--- title: 52 Ways to Entertain the Kids This Summer Without Breaking the Bank description: Need some ideas to make the most of these summer days without blowing your budget? Here's a big list of simple suggestions to help you and your kids make memories, beat boredom, and have fun without spending much (or any) money! image: https://info.veritasacademy.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Happy%20kid%20exploring%20nature%20with%20magnifying%20glass.jpeg --- [717-556-0690](tel:+17175560690) - [Blog](https://info.veritasacademy.com/headmasters-blog) [![veritas_logotype_digital_horizontal_white_2021](https://info.veritasacademy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Veritas%20Academy%20Updated%20Logos%202021/veritas_logotype_digital_horizontal_white_2021.png?width=5756&name=veritas_logotype_digital_horizontal_white_2021.png "veritas_logotype_digital_horizontal_white_2021")](http://www.veritasacademy.com/) [![veritas_crestlogotype_horizontal_fullcolor_digital](https://info.veritasacademy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Veritas%20Academy%20Updated%20Logos%202021/veritas_crestlogotype_horizontal_fullcolor_digital.png?width=6807&name=veritas_crestlogotype_horizontal_fullcolor_digital.png "veritas_crestlogotype_horizontal_fullcolor_digital")](http://www.veritasacademy.com/) - About - Arts - Athletics [![Visit Veritas](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/1958683/d194301c-413d-4865-8436-d996d87bdc06.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/1958683/d194301c-413d-4865-8436-d996d87bdc06) ![veritas_crestlogotype_horizontal_fullcolor_digital](https://info.veritasacademy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Veritas%20Academy%20Updated%20Logos%202021/veritas_crestlogotype_horizontal_fullcolor_digital.png?width=6807&name=veritas_crestlogotype_horizontal_fullcolor_digital.png "veritas_crestlogotype_horizontal_fullcolor_digital") - About - Arts - Athletics - [Blog](https://info.veritasacademy.com/headmasters-blog) # Veritas Blog #### Popular Posts #### Browse by Category - [Education (228)](https://info.veritasacademy.com/headmasters-blog/topic/education) - [Culture (153)](https://info.veritasacademy.com/headmasters-blog/topic/culture) - [Faith (132)](https://info.veritasacademy.com/headmasters-blog/topic/faith) - [Family (100)](https://info.veritasacademy.com/headmasters-blog/topic/family) - [Economy (62)](https://info.veritasacademy.com/headmasters-blog/topic/economy) - [Democracy (56)](https://info.veritasacademy.com/headmasters-blog/topic/democracy) #### Posts by Month - [August 2022 (2)](https://info.veritasacademy.com/headmasters-blog/archive/2022/08) - [July 2022 (2)](https://info.veritasacademy.com/headmasters-blog/archive/2022/07) - [June 2022 (1)](https://info.veritasacademy.com/headmasters-blog/archive/2022/06) - [May 2022 (2)](https://info.veritasacademy.com/headmasters-blog/archive/2022/05) - [January 2022 (1)](https://info.veritasacademy.com/headmasters-blog/archive/2022/01) # 52 Ways to Entertain the Kids This Summer Without Breaking the Bank Posted by [Caroline Vencil](https://info.veritasacademy.com/headmasters-blog/author/caroline-vencil) on Jun 20, 2018, 7:12:04 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) I don’t know about you, but my family likes to do *something*. We’re not big fans of sitting still. And I wouldn’t expect it any other way in these beautiful summer days! But constantly planning activities really adds up… not just in trying to come up with new, fun things to do, but also with how much money it costs! Aquariums and zoos are **so** much fun, but one trip to the aquarium takes up my family’s “fun” budget for the whole month. “Sorry, kids. That was the only fun that you can have this month!” isn’t going to fly in my house. ### With the summer in full swing, I’ve made a list of the best free (or cheap) things to do with the whole family! ![Smiling family standing behind a tree](https://info.veritasacademy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Stock%20images/Smiling%20family%20standing%20behind%20a%20tree.jpeg?width=300&name=Smiling%20family%20standing%20behind%20a%20tree.jpeg)1. Go to the park. [2. Go for a hike.](https://www.lancasterconservancy.org/preserves/) 3. Find a new place to explore. 