with a Frisbee or kite.

9. Camp Indoors

Pull your tent and sleeping bags out of storage and set up camp in the living room. Equip your little campers with flashlights and a book of ghost stories for an authentic camp feel.

10. Go Star Gazing

The outdoors become all the more exciting to a child once the sun goes down. Pick up a book on astronomy at the library, and take your kids outdoors on a star gazing expedition. If your local high school has a planetarium, you may also want to check to see if they offer free shows to the public.

-Erin Huffstetler

  Erin Huffstetler is a freelance writer specializing in frugal living tips and tricks. Her work has appeared in numerous print and electronic publications including Family Circle, Guideposts For Kids and Pregnancy. As the stay-at-home mom of two young kids, Erin is always looking for new ways to live better for less. For fun decorating and craft project ideas check out Erin's "Trash to Treasures" and "Bead Making Basics" courses at Suite101.com.