Remember when you were younger and summer vacation was the greatest thing in the world? No school! No responsibilities! Just you waking up every day having the freedom to do whatever you wanted.
Ahh, the good old days.
Unfortunately, as parents, summer vacation has now become one of the most stressful times of the year. From trying to figure out summer activities for your child(ren) to having enough food to feed their insatiable appetites, summer vacation can be a real budget buster. Luckily, we have a few activities to help you save money and have fun this summer.
Summer fun that doesn’t break the bank
Libraries
Gone are the days of the old boring libraries with the aggressive staff keeping everything ungodly quiet. Many of today’s libraries feature dedicated areas and programs specifically for kids and teens (even tweens in some instances) providing a fun atmosphere in a safe environment. Check out what exciting things are happening at your local library.
Public Parks
Traveling to a public park is a great way to exercise while also enjoying the beauty of nature. Whether you’re running at a playground, bending it like Beckham on the soccer field, or sight-seeing along a trail; public parks offer a wide range of outdoor activities.
Creating Homemade Treats
Cooking is not only a great skill to develop but offers a unique way for your child(ren) to creatively express themselves. Whether it's something simple like making popsicles to baking goods like cake and cookies, creating yummy treats is a fun way to try unique flavors while spending quality family time.
Free and Discounted Events
With children out of school, kid-centric companies are more inclined to offer free or discounted events, programs, and access to their services. Promotions like these tend to be offered by swimming companies, hands-on museums, science centers, etc. You can find such organizations in community resources like Little Guide Detroit.
Kids-Eat-Free Deals
Eating out can be expensive especially if you have a big family. However, with kids-eat-free deals you can have a fun dining experience without the expensive bill.
Malls
Hanging out at the mall when you want to save money may seem counterintuitive, but this timeless tradition is still a great way to offer a change of scenery for the little ones. Many malls have toddler play areas that can provide hours of fun, exercise, and socialization for your little tikes. Additionally, you get to chill in a climate-controlled environment which feels amazing during hot summer days.
Walking/Bicycling
Encourage your child(ren) to get off the tablet by going outside. From taking a walk, riding bikes and scooters, or even water balloon fights; there’s plenty of outdoor activities that can get your child moving and away from the alluring glow of the many mobile screens.
Flying Kites
A popular summer activity we've seen hosted in multiple cities is kite flying. But why wait? Generally costing a few bucks, kites or rockets, offer outdoor fun that can also serve as an entryway into the applied sciences.
Splash Pads
Want to have some safe water fun? Cool off outdoors by visiting splash pads. Aside from generally being safer than pools or waterparks (since there’s virtually no risk of drowning) there's usually no cost as well. You get all the fun of running through sprinklers without the annoying setup or high-water bill.
Arts & Crafts
Let your children unleash their creative side through art projects. From coloring inside the lines with crayons or colored pencils to creating vibrant illustrations using side walk chalk, art utensils can help with your child’s hand dexterity and foster their imagination. Another great idea is to turn recycled goods, like tissue rolls or milk jugs, into craft projects.
Summer vacation doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive. Make your summer vacation fun again by using some of our budget friendly tips. For more ideas on keeping your child(ren) engaged this summer check out this article with 100 Fun Summer Activities for KIDS!
BONUS: Start a Business
Summer can be fun, educational, and…profitable? For years we’ve partnered with DCU Next Generation, to help kids learn about entrepreneurship. Whether your child wants to keep it classic with a lemonade stand or run an online venture, summer is a great time to get your child(ren) introduced to the world of business.
