Reduce Screen Time This Summer With These 10 Low Cost Activities to do as a Family

Unless you have a child with an old soul, summer reading can be a hassle. There is a solution, though, reading clubs at your local library, or, if that is not an option, create a family reading club together! By giving the kiddos a space to discuss their books, no matter the reading level, you can make them want to engage with their reading lists even more. Make it a light-hearted competition to see how many books they can complete over the summer to incentivize reading.

Life skill-building and a distraction for a couple hours? Yes, please! This activity may require extra adult supervision, depending on the age(s) of the children participating, but it can be super fun and bonding. Not only can you create delicious family meals and/or desserts to eat together later, but you are setting the kids up with skills they can use later. Skills that may even benefit a future you if they really take to cooking and baking.

Lots of museums and aquariums offer days where kids enter for free. Family members 18 and above may need to pay a small fee, but a day where kids are free of charge makes exhibit visits much more affordable. Not to mention, it’s an excuse to go out while expanding the kids’ knowledge and appreciation for art, history or science. 

Need to get the family active? There’s no better way than a family hike. Pro tip: As the weather warms up, it’s best to plan to leave in the morning and get back before it gets too hot to avoid any heat accidents. Additionally, map out hikes that everyone in the family can complete without physical challenges, which may mean short trails. You can make hiking a regular activity to look forward to by making a list of local trails you’d like to complete, accompanied by one day a week dedicated to family hikes.

Camping can be costly and require a lot of planning, and while we are all in favor of a nice camping trip, sometimes life gets in the way, and they aren't always possible. Instead, put the camping gear to use in your very own backyard. Have the youngins help pitch a tent, get a small SAFE fire going for s'mores (check local weather conditions and safety protocols) and whip out the card games. You can each take turns telling stories around the campfire and star gaze when it's dark out. The experience will be magical for the family, and you don't have to leave the comfort of your backyard to do it. 

Now’s the time to remove the training wheels or get them started. Biking to a local farmers market is an even more entertaining way of travel and an excuse to get the family active and outdoors. No bikes? No problem. As long as it’s within reasonable distance for each family member, even a stroll to the market can be an exciting and memorable way to spend summer Saturdays or Sundays together. You don’t even have to buy anything at the market; it will be enjoyable to just walk around and take everything in. Perhaps there may even be a few free samples along the way.

Need at least an hour to yourself? Design a scavenger hunt around the house for the little ones to indulge in their imagination while giving you some downtime. You can enlist random items for them to find and make a map of the house corresponding to mystical locations. However you go about it, the kids will be distracted and thoroughly entertained.

This is a summer activity staple and a right of passage. If you have a lemon tree that needs some picking, or even if you have to run to the store — the combination of water, sugar and lemons is a simple and low-cost activity to throw together as a family. Designing a lemonade stand and making potential sales is also an exciting way for younger family members to learn both social skills and how to make and track their own money. Perhaps if they make enough, you can take them to get a treat later. 

The Dollar Store is your very best friend for this activity. Some cheap water balloons, an old tarp and a hose are all you need to bring the water park to your front or backyard. And now you don’t have to navigate long hot days at an amusement park and the overwhelming amount of other overwhelmed families (unless those parks are your thing). All you have to do is fill up those Dollar Store water balloons, roll out the tarp and get the sprinklers going. This is the ultimate way for everyone in the fam to cool off while having fun. 

If all else fails, an afternoon of impromptu art projects is an excellent distraction from the lure of screen time. Find online prompts from places like this generator to spark inspiration for everyone seated at the table to get down with drawing or whatever art form they choose. This is also a great method of using random art supplies like pipe cleaners or stickers that wouldn’t otherwise see the light of day again.