Outdoor Games and Activities on a Budget
Chances are, the second week of summer vacation will roll around, and you’ll start to hear your kids complaining about being bored. While road trips can be a great way to spend some summer days, many of us will be staying close to home. This means you’ll need to come up with ways to keep kids entertained. The good news is you won’t have to spend a fortune. The following are just a few outdoor games and activities to enjoy on a budget.
1. Flying a Kite
Did you know that you can find kites at the Dollar Tree? These are a perfect way to keep the kids entertained during the summer. If you don’t have a big yard, you can head to the local park. These are a great way to see if your children will like flying kites before investing in an expensive brand. For something slightly more money but of great quality that I highly recommend, try this large Octopus kite. We have had so much fun with this kite over the years, and it is very highly reviewed!
2. Water Balloon War
Allow your kids to invite their friends over for a water balloon war. This is so much fun and costs very little. You can find water balloons at the Dollar Tree as well. Or you could buy those special water balloon fillers that allow you to fill several balloons at once.
3. Campfire Cooking
Another fun activity is to break out the fire pit and build a fire. Not only will the kids enjoy sitting around the fire telling ghost stories, but they’ll love roasting marshmallows as well. You can even let them cook their own dinner by doing hot dogs. Remember to keep kids safe from the fire and never allow them to build or tend to the fire.
4. Stargazing
If your kids love being outside, stargazing is another great outdoor activity. Just grab a blanket, lay down, and enjoy the stars. Make sure everyone is wearing a mosquito repellent bracelet free of chemicals or apply this all-natural No Bite Me bug repellent. It is highly rated and works very well, plus smells great! Finally, you can light citronella candles, but this can make the stars harder to see.
5. Homemade Waterslide
Want your kids to have a lot of fun on a minimal budget? All you need is a cheap tarp, dishwashing liquid, and water. Saturate your backyard to make it soft before putting down the tarp and covering it in dishwashing soap. Try to put the tarp on an angle to make it easier to slide down. Then wet the tarp to make it nice and slippery, and place the hose at the edge of the tarp so that it continues to wet the surface. All the kids need to do is run and slip down the slide.
6. Visit A Playground, Park or Pool
If you live in a city or suburb, you most likely have plenty of playgrounds and parks within a reasonable travel distance. The best parts about local playgrounds and parks are that they are free and help to encourage exercise! Often, the playground may have craft or activity days for the kids, possibly for a small fee. You can also find local pools at some parks. If you live in the Buffalo or Rochester areas, be sure to look at my extensive WNY park and playground list here. View a list of WNY beaches, pools, and splash pads here for water fun in the area.
7. Kids’ Game Competition
Last but not least, do a summer kids’ game competition. This can be as simple or as involved as you want. For example, you could have each kid jump rope ten times, shoot ten baskets, and run down the driveway and back five times. The first kid to complete the tasks wins. Consider giving out small, inexpensive prizes purchased from Dollar Tree.
Summer doesn’t have to be boring or expensive. These are great games and activities that you can keep in your bag of tricks to keep your kids entertained this summer.
Find the Top 15 Outdoor Toys To Buy at Dollar Tree to help save money on outdoor activities too!
