summer activities for kids | blog.firstffcu.com

Summer is the perfect time for kids to get outdoors and make memories, but coming up with new, exciting activities to keep them busy all season long can be a challenge – or quickly become costly. Luckily, making memories doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. With a little creativity, you can turn ordinary things into activities that kids (and your wallet) will love. Here are some affordable activities to keep the kids in your life busy this summer.

Camping in the Backyard

Who said you have to pack up a car and leave home to go camping? If you have a backyard, you can turn it into a campsite with just a few items!

What you’ll need:

A tent
Sleeping bags or blankets
Pillows
Flashlights or lanterns

Get the whole family involved in setting up the tent so it feels like a real camping trip. For an added bonus, also grab the ingredients to make s’mores so you can sit around a campfire telling stories with a gooey, chocolatey treat.

Stargazing

Stargazing is a great activity because it’s educational and free. Just head outside after sunset and look up to the night sky! You can print star charts or download a free stargazing app to help you identify stars, constellations, and planets too. You can also leave the star charts and phone inside if you just want to see what you can find with your own eyes. This can be especially fun if you have younger kiddos – who will probably be thrilled at the chance to stay up past their bedtime and gaze up at the starry sky.

Photo Scavenger Hunt

This activity is a great way to keep kids entertained, especially if they are usually reluctant to spend time away from electronic devices. Using a smartphone or other electronic device, this photo scavenger hunt will challenge kids to find and take pictures of items on a predetermined checklist before time runs out.

Here’s how to organize a photo scavenger hunt for your family:

Decide if you’d like the scavenger hunt to take place indoors, outdoors, or a mix of both. This will determine the types of items you’ll include on the scavenger hunt.
Create the list of items participants will set out to find. If your scavenger hunt will send kids into the great outdoors, a few ideas include searching and photographing signs, footprints, animal prints, an American flag, and a lawn mower.
Decide if they’ll set out on their own or in teams – or even as a family.
Give each person or team their list of scavenger hunt items to photograph and a pen. Make sure every person or team has at least one device to take pictures.
Set a time limit for when each person or team should be back. Remind them that they must take pictures of each item on the list. Before they set off, make sure to share how the winner will be determined. For example, the winning team can either be the first team back or the team with the most items checked off their list.
Off you go!

The best part of this activity is that it can be anything you would like it to be! Whether you’re searching for something to fill a 30-minute break or looking for an all-day activity – this photo scavenger hunt can be customized to your liking.

Family Olympics

Does your family enjoy a little friendly competition? Host your own Family Olympics. Whether you want to compete for a sought-after prize or simply for “bragging rights” – this activity is sure to get your family active and engaged. Decide on activities that your family will compete in, such as athletic, skill-based, silly, or a mix of all three – and let the games begin!

Here are a few ideas to include in your Family Olympics:

Two-legged races
Potato sack races
Throwing water balloons at targets
Obstacle course

Don’t forget the winning prizes, either! You can either purchase some medals online, or fill jars with gold, silver and bronze wrapped candy. No matter what your budget is, there are plenty of ways to be creative with the winnings.

Check out our First Scoop blog for more family tips and financial resources like these. You can also find our monthly Things to Do on a Budget in Monmouth & Ocean Counties posts – packed with family and budget-friendly activities for the month ahead. Be sure to comment and let us know if you try any of these affordable summer activities with your children!

Kids can be expensive. During the school year, everything from dance shoes to field trips, can feel like it costs an arm and a leg. Once school is out, your kids can sometimes be more expensive. If you’re looking to be frugal and still have fun, here are a few ways you can save and keep your kids busy this summer.

Throw backyard movie nights: Have a big TV or a projector? Add some cool yard lights and some blankets or patio furniture, and you’ll be ready to host every kid on the cul-de-sac. Or hold a family movie night outdoors, just yourselves.

Check out museums: Growing up, the word “museum” always seemed boring. But the museums they have now are far from dull! If your town doesn’t currently have one, here are some great options that may be within driving distance.

Cook something up: When the summer is heat is blazing, it’s always great to have things to do indoors. This is the perfect opportunity to teach your kids how to cook. Have them help prepare fun lunches and dinners, and one of these days you may be able to take a few shifts off from chef duty. Start with baking and you’ll be guaranteed to have some delicious treats around this summer.

Go to the park: Every town has a public park, and most of them have lots of things to do. There are also National Parks all over the country that can be educational and provide some exercise as well.

Head to the pool: A lot of neighborhoods have pools and if yours doesn’t, you probably know a friend or relative who does. Taking the kids swimming is a great way to allow your kids to burn off some energy, and also give you the chance to soak up some sun and relax.

Article Source: John Pettit for CUInsight.com