4. Teach them how to skip rocks. [5. Go to the library.](https://lancasterlibraries.org/) 6. Build a blanket fort. 7. Make your own [drive-in movie](http://www.notjustahousewife.net/2012/07/cardboard-cars-for-a-homemade-drive-in-theater.html). [8. Go to the pet store.](https://www.thatpetplace.com/) 9. Go to the fish store. 10. Explore your own town. 11. Visit a garden nursery. [12. Go to your local minor league team’s games.](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjI3fubwuLbAhVFnFkKHVViBBkQFggmMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lancasterbarnstormers.com%2F&usg=AOvVaw0d1mIE-CPmHaLQ_Wfk4mSn) 13. Have a barbecue with friends and family. ![Happy family on a picnic in the park on a sunny day](https://info.veritasacademy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Stock%20images/Happy%20family%20on%20a%20picnic%20in%20the%20park%20on%20a%20sunny%20day.jpeg?width=400&name=Happy%20family%20on%20a%20picnic%20in%20the%20park%20on%20a%20sunny%20day.jpeg)14. Have a backyard campout. 15. Picnic lunch at the park. 16. Visit the beach/ lake. 17. Have a theme party potluck with friends. 18. Visit a farm or [petting zoo.](https://www.facebook.com/pages/Longs-Park-Petting-Zoo/302092733206951) 19. Catch lightning bugs 20. Make your own popsicles. ![child-2608656_1280](https://info.veritasacademy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/child-2608656_1280.jpg?width=400&name=child-2608656_1280.jpg)21. Explore a creek. 22. Find a waterfall. 23. Have a family movie night at home (Redbox always has free codes you can use online, and the library is always full of great movies!) 24. Puddle jumping. 25. Have a water gun fight. 26. Have a water balloon fight. 27. Make [giant bubbles](https://foreveryourprints.blogspot.com/2013/09/diy-giant-bubbles.html) 28. Watch fireworks.![raspberry-995344_640](https://info.veritasacademy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raspberry-995344_640.jpg?width=300&name=raspberry-995344_640.jpg) 29. Berry picking (or apple or peach picking, too!) 30. Color with sidewalk chalk. 31. Go to a farmer’s market. 32. Nature hike [scavenger hunt](http://www.frugalfritzie.com/nature-scavenger-hunt-for-kids-printable-checklist/) 33. Make a copycat version of your favorite recipes. 34. Make s'mores. 35. Wash the car (mixing family fun AND chores!) 36. Play a board game together. ![Happy kid exploring nature with magnifying glass](https://info.veritasacademy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Stock%20images/Happy%20kid%20exploring%20nature%20with%20magnifying%20glass.jpeg?width=300&name=Happy%20kid%20exploring%20nature%20with%20magnifying%20glass.jpeg)37. Read books outside. 38. Tie dye shirts. 39. Be a tourist in your own town. 40. Check out your library’s free activities. 41. [Water balloon painting](http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/05/paint-play.html) 42. Plant flowers. 43. Go to a museum on their free admission days. 44. Lowes or Home Depot kids’ workshop. 45. Feed the ducks. 46. Go star gazing. 47. Have a [sponge bomb](http://innerchildfun.com/2011/07/sponge-bomb-bucket-toss.html) fight. 48. [Make your own crayons](http://www.giftofcuriosity.com/upcycle-your-old-and-broken-crayons/) with the broken pieces. 49. Play [Nature Hunt BINGO](http://bitzngiggles.com/nature-hunt-bingo/). 50. Splatter paint [with eggs](http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/10/paint-filled-eggs-on-canvas.html?m=1) (I swear it’s fun!) 51. Rubber duckie races.![Father and son fishing in lake](https://info.veritasacademy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Stock%20images/Father%20and%20son%20fishing%20in%20lake.jpeg?width=300&name=Father%20and%20son%20fishing%20in%20lake.jpeg) 52. Go fishing. When my family went out to play baseball on an empty baseball diamond, an older couple walking their dogs came over and told us something outrageously profound: “we’ve taken our kids to Disney World, the Caribbean, Europe… and do you want to know what they remember? This.” There is so much fun to be had with your whole family without spending money! 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