My kids have no idea what things cost or even what the concept of money is. With that in mind, they have just as much fun experiencing new things that are free as they do if I spend a ton of money funding their adventures. After all, everything is new to young children and they want to explore it all. So, with the holidays approaching and prices rising on just about everything we buy it was time for my family to look for some free activities to get out of the house. Admittedly, finding free activities can take some extra work so I’ve put together a helpful list of ideas for our family and yours.
Here are 10 fun activities that will keep your family active, healthy, and having a good time.
1. Go for a hike
Hiking is one of those activities that kids really enjoy and teaches them how capable they are. The feeling of accomplishment at the end of a hike is a real confidence booster. It’s an excellent workout and a great opportunity to bond with your child. Plus, if you take pictures of your outing you can relive the experience with them when you get home and start planning your next trip.
Check out The Truth About Hiking with Kids in 3 Minutes for helpful trip-planning tips.
2. Visit community gardens
If you are the type of person that likes to get your hands dirty, maybe it’s time to try gardening with your kids. Flora and fauna can be found in every corner of the world, and I know firsthand that kids love bugs and dirt.
Community gardens are a fantastic place to get started. Once you teach children how to put plants in the ground, gardening has the added benefit of being an ongoing activity and through watering, weeding, pruning, and picking, children are able to explore their natural world on an ongoing basis.
3. Visit a farm
Kids love AG adventures and if you are lucky enough to have access to a farm near you it can be a great way to spend an afternoon.
Depending on your location, you may even find farms that are open to the public and cater to young children. These can be lots of fun for the kids and may offer them the opportunity to try roping, hay rides, pony rides, or maybe even feeding the animals.
4. Woodworking
This is yet another hobby that parents can encourage their children to learn. Not only does woodwork teach them hand-eye coordination but it also helps them develop fine motor skills. They may not be ready to build a dining room table, but there is a good chance they can learn to swing a 4oz hammer to drive some small nails.
If you have a Home Depot near you, they offer free woodworking workshops for children of all ages. My kids were lucky enough to check this one off the list last weekend. They made some really cool Christmas tree ornaments. If you want to register your kids for a workshop, here is the link to Home Depot.
5. Go to the beach
The beach can mean a lot of different things depending on where you live. For some it may be a nice river bank, others might have a pretty lake nearby, and for others, it can mean the ocean. Whatever it is, find some water for the kids and go play. A trip to the beach gives you a chance to relax and unwind while your kids burn off some energy.
A child’s journey to becoming confident around water starts with putting their toes in it. Run around, build a sand castle, splash in the water, repeat. That is what my kids do and it never gets old.
6. Cook outdoors
Cooking under the open sky sounds like a wonderful idea! Master chefs are able to produce some unbelievable meals outdoors but what I’m talking about is a little simpler. Think marshmallows.
Roasting marshmallows, hot dogs, or really anything you can put on a skewer is really fun for our boys. If your kids are not ready to cook with fire they can still participate by cutting up fruits and vegetables with a plastic knife. Along with teaching a new skill, when your kids help you cook they are much more likely to eat the food they help prepare.
7. Build a fort
Building forts is a great way to help your children flex their imagination while playing indoors. Crawling through tunnels and having the ultimate hiding spot is super fun for my boys. There is something really exciting about having their own space and being hidden from the world around them.
If you have never built an indoor fort, the idea is simple. Pull out some big sheets or blankets and drape them over furniture to build a makeshift fort. If you want to take it to the next level, give them a flashlight to crawl around with and add some pillows.
8. Hit the skatepark
If your little guy/gal hasn’t mastered the art of skateboarding yet, that’s ok. Kids are having fun on balance bikes, scooters, bicycles, rollerblades, and more at skateparks today. Let them start small, then sit back and watch their confidence grow.
Still not convinced, read Why You Should Hit the Skatepark with Your Kids for some more detailed information.
9. Make Music
Music has been proven to improve cognitive function, memory, attention span, and even moods. It’s no secret that we spend a lot of time listening to music, so why not let your kids join in? Playing instruments together is a great way to bond as a family and create memories that will last a lifetime.
No instruments, no problem. Turn a can or bucket over and turn it into a percussion instrument, fill a plastic Easter egg with some rice (don’t forget to tape it) and you have a shaker. The point is, it doesn’t take much. Kids love to make noise so we should help them make it sound good. All it will cost is some of your time.
10. Play catch
Playing catch is a classic way to interact with your kids. I’ve been doing it with my boys since before they could walk. It starts small, rolling a ball back and forth while sitting on the floor. It evolves into bouncing a ball to them from a short distance and eventually softly tossing a ball to them in the air.
Once they can catch a ball, your options really open up. You can try playing with a football, frisbee, baseball, etc. Playing catch is a fun free activity you can do with your kids. If you haven’t already done it, I encourage you to try it out.
Free activities with kids may take a little more effort but it is well worth the trouble. Whether you head to the beach or stay indoors to build a fort I’d love to hear how these ideas worked for you.
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Here are some other topics that may interest you.
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