Looking for some memorable things to do this summer? Need some new ideas on easy & fun things to do with the kids?  Try a few of these quick, FREE or low-cost, have-fun-at-the-drop-of-a-hat ideas:

In The Backyard or At a Park

1.  Have a picnic

Make some quick PB & Js, grab some fruit, cookies and drinks - toss it all in a bag, cooler and basket.  Grab a blanket or beach towel, and head for the backyard.

2.  Race Hot Wheels cars

Get some chalk, draw a cool track on the sidewalk and see who wins the race.

3.  Teach them a game that you played as a kid

Bocce, croquet, keep-away or neighborhood tag!  Or teach them some other cool things you know, like magic tricks, how to blow huge bubbles with gum or how to make a blade of grass 'sing'!

4. Catch bugs with them! 

Fireflies, butterflies and large bugs are really cool :)  Worms rank pretty high too (even if they aren't bugs). bPlus, kids love to observe the doings of bugs (just make sure to send them all home at the end of the day).

5.  Let them help you fix something

Any small projects around the house that require the use of 'real' tools is great! Or better yet, put some extra screws into an old board and teach them how to use a screwdriver.

6.  Play flashlight tag (at night)!

7.  Teach them how to take photos. 

You can use a camera or your phone.  Talk to kids about light, how close or how far to be from your subject, how to center an object, etc.  Here are some tips from National Wildlife Federation.

Around Town

8.  Visit your local hardware store or home store and let the kids 'ride' on all the mowers/tractors.

9.  Find a new park to visit

Check your city's website for the 'Parks & Rec' section and they will probably have all city parks listed.  Or make it a mission to visit a new park every week all summer long (now that's something they'll remember!).  Here's a fun printable Playground Scavenger Hunt -- see if you can play on each of the 33 different types of equipment this summer.

10.  Take them to a FREE workshop or craft event

Home Depot, Lowe's & Michael's have great workshops that allow kids to build and create cool projects.

11.  Go fishing on a FREE fishing day

Almost all state and national parks are FREE entry days, and offer free fishing days when no license is required.  If you don't have a pole, borrow one from a friend.

12.  Explore a new museum

Almost every town has at least one free museum or free entrance days!  Try that art museum you've wanted to see or visit a new living history attraction.  Lots of fun ways to learn this summer.

13.  Let them do something daring

Something really fun and outgoing that they really want to do (even if it scares you!)

14.  If they don't already have one, get them a library card. 

You can also get them a wallet or small purse to carry it in.  Then, visit the library - free books, free movies, free programs!

15.  Give them 3 or 4 quarters and tell them they can use it on the next gumball machine or toy machine they find when you're running errands. 

They may buy junk but kids love those small surprises.

16.  Go on a Surprise Ice Cream Run

Get them all ready for bed one night - pj's on, teeth brushed, lights turned out - and then go back in the room and yell "Ice Cream Time"!  Have everyone pile in the car and go out for a quick ice cream (drive thru if they're too embarrassed to be seen in the pj's :)

Fun Activities At Home

17.  Have breakfast outside in your pj's.

18. Make a Cool Fort

Make a pillow fort.  Or a blanket fort.  Or turn the closet into a fort.

19. Get Creative with a Cardboard Box 

Find a large, cardboard box (many local hardware or grocery stores will have them) and create something fun - spaceship? a castle or reading nook? a pirate ship?!!  Or find a lot of small boxes and see what the kids can do with them.

20.  Freeze something! 

Kids love to try this - try frozen blueberries, bananas that you can then cover with chocolate syrup and nuts (via the Food Network), grapes, watermelon - they all taste great!  Or maybe they want to freeze a small toy and see how long it takes for the ice to melt (great summer science).  Try freezing sidewalk chalk to see how it writes!  Here's 23 Ideas for Frozen Fun this summer!

21.  Have a Tea Party

Take down that china that you never use because you're saving it for a special occasion (time with kids is special - break it out!).

22.  Make homemade popsicles or ice cream. 

Here's a great video tutorial on ice cream in a bag from Family Fun - easy!

23. Host a Dress-up Day

Sort through all your old accessories (jewelry, hats, ties, shoes) and let them have a dress-up day!

24.  Create your own Maker Space

If your kids are older than 7, let them take apart one of your broken electronic items, such as an old radio, VCR or clock.  Make sure you remove the electric cord first - kids love trying to discover what's inside. (warning:  you may need to supervise them -- and remind them not to take apart any of the working items in the house :)

25. Paint them! 

You don't need to go to a special event - you can use washable paints at home and create something beautiful.

26.  Make something amazing out of duct tape

With all the cool colors and designs, the kids can make so fun things - flip flops, wallets and more!

27.  Have a camp-out

Pitch a tent in your backyard or spend the night in sleeping bags in your living room one night.

28.  Pop popcorn the old-fashion way

With a little olive or canola oil (about 2 tbsp.) in the bottom of a large pot, heat on medium-high for a few minutes, drop in 1/2 cup of popcorn seeds, cover and shake back and forth over the burner. 

29.  Make smoothies

Experiment with any fruit you have - if you add vanilla yogurt or ice cream with a little ice, almost anything tastes good!

30.  Play cards

Invent a new game, have a card tournament or build a card house!

While You're On Vacation

31.  If you're at the beach, build an amazing sandcastle! 

Make sure it's close enough to the water for a moat - every kid loves putting a moat around a sandcastle.

32.  If you're vacationing near water, teach them to row a boat or canoe.

It's a life skill worth knowing!  Or better yet, teach them to swim or body surf!

...and Teach them to hold something from nature very carefully.

33.  If you're in the mountains, hike as high as they can and take a great photo! 

Then tell them how much higher they are than the roof of your house at home ;)

34.  Visit a type of building that they've never been in before

Try exploring a lighthouse, old ruin, or fort!

Have a great summer!

~ Jacquie

You might also like:

10 Awesome Items for Summer Fun & Learning

The ABC's of Family Trips