12 Frugal Summer Activities for Kids

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Summer Activities Hip2Save

With just a few weeks of school left and summer right around the corner, you may be looking for inexpensive activities you can do with the kiddos. Here are 12 free or inexpensive family activities you can do this summer without breaking the bank…

1.) Watch a Free Flick

Kids Movies

Like heading to the movies? Check out this list of Summer Movie promotions where you can get out of the heat without digging too deeply into your wallet!

2.) Register for Free Kid’s Workshops

Home Depot

Every month, Lowe’s and Home depot offer Free Kid’s Workshops where kids can build something special and take it home for free (registration is limited and required)! Hop on over to Lowe’s Build and Grow to register for the upcoming event. Children will also receive an apron, googles and a patch all for free (while supplies last)!

Or, head here to register now for the next Free Home Depot Kids Workshop! These workshops are designed for ages 5-12 and are offered at all Home Depot stores on between 9AM-12PM (usually the first Saturday of every month).

2.) Go Geocaching

Geocache

If you like the outdoors and want to embark on a unique and FREE family activity, you may want to consider geocaching. Check out this post for more details!

4.) Get Rewarded for Reading

Kids Reading

Looking for a way to challenge your kiddos minds? Be sure to check out this list of Free Kids’ Summer Reading Programs where kids will get rewarded at various stores for reading a certain number of books. Also, be sure to check your public library as many libraries have a kids’ reading rewards program, as well as free storytime, family movie days, activities and more throughout the summer.

5.) Bowl for Free

Bowling

Escape the heat and have some family fun with free bowling! Check out this post for details on where kid’s can bowl free all summer long.

6.) Go Berry Picking

Berry Picking

To find a local farm that offers the option to pick your own fruit, head on over here and choose your city and state to view your options (be sure to call ahead to confirm the hours of operation). Note that depending on the time of year, the farms in your area will offer different fruits and vegetables. If you are wanting to pick a specific fruit/veggie, be sure to call ahead to confirm that this item is in season.

Be sure to ask about the cost in advance and available methods of payment as many farms only take cash or checks. Also, don’t forget to dress appropriately and bring sunscreen, bug spray and plenty of water to drink!

7.) Get Crafty

Kids Crafts

Michaels offers an array of Free Arts & Craft classes – from knitting and crochet, painting, drawing, jewelry, paper crafting, cake decorating and more. Keep in mind that supplies are usually not included. You can also attend their weekly Kids Club Events and create a fun craft for just $2 per child – supplies included. Reservation is not required, but you can sign up in-store or online, or just drop in.

Also, Lakeshore Learning offers Free Crafts for Kids ages 3 and up every Saturday from 11AM-3PM  (no reservation required). Go here for more details.

8.) Attend Free Movie Night at Local Park

Movies in the Park

If your city offers free movies in the park during the summer (check your local city webpage), consider making plans to attend at least one. Not only is the activity a great one for the entire family, but it is 100% free – love that! Be sure to dress appropriately, get there early and bring a blanket, lawn chairs, bug spray, flashlight, snacks & drinks.

9.) Swim at a City Pool

City Pool

Looking to cool off from the heat? If you live in a neighborhood without a pool or just want to meet up with friends and family, consider heading to your local city’s pool. Be sure to call or check your local city’s pool online for pool hours and prices before you make a special trip (my local city pool charges only $9 for the entire family).

If allowed, bring your own lawn chairs and blankets for crowded days and bring snacks & drinks to avoid hitting up the snack bar or vending machines.

10.) Visit Your Local Museum

Family Enjoying a Museum Exhibit

Many museums host Free Family Days or Nights where all admission fees are waived and families are able to come to the museum and experience everything it has to offer. Also, the first Saturday and Sunday of every month, Bank of America or Merrill Lynch cardholders get one FREE admission to more than 150 museums in 31 states across the country through Museums on Us! For a complete list of museums go here.

11.) Scope Out Free Recreational Classes

Dance class

Taking advantage of all the great art, music, dance, and recreational classes offered by your local city, church and schools. Keep in mind that every town is different and some areas may offer minimal to no extracurricular classes; however, if you do have access to free/cheap classes, I encourage you to take full advantage of them!

Check your local city’s website as well as your neighborhood forum or church bulletin board/website to see what options are available near you.

