Too often, summer goes by so fast that before you know it, the kids are back in school and schedules fill up with sports, lessons and other activities. If you’re looking for some cheap, fun activities to do with your kids during the summer, I have an idea for every week.
Some can be done in the evening, all can be done on weekends, so whether you work full-time or have the summer off with your kids, pick and choose a few of your favorites from the list below and turn them into summer traditions!
1. Plant a garden as soon as school is out and your family will see the fruits (or vegetables!) of your labor by the end of summer. If you don’t have a back yard or much space, many vegetables can be grown in pots on a deck railing or even inside.
2. Read all about it when you join a summer reading program. The Calgary Public Library makes it even easier to motivate your kids to read with their summer reading program. CPL’s Summer Reading Club adventure this year is Splash! Celebrate Summer. This free program invites children to participate in reading games and challenges. It’s a fantastic activity that the whole family can participate in together, no matter what the age! With the addition of a preschool element, kids and babies of all ages can play and read together all summer.
3. Get wet. Take a swim at your local pool or beach. You could also go jump in a lake (with lifejackets), set up a cheap back yard pool (with adult supervision at all times, of course) or hook up a sprinkler to a hose.
4. Go to a park you haven’t been to before. Wait for the perfect windy day, and then head to a wide open space with a park for some kite-flying fun! Parks are also great for their playgrounds, hide-and-seek and for an evening game of flashlight tag.
5. Pick some fruit. Blueberries, strawberries, peaches, apples, or whatever you can find in your city or town make for a fun day. (We like to go at dusk when it’s cooler and fewer people are around.)
6. Act like a monkey. No kid is ever too old to enjoy a trip to the zoo! Don’t overlook smaller zoos that may be a bit of a longer drive from your home. Usually they are cheaper and have a lot of cool animals.
7. Camp out. Camping doesn’t have to be a big ordeal. In fact, it can be as simple as setting up a tent in your own back yard (or Grandma’s or someone else’s if you live in an apartment). Don’t forget the flashlights, snacks, sleeping bags and scary stories!
8. Chill out. One of my kid’s favorite parts of summer is our ice-cream dates. You can simply grab a cheap soft-serve cone on the fly. If you’re looking for a healthy alternative, opt for frozen yogurt where you can add your own toppings. Another option would be to borrow or buy an electric ice cream machine and make your own ice cream in any flavor you like.
9. Catch a fish. Buy (or borrow) a rod, reel and bait and head to any small or large lake to fish off the bank. Keep the fish for dinner or throw them back. Fishing provides a great opportunity to just hang out and talk with your kids. For more information about obtaining a fishing licence, visit www.mywildalberta.com.
10. Tee off. An evening game of miniature golf is a great way to top off the summer. Make the game competitive and keep score, or just play for fun.
Kerrie, (www.thekerrieshow.com), her husband and five kids attempt all summer traditions above every year. Email her your favorites at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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