The summer holidays can sometimes feel overwhelming, with so much time to fill. And with the rising cost of living, you may be looking for some more creative ways to fill your time that don’t break the bank, while allowing you to create some great memories.
We’ve pulled together 50 FREE ideas and activities to try over the next few weeks so you’ll never find yourself with nothing to do.
1. Backyard camping. Skip the drive to the campsite, shower blocks and shared loos and pitch the tent in the back garden. They can play camping all day, and even sleep in it at night!
2. Garden Sports Day. Your kids have most likely just done one at school so they’re primed and ready. Think egg and spoon races, sack races, wheelbarrows, all the oldies and goodies.
3. Bubble Painting. Get some straws, paint and washing up liquid to create some fun bubble paint images. Just remember to blow!
4. Chalk in the garden. Get creative with your drive, decking, patio, even your house and simply wait for the rain to wash it away.
5. Waterplay. Fill hours of fun with paddling pools, water fights, ‘sink or float?’ games and even ‘painting’ the fence with water!
6. Have an “unbirthday party” at home.A whole summer off school is reason enough for a party! Go the whole hog with balloons, party games, streamers, a pinata and a cake.
7. Have a day of boardgames. You can even turn it into a tournament and the winner gets some sort of prize
8. Themed days. Choose a character, movie, sport or country, and roll with it.
9. Dance in the rain. It’s good to get out in the rain, especially in the summer when the weather is warmer. You can dance, skip and jump about.
10. At home cinema / movie night. Pick a film, and make the most of it with some ticket stubs, refreshments and blankets. Snuggle down and enjoy!
11. Have a pamper day. Whether you opt for simple cucumbers on the eyes and massaging hands and feet, to making homemade face masks and nail polish, there’s something for everyone. And don’t forget the robes!
12. Do some baking / cooking. Choose a recipe together or see what ingredients you have in the house to make something with.
13. Make a den or build a fort. Simply use cushions and sheets with laundry driers or your kitchen table for a den. Or use some cardboard boxes for your fort.
14. Have a pyjama day. Relish in the lack of a routine and soak up the day in your pjs
15. Put on a show! Whether they come up with something themselves or you agree a theme, they can perform a dance, play or any other talent
16. Make something out of recycling. Egg boxes, milk cartons and toilet rolls are perfect for homemade inventions. Repurpose cardboard boxes into a dolls house, hospital, vet, parking garage etc
17. Freeze items to excavate. Choose small toys or coins to freeze and enjoy taking the time to chip them out
18. Scavenger hunt. Always a popular choice; save time by asking for items beginning with a certain letter, colour or pattern.
19. Have a teddy bears picnic. Get your favourite cuddly’s together and enjoy a spot of food with them.
20. Make a fire. Whether you have a BBQ or a firepit or just use the hob, you can enjoy cooing some sausages or s’mores on the fire.
21. Make your own pizzas. Choose different toppings, make different shaped dough. Get really creative with it.
22. Make microwave popcorn. We love this easy popcorn recipe from My Fussy Eater. You just need a brown paper bag, popcorn kernels and a few minutes.
23. Make a seasonal fruit smoothie / mocktail. You can even forage for berries with this one.
24. Make ice lollies. Simply use squash, or for more advanced lollies, create your own from fresh fruit and juices
25. Post a letter / postcard. It’s always fun to write a letter to a loved one and post it. And it might feel like a bit of a novelty in this digital age.
26. Go for a walk in the woods. There’s always fun to be had in the woods; searching for ‘bears’, playing hide and seek, spotting wildlife
27. Go to the beach. It’s a rite of passage in the summer; come rain or shine. And we\re so lucky to have so many beaches on the Yorkshire coast. And if you can’t get there, create a beach in your garden with some sand, bucket and spades.
28. Go to the library. Stay and read some books there and choose some to take home. There is even the summer reading challenge with a prize to collect at the end. Visit your local library for more info
29. Go for a bike ride / scooter / roller blade. Whatever your wheel preference, make sure to get out and about on one. Fun exercise for the whole family.
30. Feed the ducks. Always a winner, any season. The Ducks need feeding and you can pick a few new spots to try
31. Visit a new park or playground. There are plenty of playgrounds around Leeds; check out best playgrounds for toddlers or best adventure playground around Leeds
32. Paddle in a river or stream. Whether barefoot or in wellies, find somewhere to splash about outside of the house.
33. Visit a museum or art gallery. Again, we are so lucky to have so many on our doorstep.
34. Alphabet walk. Make a walk a bit more fun by finding things starting with each letter of the alphabet.
35. Try geocaching. Download an app, get GPS information for the geocaches you want to find, then start hunting.
36. Love Exploring. Download the Love Exploring app and find somewhere local tofind fairies or dinosaurs
37. Fly a kite. Make sure you have an open space for this, and wind!
38. Learn a new song / poem. Learn it together or separately and then recite it back.
39. Storybook crafts. Choose a story to read and then create crafts based on the story. The possibilities are endless
40. Have a disco. Pick your favourite songs and dance around. This is a great one to burn off some energy
41. Have a topsy turvy day. Turn everything on its head; breakfast for dinner, and pudding first.
42. Tech-free day. Enjoy mother nature and some quality time. Spend the whole day from dusk to dawn with zero technology and see what you can get up to.
43. Play date. Have some fun with friends, family or grandparents.
44. Learn a new skill. From crochet, knitting and sewing, to knee ups, magic tricks, or breakdancing
45. Make a summer movie. Download a movie-making app and make movies with your toys
46. Make musical instruments. Add some dried rice or pasta to some Tupperware for a shaker. Use elastic bands for guitar strings. Or simply get a pan and spoons for some drums!
47. Science experiments. Why not try making a rainbow with skittles and water. Or a volcano with vinegar and bicarbonate of soda.
48. Tell a story. Make up a story by each taking it in turns to write/say a line and see what you come up with.
49. Jigsaw puzzle. Pick an appropriate puzzle for the age range and either have one that lasts the whole summer or the whole afternoon.
50. Summer diary / memory jar. Make a note of all the things you’ve done each day and either write it in a diary or add it to a jar. Then look back at it on the last day of the holidays and see just how much you got up to!
Whatever you end up doing, we hope you make some wonderful memories and enjoy your time together.
Happy Summer Holidays!
