A job well done….
Okay, so chores aren’t the most fun free summer activities for kids, but maybe a reward will make them a little more appealing!
Chuck E. Cheese Rewards Calendars: Reward your kids for great behavior, daily chores, reading, and more with the Chuck E. Cheese Rewards Calendars. Download and print the calendar of your choice and once your child has completed all the tasks on the calendar, bring it to Chuck E. Cheese to be rewarded with 10 FREE tokens.
Another fun way to keep encouraging the kids to do their daily chores is with this free printable chore chart. Motivate your kids to help out around the house by offering rewards like a gold star, a sweet treat, an outing to the park, or access to other free summer activities for kids they would enjoy.
Shop till you drop!
Uh-oh! Dealing with a sudden summer shower (or downpour) and need an indoor free summer activity for kids? Here is an indoor shopping option for those not so sunny summer days.
IKEA: This is a free summer activity for kids AND mom! Head to Ikea where the kiddos can test out all the toys in the children’s department or hang out in the FREE supervised playroom while you shop. Note, contact your local Ikea to find out about any restrictions.
Have some DIY and high tech fun.
These hands on free summer activities for kids are so fun your little one won’t even realize he or she is learning valuable skills like coding, crafting, and cooking! 🙂
Home Depot: If you want a DIY free summer activity for kids, head to Home Depot. They offer a variety of completely free workshops for do-it-yourselfers of all ages and experience levels.
Lowe’s: Bring the kids to a Lowe’s Build and Grow workshop where they’ll get to tackle all sorts of DIY projects. These workshops are free and take place on Saturday’s at 10 a.m.
Michael’s: Have a future DIY diva on your hands? Don’t want your own house to be covered in paint and glitter? If so, be sure to take advantage of Michael’s nearly free summer activities for kids! Sign your kiddos up for the Michael’s Kids Club where, for only $2 (which includes all necessary supplies), they can take part in a variety of craft projects.
Apple Camp: Sign your tech savvy kids up for a FREE Apple Camp at a participating Apple Store. At Apple Camp, kids ages 8-12 will have the opportunity to spend 90 minutes for 3 days exploring tech.
Apple also offers a variety of other free summer activities that can help the whole family hone their tech skills. For example, find a photo walk near you to learn to take amazing photos with your iPhone. There’s also Apple’s Kids Hour where kids can spend an hour learning computer programming, illustration, and filmmaking with Apple tools. Check your local Apple store for additional details.
Microsoft YouthSpark: Microsoft offers a variety of educational free summer activities for kids of all ages, both online and in person. One of my favorites is the FREE YouthSpark Summer Camp which offers computer science and coding courses for kids as young as 6 and all the way up to 18.
Lakeshore Learning Crafts: Every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., kids as young as 3 can participate in free craft classes. Find a location near you… classes are in progress now! Bonus: You don’t need a reservation so this is a great last minute or spur-of-the-moment free summer activity for kids!
American Girl In-Store Events: Have an American Girl store nearby? Head on over so your kiddo can participate in fun in-store events including crafts, movies, lessons on manners, tea parties, and much more.
Bass Pro Shops Family Summer Camp: Bass Pro Shop offers free summer activities for kids and the whole family! Dates and times for 2018 haven’t been announced yet so keep checking back. Past activities have included crafts, a casting pond, campfire s’mores, and the opportunity to earn merit badges.
Whole Foods Kids Cooking Classes: Do you have a little Iron Chef in your family? If so, then check out the Whole Foods Kids Cooking Classes for kids 5-12 years old. Prices vary depending on the class but the most expensive I saw was $20. Pre-registration is required for all cooking classes, so head over here to see what classes are coming up or contact your local store.
Tip: Cooking is a fun and free summer activity for kids that you can do together at home. Want to give it a try? Find kid friendly recipes by following Freebie Finding Mom’s Cooking With Kids Pinterest board.
Let’s go exploring!
Exploring parks, trails, and other outdoor locations are great low-cost or free summer activities for kids. Here are just a few fantastic options!
FREE National Park Days: Take the kids and head outside to explore America’s national parks for free on National Park Days. Go here to learn when you can snag FREE admission and plan your next trip.
Use Trail Link to Discover Local Trails: Don’t live near a national park? No worries, the great outdoors are all around you, and exploring them makes for fun and free summer activities for kids! Try using Trail Link to find local trails where you can go hiking, biking, and more.
Go Geocaching: If your kids love a good treasure hunt (and who doesn’t?) then try Geocaching.com. All you need is a GPS enabled device such as your smart phone and you can play a real-world treasure hunting outdoor game. Players try to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, using their smart phones and then share their experiences online.
Tip: Don’t have a GPS or can’t find a geocaching adventures near you? Create your own treasure hunt for the kids to enjoy.
