*sings* summer, summer, SUMMERTIME! Time to sit back and unwind …unless you have kids that are on summer break and driving you nuts. Today is the first day of summer and sadly most of us are already counting down the days until the first day of school. If your kids have already started to run circles around you, then it’s probably because they’re bored. Turn off the tv, put the tablets away and get them out of the house to help them burn off some energy. Here’s a list of 21 free (or nearly free) things you can do with your kids this summer to keep them busy:

1. Meet friends at the local park or have a picnic. Summer makes a good time to have a play date with your girls and her kids or their friends from school. Let them run, scream and play until nap or bath time; they’ll sleep good either way.
2. Go for a bike ride. It’s a great way to spend QT without screens or tablets and it’s great exercise for everyone. Try early morning or just before dusk to avoid high temperatures.
3. Backyard camping/star gazing. Too afraid to go camping at an actual campsite? Then go camping in your back yard. Read stories, make s’mores or show your kids how to locate Orion’s Belt and many other stars using this guide.
4. Kids science experiments. Help them stretch their minds and have fun with a science experiment or two. The best part is there’s no right or wrong as long as they learn something and have fun. Click here to see our failed attempt at a science experiment a few weeks back.
5. Water balloon baseball. Put a spin on having a water balloon fight by adding a baseball bat. They might not make it to first base but it’s still a good time to be had.
6. Visit your local library. A trip to the library can be more fun than you think. They typically have themed days and story hours planned for the kiddos.
7. Play board/card games. From memory to monopoly nothing is better than some good ol’ family time spent playing games. Uno even has a updated version called Dos that requires the use of math skills.
8. Visit a splash pad. Anything with water is always a good time for my kids. Pack a picnic style lunch and grab sun screen to take with you and make a day of it. Make sure to take towels and a change of clothes.
9. Paint rocks or flower pots. Most kids love a reason to get messy so paint should do the trick. Have them paint rocks or flower pots for your flower bed or window sill.
10. Plant flowers or vegetables. Plant flowers or vegetables in your flower bed or in a pot in your yard. …*hint hint* use the pots they painted. Help them with a sense of responsibility by having them water it to watch it grow.
11. Feed the ducks. Find a nice subdivision with a lake or pond and ducks are sure to be near by. Easily the cutest fun you’ll have for free…aside from the bread you’ll need buy anyway.
12. Take a trip to the beach(or pool). This is always an inexpensive way to create summer memories with your kid (if you’re lucky enough to live near a beach)… otherwise visit your local pool.
13. Run in the sprinkler. I love effortless fun. Put your kids in their swimsuits and turn on the hose/sprinkler and let them run free. Target even has some cute sprinkler/hose attachments for $20 or less.
14. Go to the movies. Theaters like AMC is making it super easy to get the kids out of the house with their summer Movie Camp. You can’t beat a ticket and popcorn for $4. Click here to see a participating theatre near you.
15. Bubble Party. Bubble wands, bubble machines, bubble nets and everything in between. Just turn on some music and add bubbles, you have an instant party.
16. Go fly a kite. Oh hey Mary Poppins! I’m pretty sure that the Dollar Tree sells kites. Find a nice spot (without tress of course) and fly a kite of your choice. Flying a kite teaches your kids patience and coordination; besides they’re pretty to watch.
17. Make a family video. Go for a nature walk and record your day as you explore the outdoors or have them put on a production of their favorite movie. The kids are bound to say something hilarious and it’ll be a great memory.
18. Go to the zoo. Animals are always a good idea. Many zoos have weekly discount days or offer free admission all together.
19. Go to the museum. A lot of banks partner with local museums for free or almost free admission. If you are a Bank of America customer click here to see their list for their Museums on Us program.
20. Help them build something. Give your little DIY’er a one up on being crafty with Home Depots kids building workshops.
21. Learn gaming and coding. Help reinforce their STEM education with free coding workshops from Microsoft. Apple is offering similar workshops to tech the art of storytelling through videography. I wonder if they’ll let parents sit in on those? LOL

Bonus: If they want to do something that isn’t “free” encourage them to find ways to help pay for it by starting a “summer business”. Help them sell lemonade, have a garage sale, or find neighbors they can dust/do yard work for, etc. I’m all for kids being kids but nothing in this life is free and I prefer that mine learn that now.

There are so many ways to make the summer fun and keep their little minds working; it’s so important to prevent summer slide. Also, they tire more easily if you keep them busy. Give them something adventurous to do during the day and they’re sure to sleep well at night. If all else fails find comfort in knowing that they will never be this little again and the won’t always need you as much as they do right now. We only get 18 summers with them, so let’s make a ton of sweet memories while we can. Happy Summer Yall!

Do you have any bucket list plans for your family this summer? Tell me about them in the comments.