50 Free & Frugal Summer Activities for Kids

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 50 fun summer activities to do with young kids that will hardly cost you anything!

50 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. Make some DIY play dough and play with it
11. Roast hot dogs and marshmallows at a park
12. Go window shopping
13. Find free or discounted swimming days at the local pool and visit on those days
14. Grow a small garden
15. Pick wildflowers for a bouquet
16. Teach your children to sew and make a purse or bag from scrap fabric
17. Do a nature scavenger hunt in your backyard or at a park
18. Play with a water and/or sand table outside
19. Set up a kiddie pool outside to play in
20. Run through a sprinkler
21. Set up a water slide in your backyard
22. Go for a family bike ride, or teach your child to ride their bike
23. Go for an evening walk around the block
24. Visit a local museum on a cheap or free admission day
25. Attend your town or city’s free holiday activities
26. Paint with edible finger paints outside
27. Make a bird feeder and do some bird watching
28. Invite a family over for a BBQ
29. Do some crafts with supplies you have on hand (like this floral crown)
30. Host a busy bag swap party
31. Fly a kite on a windy day
32. Jump in rain puddles
33. Go camping (for real, or for pretend in your backyard!)
34. Make and then eat popsicles together – we love this strawberry chocolate popsicle recipe
35. Look for local church’s Vacation Bible Schools
36. Attend a cheap or free craft camp at your local craft store
37. Spend an evening star-gazing together as a family
38. Make a little fairy garden and play with it
39. Dress up as your favourite character and play make believe outside
40. Visit a senior’s home and do a craft or sing a song with the residents
41. Visit a local U-pick and pick berries together
42. Create a fort in your backyard with boxes
43. Learn to knit or crochet together
44. Have a water balloon fight
45. Visit a farmers market
46. Visit relatives that you haven’t seen in a long time
47. Read one chapter of a novel every day together
48. “Paint” your sidewalk or fence with water and sponge brushes
49. Go on a bug hunt and identify all of the types of bugs together
50. Make a lemonade stand and sell lemonade together

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!