Inexpensive Activities to Entertain Your Children During the Summer

There is no denying it - economic times are tough right now. Going out to the movies or a high end amusement park can sink you for a lot of money. So why not turn to your own backyard as a fun place to create family activities that won't cost you a thing. Simpler times can be just as fun as bleeding your wallet at a trendy attraction. All it takes is a little creativity. The key here is to come up with some unique ideas using things you already have in different ways.

Visit "Camp Your Backyard"
Your backyard can just as easily be a great place to entertain your kids as a fancy campground is. And it won't cost you a thing. Get out your tent, or borrow one if you don't have one, and set it up in the backyard. If you have a wooded lot, it's usually more fun to put your tent surrounded by the trees for a little privacy. Then go around the house and get the things you'll need to enjoy yourself in the backyard for the night. Make sure you involve your child in this to make them feel like they are helping. Get sleeping bags, pillows, flashlights and a lantern if you have one, bug spray, snacks, drinks, and a meal if you go outside early enough. Also consider bringing games to play and books for you to read to your child or for them to read to you if they can read. Once you have your camp set up, make it a point not to go back into the house until tomorrow. Potty runs are the only exception!

Set up your own water park
Kids love to play in the water, but water parks are expensive. Create your own water park in your backyard for free or for next to nothing. Create a variety of things for your kids to play in the water like a water park does. This way your kids won't get bored. First set up a water sprinkle for the kids to run through. Then set up a small inflatable pool if you have one. If not, Walmart has them for in between $1 for a really small one, but they also have larger pools for $10.00 and up. It may be worth it to invest in one since the summer lasts for several months. If you really don't want to spend any money, get creative and find things around the house for them to at least lounge in if the item isn't big enough to swim around in. If you have a second sprinkler, you can take trash bags or rolls of tablecloths used for parties, rub them down with soap and run the sprinkler on them to make your own slip and slide without spending any money. Just be careful since it will be so slippery!

"Enroll" the kids in cooking class
With all the supplies there are in a kitchen, it's easy to set up your own cooking school and have your kids play chef during cooking class. Decide on a theme such as baking cookies, making peanut butter and jelly or banana sandwiches or even something more elaborate if you are brave, then act as their cooking teacher. Have them put on aprons and help you gather all the ingredients and cooking supplies that they will need to make their meal. First show them how to properly cut vegetables, measure ingredients or do whatever is relevant to what you are making, then give them a chance to do it. Explain how to clean up as you go along and even throw in safety tips like don't touch the hot burners and lock the oven door when it is on. Not only will you keep the kids entertained for free, but you'll be exposing them to a new hobby and teaching them important life skills. To make it more fun, you can always take them outside to use the barbecue grill to make smores or grilled fruit. Remember to never leave them unattended though!

Bring out their inter athlete
If your child enjoys sports, you can set up a circuit in your backyard for them to get out all their energy without costing you a thing. Put a soccer net at one station and let them try to shoot goals for a while. Once they are bored with that, have them jump rope. Set a number of times they should try and do it so they have something to accomplish. They'll be proud if they reach their goal. If you have an inflatable pool, you can incorporate the "water park" that we talked about earlier in to this circuit by having them swim for a while. Other stations to setup: baseball, a stationary bike, and a running track around your backyard.

Movie night outdoors
If you are able to get your hands on a movie screen and projector, set it up in your backyard. Run a movie rented free of charge from the library. If a movie screen is too hard to get a hold off, simply set the TV and DVD up outside and plug it in to an outside outlet. This make take a little time and effort, but it will be a fun new approach to watching a movie for your child. Spray yourself with bug spray, pop popcorn and make a fancy drink like a Shirley Temple or a frozen smoothie for your child to enjoy while watching their movie. Obviously this works best if you have a porch, an portable gazebo or outside lounge chairs.