Five Free Summer Fun Family Activities to Enjoy with Your Children

The time of summer vacation is quickly approaching, and many parents are wondering what type of activities to do with their children. Since money can sometimes be in short supply for families, family members often look for free fun things to do together. Here are five free summer fun activities that parents can do with their children:

Picnic and Playtime at the Park

On one of those bright and sunny summer days, pack a picnic basket with some goodies and lots of liquids and head to your local park. You may also want to take along a big blanket on which to sit in the event that the park to which you are going does not have picnic tables. Too, if the park allows for it, you may want to take along some sporting equipment and enjoy a rousing game of basketball, baseball, soccer, football, croquet, or whatever sport that you like.

In addition to making this park day a family affair, you can invite friends and extended family members to join you and your crew as well. It depends on what your comfort level is.

Free Afternoon at a Local Museum

Most museums offer at least one afternoon a week or a month when the admission price is free. If you and your children are in the mood for taking in some of the cool museum exhibits, take advantage of these free periods. Afterwards, ask your children which exhibit was their favorite, what new fact did they learn, and how did the museum visit impact them. As with the park activity, you can invite friends and extended family members to join you and your family for the afternoon at the museum.

Cool Kitchen Concoctions

If you and your family have one of those days that you do not feel like leaving the house, you can enjoy a day of creating delicious concoctions in the kitchen. Use the ingredients that you have on hand and either use a beloved recipe or create your own collective masterpiece. This author's children love to come up with their own versions of homemade soup, and the results of their labor are always tasty.

In addition to concocting scrumptious delights for the tummy, you can also have fun making flour modeling dough and homemade finger paint or engaging in some kitchen chemistry. Have fun doing whichever one of these kitchen activities that you choose.

Eco-Friendly Arts and Crafts

If you and your children enjoy making crafts and being environmentally friendly at the same time, you can have a day of creating eco-friendly works of art by utilizing recyclable materials that you have around your home. A wonderful site for eco-friendly craft ideas is http://www.kid-at-art.com.

You can make junk mail jewelry from saved junk mail and beads from rescued necklaces and bracelets, fold origami boxes from old greeting cards, and fold accordion books from mat board scraps and pieces of salvaged white and decorative paper. You can even use your imagination and create your own masterpieces from plastic bottles, various scraps of paper, previously used yarn, or other rescued and salvaged materials.

If you and your family would like, invite friends and extended family members to come and join you in this creative endeavor. With multiple people and various artistic works, you could do your own home art show in which everyone presents his or her creation.

At-Home Movie Theater

After the sun goes down, and you and your family are getting ready to settle down for the evening, consider having an at-home movie experience. Rent some family-friendly movies from your local library (there is typically no fee for library movie rentals), pop some popcorn, pour some soft drinks or whatever liquids that everyone likes, and relax as you and your family take in a movie together. You will save a lot of money and will be able to make comments about the movie without the worry of disturbing strangers.

This summer, keep these free family activities in mind for spending some quality time together. You will make memories that last a lifetime.

Sources:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2018614/chemistry_in_the_kitchen_part_ii.html?cat=4

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2716389/how_to_make_flour_modeling_dough.html?cat=25

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/264049/kid_crafts_make_your_own_finger_paint.html?cat=24

http://www.kid-at-art.com/htdoc/lesson5.html

http://www.kid-at-art.com/htdoc/lesson16.html

http://www.kid-at-art.com/htdoc/lesson25.html