{Free} Things To Do In Summer With A Small Child

Summer is still in high gear over here. Lots of weekends full of fun to be had. This heatwave isn't helping our attempts to go outside so I had to improvise with things to do with your little one both outdoors as well as in! I also wanted to keep this simple and inexpensive. Not every family has a few grand to go away for a week and with a small child, it may not be the easiest option. Yet, everyone wants to have fun in the summer sun and make memories so why do people think they have to spend a ton of money to do that? You don't!

Park & Picnic

My son isn't old enough to go on any rides at a theme park and at $40-$80 a head, it doesn't seem like the smartest option. Plus, being out in the sun all day isn't always a good thing for him. To get active and "go on rides" we go to the park. We are lucky and there is a park by us that has a lake, trees, a huge, clean activity center and open fields. It's like a day at the beach and theme park all in one! Our roller coaster is the park's slide and swings (which is all he can do at this age anyway). With tons of trees there is an abundant amount of shade to rest under and enjoy a nice picnic. And if we need to cool off, a little walk down the hill and you can put your feet in the sand and splash in the shallow water. Not only do you not need to pay for a beach badge, but you also don't have to wait on long lines at the water park, the food is free and if you can only last an hour, you still got your money's worth.

Visit Far Away Friends & Family

Hate hotels? Hate the cost of hotels in the Summer season? Me too, so here's an idea we actually tried ourselves not too long ago. I have a dear friend who has three kids aging from 2-6. She lives in my hometown which is 3 1/2 hours away from me in upstate New York. Besides the gas and a few tolls (literally under $10.00) we made a weekend get-a-way out of it. It was fun to have the kids play together and to all enjoy each other's company. Our gracious hosts gave us a lovely place to stay in her recently redone guest bedroom and a delicious dinner (which we cannot stop thinking about). Plan to host a family to stay with you as well and then there's another weekend of fun that is inexpensive. Just BBQ up some hot dogs, cut up some watermelon and make a few pitchers of lemonade and enjoy each other's company.

Pool Time

Can't afford a large pool? Well since your child is probably 2 ft tall that's not a problem. A small, round kiddie pool is about $15.00 at Wal-Mart and can even serve as a cooling off tool for adults. Just sit on down or splash around with your small kids and the fun they will have will surprise you. It's like a big bathtub for them! For parents, cleanup is a breeze, no winterizing needed. To add a little more fun, grab a small, blowup ball from the Dollar Tree! Don't even want to spend money on a pool? A hose works just as well. Squirt it up in the air and have a few drops fall and cool you guys off or set it on a misty spray and have fun running through!

Town Happenings

Every year my town and the few towns in my area have a lot of things going on for free. Car shows, ice cream festivals, Italian festivals, movies on the beach, pirate festivals, fairs, the list goes on and on. Pack a picnic and you don't have to worry about spending money on a ton of food, or just take a few samples here and there and share what you purchased just to get a taste of new things, you can make it a little game! We have done all of these and the cost is either free or very inexpensive for all the things you get to do.

A Day Trip

Need a change of scenery for a few hours? Find a nearby zoo (some are free and only require a donation) and spend the day in a new town. Try and pick a town that is easily accessible by foot so you can stroll the streets and go into little quirky shops along the way. I don't know about your kids, but mine is a people and car watcher, just seeing them will have him occupied for a long time.

Yard Sales

This may be my favorite. If you know of or live in a town that often has town wide yard sales throughout the summer, walking around and treasure hunting for a few new items can be fun and inexpensive. I'm always in search of children's outdoor slides and toys. You get them nearly brand new for 1/3 of the price!

Movie & Game Day

For those rainy or too-hot days, rent a few movies from Redbox or play some on Netflix (memberships are very inexpensive). There are a ton of family friendly movies or TV shows. Grab some games or toys and spend the day playing, reading and watching your kid's favorite things together. Plus it will allow you as a parent some relaxing time and to get a few things done around the house.

Build A Fort

For another indoor idea, go crazy and clear out the living room and build a huge fort! Kids love being under the covers and playing peek-a-boo, it's the perfect way to keep them occupied for a few. If you have a glow light or a pillow pal that displays lights and shapes on the ceiling, try it in the fort!


These are just a few things we have done or know that others have done to make special memories EVERY day, rather than just one, expensive, summer vacation week of the year or if you do have the funds, they are fun add ons!