Ideas For Entertaining Kids On A Budget This Summer Holiday

The summer holidays have landed upon us again – how quickly has this year gone by?! I’m sure I’m not the only one feeling like this is a daunting prospect financially and that I’m going to have to think outside the box to keep them busy on a budget. The cost of entertaining kids has increased significantly ovver the past 5 years and parents across the UK are expecting to spend a whopping £7.8 billion entertaining their children this summer – an average of £1300 per parent!

I wanted to think of some fun activities to throw together on a budget if boredom sets in on a day at home during the summer holidays 2022. I thought I would share them over here with you for anyone else looking to entertain kids on a budget this year!

Ideas For Entertaining Kids On A Budget This Summer Holiday

Check out 2-4-1 offers on attractions

Often these will be on wrappers or leaflets and will save you lots of money if you’re doing a big day out (bring a picnic too!)

Make your own shadow show

Pop up a sheet in front of a wall and direct a light up at it then get your children to put on a shadow puppet show for the grown ups. Have a look on YouTube for ideas of how to create some great shadow puppets!

Make your own creation station at home

Often my boys need some home time if we are particularly busy in the week, but by around 11am they need some extra stimulation, so I like to create little messy play areas and fun activities to do which all use things around the house so incur no extra cost to me! Here are some cool ideas we do in the garden.

Pack A Picnic

Don’t feel like you must eat out each day, the cost of this is extortionate and in fact my children seem to love the freedom of eating snacky bits on a blanket outdoors somewhere more than sat on best behaviour in a restaurant!

Look out for community events

Days out don’t have to be elaborate costly affairs, have a look at your local community events for free things to do such as duck races and country fairs.

Go on your own treasure hunts or search for rocks

We took the boys on a superhero treasure hunt around the woods one day which was totally free, and they absolutely loved the excitement of it!

Visit a PYO

This is by far one of our favourite summer days out! The kids basically eat their way around a strawberry field whilst enjoying fresh summer air and then we usually end our day for a lemonade at the country pub on the way home!

Keep an eye out for free open days at museums or galleries

Some museums will open their doors to the public over the summer for free, a wonderful way of doing something you wouldn’t usually do.

Check out the National Trust free open days

Once a year, National Trust properties open their doors for free to the public to enjoy. They can provide something different for an afternoon out if you can find one near you.

Create your own scavenger hunt.

Think of 10 things you might find on a nature walk and draw/write them on a sheet before packing drinks and snacks and head to some woodland to see who can find all of the items. Perhaps with some chocolate money for the winners.

I’d love to know what you do to keep your little ones busy during the school holidays, or if this has helped give you some ideas to keep them entertained, leave me a comment down below.

XOXO