40 Free Things You Can Do with Kids

If the kids are bored and restless, use any of these ideas of free things you can do with kids. This list includes 40 fun things to do with kids, all absolutely free! Don't let cabin fever drive the family crazy - use your imagination, and the ideas below, and you'll find there are many things you can do for free with kids. Have fun building long-lasting memories!

40 free things you can do for with kids -

1 - Make a birdfeeder - With a few simple supplies, you and your child can make a cute birdfeeder out of a milk carton. Learn how to make one here.

2 - Go on a nature walk - Get the kids out of the house and take them on a nature walk. Bring along a small box to collect special treasures.

3 - Personalize backpacks and school supplies - Use free printable stencils to customize and personalize school supplies, backpacks, and other items. Find out where to get free printable stencils.

4 - Take the kid to McDonalds - Fun things you can do with kids may cost a dollar or two at McDonalds, but it's worth it. Spend a dollar for a drink and let the kids spend a few hours on the McDonalds playground. Bring a book for yourself!

5 - Make fun chore charts - Kids won't mind doing their chores so much when they can personalize their own unique chore charts. Find a great selection of FREE chore charts for kids here.

6 - Make a 'me' box - Hand out shoeboxes and let the kids decorate it to resemble themselves. Use old wallpaper books instead of craft paper and hand out other small craft supplies for detailing. (Get ideas for more free activities for kids using old wallpaper books HERE)

7 - Play balloon ball - You may have never heard of balloon ball, but it's a fun game kids love. For rules, and other fun balloon games, CLICK HERE.

8 - Visit your local library - Acquiring a library card is a big deal for kids. Head to your local library and let them get their own card and check out their favorite books. Check your library schedules for free book readings and other events.

9 - Head to the museum - Spend a few hours at your local museum. Museums provide educational and fun free activities for kids.

10 - Go to the park - Let the kids run wild at the park! Be sure to apply sunscreen if they will be exposed to the sun.

11 - Play online games - Regardless of the age of your child, you can find a gaming website for them to play on. PBS, Nickelodeon, Primary Games, Mini Clip and Fun Brain have a great selection of safe online games for kids.

12 - Make holiday place cards - Get ready for the holidays by making your own place cards. Kids can personalize the cards for each guest. Learn how to make holiday place cards.

13- Have a puppet show - Let the kids make puppets out of brown paper bags and have them put on a fun puppet show.

14 - Pick wildflowers - Some wildflowers are protected by the state, so don't pick those! But, you can have a great time picking out 'weed flowers' and arrangement cute bouquets.

15 - Go on a bike ride - Pack up the bikes and go for a ride somewhere new.

16 - Bake cookies - Make a batch of basic cookie dough and grab your cookie cutters. Make fun shapes and let the kids help decorate. Get the recipe for basic cookie dough HERE.

17 - Make a batch of chocolate & peanut butter NO BAKE cookies - With this delicious recipe, you won't even have to turn on the oven! Kids love to help bake, and these chocolate & peanut butter no bake cookies are delicious. Find the recipe here.

18 - Visit a local festival - Check your local newspaper for listings of FREE festivals and events. Local festivals are filled with things you can do for free with kids

19 - Make fairy houses - Head into the backyard and make little fairy houses out of sticks, leaves and rocks.

20 - Build a fort - Build a fort using blankets, pillows, sheets and boxes. Hand out flashlights and have fun!

21 - Play with your food - Use food in your pantry to make unique 'food people'. Then, eat them!

22 - Play sports - Grab a baseball and bat or a basketball. Head to the local high school and play. You'll build fun memories and get the kids outside!

23 - Get them ready for school - If you have a child that will be entering Kindergarten, get them ready with these FREE kindergarten readiness worksheets. First graders can use the worksheets found here.

24 - Go fishing - Let the kids dig in the yard for the bait and then head out on a fishing excursion.

25 - Play cards - Is it possible the kids don't know how to play 'War' or 'Go Fish'. Grab a deck of cards and show them how!

26 - Play in the sprinklers - Throw on a bathing suit and play in the sprinklers with the kids. Make sure to apply sunscreen first!

27 - Go swimming - Head to the local pond or beach and spend the day swimming. It's great exercise and one of the very few free activities for kids still around.

28 - Bake a cake and decorate it - Let the kids help bake a cake and them supply them with frosting and small candies so they can decorate it. Use these Easy Cake Decorating Ideas.

29 - Set up a lemonade stand - Whip up a batch of lemonade and set up a table and chairs outdoors. Let the kids create signs to advertise their lemonade stand. (An adult should be present at all times for safety reasons)

30 - Have a movie marathon - Turn off the lights, pile up the pillows and blankets and have a movie marathon! Kids like movies about baseball. Try out any of these Best Baseball Movies for Kids.

31 - Have a relay race - Set up an outdoor course and have an exciting relay race. If it's raining, create an indoor one.

32 - Have a fashion show - Kids love to play dress up so turn them loose in your closet. Be sure to take lots of pictures!

33 - Make a time capsule - Give the kids a box or container and let them create a time capsule. Have them draw pictures, write notes, or put in favorite pictures. Leave instructions to NOT OPEN the time capsule for a few years.

34 - Make Playdoh - Making your own Playdoh is a lot more fun than buying it! Learn how to make Playdoh, and let the fun begin!

35- Build a robot - Use empty boxes, toilet paper rolls, buttons and other supplies and build your own robot.

36 - Have a scavenger hunt - Make a list of random items and have the kids search the house and yard for them.

37 - Make a coloring book - Find printable coloring pages online and create a unique coloring book. Grab some free coloring pages. Try out these hockey coloring pages. Or these soccer coloring pages. How about these patriotic coloring pages! Fun things to do with kids don't have to cost a lot of money! Use online freebies for cheap entertainment.

38 - Play hopscotch - The children of this generation may not even have heard of hopscotch. Grab some sidewalk chalk and introduce them to the fun!

39 - Have a spa day at home - Whip up your own homemade spa treatments using things you have in your kitchen, and have fun pampering each other. Learn more about how to make your own homemade spa treatments.

40 - Plant a garden - Kids can take pride in watching their garden grow. Plant flower seeds, sunflower seeds, watermelon seeds, and so on. Use these ideas for Unusual Garden Containers.

　

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SOURCE:

Personal knowledge and experience