35 Free & Frugal Summer Activities for Kids #KinderMom

It’s summer time! I absolutely adore the summer. It’s relatively short here in Alberta, so we always need to seize each day and spend as much time doing summery activities together as possible before the cold weather hits us again.

I like to be thrifty, but I still like to have fun with my girls. We always seem to find lots of things to do in the summer that are either free or almost free. Here’s my list of 35 fun summer activities to do with young kids that will hardly cost you anything!

35 free or cheap activities to do with toddlers and young kids this summer:

1. Visit a local beach
2. Go to a local splash park or pad
3. Go to the library
4. Visit a local farm
5. Take a hike on some trails in town or out in the country
6. Have a picnic at a park
7. Play at a new park every week with friends
8. Go fishing (even if it’s just pretend!)
9. Go canoeing or paddle boating
10. Roast hot dogs and marshmallows at a park (bring along Kinder Surprise Eggs to make S’Mores!)
11. Go window shopping
12. Find free or discounted swimming days at the local pool and visit on those days
13. Grow a small garden
14. Pick flowers for a bouquet
15. Do a nature scavenger hunt in your backyard or at a park
16. Play with a water and/or sand table outside
17. Set up a kiddie pool outside to play in
18. Run through a sprinkler
19. Set up a water slide in your backyard
20. Go for a family bike ride, or teach your child to ride their bike
21. Go for an evening walk around the block
22. Visit a local museum on a cheap or free admission day
23. Attend your town or city’s free holiday activities
24. Paint with edible finger paints outside
25. Make a bird feeder and do some bird watching
26. Invite a family over for a BBQ
27. Do some crafts with supplies you have on hand (like this floral crown)
28. Host a busy bag swap party
29. Fly a kite on a windy day
30. Jump in rain puddles
31. Go camping (for real, or for pretend in your backyard!)
32. Make and then eat popsicles together
33. Look for local church’s vacation Bible schools
34. Attend a cheap or free craft camp at your local craft store
35. Spend an evening star-gazing together as a family

Do you have more summer activity ideas for kids that are free or almost free? Please share them in the comments below. Bring on a free and fun summer!

Disclosure: I’m part of the Kinder® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group.  The opinions on this blog are my own.