Keeping kids busy while they are at home during the warm summer months is a challenge for any parent, older sibling or babysitter. It’s not easy to fill an 8 hour+ day with fun activities for your little ones. Thankfully, some brilliant people online came up with some fun (and safe) ways to keep children occupied for less than $10.
Don’t spend a fortune taking them to the movies, swimming pool or mall every day (although that can be fun). Try some of these cheap, but awesome, ideas. You might enjoy them yourself, too!
1.) Make roads for toy cars by using colored tape on carpet.
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2.) You can also use tape to create some oversized, fun games.
apartmenttherapy
3.) Turn your driveway into a fun target game using chalk and sponges.
sixsistersstuff
4.) Chalk is also a great way to play dress-up without dolls.
sixsistersstuff
5.) Exploding paint bags can be a messy, fun art project for your kids.
growingajeweledrose
6.) Use plastic container lids, glue and food coloring for a neat painting craft.
housingaforest
7.) Have extra bubble wrap? Make stomp paintings.
apartmenttherapy
8.) Cut up a tarp with scissors to make a cheap throwing game.
gurutotheoutdoors
9.) Create a quiet, safe game of Jenga by using cut-up sponges.
homelearningfrombirth
10.) Use foil to make a big river in the backyard.
husohem
11.) Tape a paper towel roll to the wall to make a simple game for your toddler.
teachingmama
12.) Or run some pipe cleaners through a colander.
no1hasmorefun
13.) “Sew” through burlap using plastic needles, making fun designs.
kleas.typepad
14.) Let kids practice their letters in this sugar writing tray.
hellobee
15.) Go camping indoors and let your kids’ imaginations run wild.
wiscocountrymom
16.) Let your kids experiment with water marbles.
zitzmanfam
17.) Create alien bubble science projects.
familylicious
18.) Extract DNA from strawberries as a fun experiment.
thehomeschoolscientist
19.) Balloon rockets teach a lesson, plus they are just fun.
discoverexplorelearn
20.) Make a mini bowling game with pencil erasers and marbles.
frugalfun4boys
21.) Got yarn? Let kids crawl through a safe playground you create.
ellisbenus
22.) Pretending the floor is lava can be turned into a fun, educational game.
toddlerapproved
23.) Make soap clouds by putting a bar of soap into the microwave.
ourbestbites
24.) Let your kids compete in a Popcorn Olympics!
oneshetwoshe
25.) Balloon ping pong is a fun activity your kids can safely play indoors.
keepingitsimplecrafts
26.) Strands of painter’s tape can form a fun, sticky spiderweb.
handsonaswegrow
27.) Transform an old box into an indoor slide.
thecontemplativecreative
28.) Go outside and let your kids make a rainbow bubble snake from simple ingredients.
housingaforest
29.) Create a giant, DIY bubble wand.
funcraftskids
30.) Fill balloons with Play-Doh for a fun new toy.
playcreateexplore
31.) Help kids create their own t-shirt designs with crayons and sand paper.
alphamom
32.) Cut a pool noodle in half to make a marble race track.
myhomespunthreads
(H/T BuzzFeed)
Pretty much all of these ideas require some parental supervision, but it should be fun for everyone involved! Give them a try this summer, or at least share this article so other parents can!
What do you think?
