10 Free Summer Family Fun Ideas

Not surprisingly, sales of trampolines, above-ground pools and other home-based escapes have risen, even with price tags ranging from $500 to $2,000.

If you’re desperate for inexpensive ways to occupy a brood of bored children, rest assured that entertainment doesn’t have to be pricey. Here are 10 free summer family fun ideas that won’t break the bank.

1. Rethink your local library. If you haven’t been there in a while, you may have forgotten that it’s a great place to research hundreds of family activities that entertain and educate. Many libraries are reopening with limited hours and new restrictions, so call ahead before venturing out.
2. While you’re browsing through the library stacks, look for ways to bring the fun outside. For example, check out books with pictures of the constellations. That night you can sit in the backyard and search the skies for the Big Dipper and other celestial formations. It’s also a great time to talk about God’s creation.
3. Visit a county or state park. While some remain closed, many are starting to reopen. Call ahead for details. If one is open nearby, take a hike, enjoy some fresh air, and use the opportunity to teach the kids about nature.
4. On rainy days, look for indoor activities. A blanket fort can turn an afternoon into an adventure and if we’re being honest, some adults love them too!
5. Have a yard sale with your family “wares” spread out on tables or in groupings six feet apart. Here’s an activity that can turn closet clutter into extra cash. It’s also a chance to teach kids the value of things.
6. Encourage them to tithe on their profits.
7. You may already be taking family walks around the neighborhood. Step it up by researching local places of interest. Start with any historical markers in your town that you’ve probably driven by hundreds of times without stopping. On your walking tour, have the kids read the markers out loud, then discuss what they’ve learned over a picnic lunch.
8. You’ve probably been hitting the nearby playgrounds. For variety, how about a short field trip to a playground in the next town? Bring a ball or a frisbee and play with the kids. We can all use a little more fresh air and exercise.
9. Arrange an “entertainment swap” with friends—maintaining proper distancing, of course. Exchange movies or video games for the weekend. It will feel like you’ve bought something new without spending any money!
10. Do some D-I-Y. Help the kids build airplanes or kites with scrap paper and have a competition to see which ones fly the farthest or highest. For design ideas, see Item #1, the library.

We’ve saved the best for last. While on one of your family walks, visit an elderly or disabled person in your neighborhood. While you’re chatting, take notice of anything you and your children might do to help them out and then offer to do it. It’s a great way to share the Gospel and the love of Christ. It will also help teach your children respect for others and appreciation for what God has given them.