12.) Attend Free Church Camps

Kids at Camp

Various churches throughout the summer offer Free Camps or Vacation Bible School events with crafts, activities, games, stories, snacks and more. Contact the local churches in your area to register and for more details.

Join The Discussion

Comments 20

  1. ShoppyMcSaver

    Is love to live where it’s $9 for the family to go to the pool. Season passes to our local pool are $200 for me, husband, and a toddler. And they’re only open 12-5/6 depending on the day. If not enough people show up they close down. We don’t even spend that much for season passes to the amusement park and they’re open 8 months of the year.

    • Sheila

      It’s much cheaper for us to buy season passes to a local amusement park, which also has its own water park, than to buy a seasonal pool pass.

    • M

      It is that where we live, and it is a poverty stricken area. The median income is less than 20,000k a year…

      • M

        It’s that per person not family.

    • MommySpendsLess

      Wow! All of our local cities have public splash pads tbat are completely free or charge just a nominal fee ($2-$3/person). Off the top of my head I can think of 8 that are less than an hour away. Maybe we have so many because it’s Florida so it’s often hot…?

      I think joining the YMCA would cost close to your estimate

  2. Jen

    We did the berry picking activity on Mother’s Day and my 3 year old LOVED it. They had chickens and pigs there too. If you have splash pads, that’s always free and entertains the little ones.

  3. Happymama

    I just told my mom that strawberry picking as a kid was a great memory! We will be doing it with my little one:)

  4. miranda

    wow $9 to go to a pool is so cheap for a whole family!! here it would be more then $9 per person. all of our local pools are $900+ a season for a family, some you even need a bond of $1,000++ to join !

    • momof6

      Most of ours near us are $5-$7/person ages 2+ πŸ™ some are more. One small pool near us does do family admission for like $5 during family swim on certain days.

  5. Ashley

    I never knew Michael’s had a kids club! We have one 10 minutes from us so we will definitely sign up for some of those!! I wish pools around here were that cheap!!! Our local pool is $12 per adult and $10 per child!!

  6. Claire

    there is a program called every kid in a park that allows all 4th grade kids and family members free access to all state parks – you don’t have to pay any entrance fees – Google it it seems interesting!

  7. Winter

    Our local library has a summer program with some event/activity for children every weekday during summer. This would usually include a magician, puppet show, storyteller and juggler on different days. They also have some sessions for older children on DNA and astronomy. I usually browse for books while my 7 and 10 year old watch the show.

    • momof6

      I suggested this, too. Isn’t it great!??? And when we go it actually helps the library! Attendance and books checked out= funding.

  8. Lisa

    Bass pro and Disney store have activities that you can collect pins each week. Free!

  9. redrosebeetle

    I have never lived in an area with a public pool, and I’ve lived in the South most of my life.

  10. momof6

    May i add? Summer reading programs at the library are fantastic! And we often have some cool things to do every week at our library for every age. Iptv (pbs kids) comes to the area every summer and does a fun show.

  11. Tisha

    We are members at our local YMCA so we take advantage of the pool, the free classes, basketball gym, waterslide, etc. Yes we have a waterslide inside of our YMCA 😊..we also take advantage of the free programs offered at the library, we go fishing, there is a church in our area which offers free camp for a week (its only from 6 to 8 but it will allow me,to catch up my reading and a great way for the kids to meet new people…we also fire up the firepit in the backyard and play games, roast marshmallows, hot dogs, or whatever. We catch bugs or just hang out..so much you can do, you just have to get creative..Good Luck!

  12. Mindi :)

    We live in a great town where the swimming pool pass is $100 for the whole family. The town has a 2 day festival in the summer and the money is given to the pool, library and town park all places that we enjoy as a family. This is about the only festival we go to. My kids receive the pool pass for Christmas from their grandparents and swimming lessons from their great grandparents–we just make a card for each of them to open. The park also has Arts in the Park. It’s $5 a class with a maximum of $20 per kid no matter how many classes are taken. Also there is softball and baseball at the park that’s free. We also do the library summer program. We also have a big Lake near by and a lot of groups/festivals have a fishing Derby for the kids with prizes (my daughter won a bike a few years ago)

  13. growingbhoomi

    even apple and Microsoft has free summer camps where your kids can go learn how to code. I think thats pretty awesome, if you have kids interested in such activities. we go to splash pad here, its free all summer long.

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