I’m sure you’ve noticed, but kids cost a fortune, don’t they? They’re a bit like the family car in that regard: expensive to run, maintain and just when you’ve paid for one thing, something else comes along to suck up your hard-earned cash. So here are 5 more fun things to do with kids at home, without spending a penny.
Lots of you enjoyed our previous article on fun things to do with kids that won’t cost a penny, so we thought you’d like some more ideas for things you can do with your kids that won’t cost you anything at all.
Now don’t get us wrong, none of us minds spending money on fun kiddie activities from time to time. Quite the opposite in fact: there’s nothing we love more than letting our kids have as much fun as possible, because when they’re having fun, they’re happy, they’re safe, and crucially, they’re not hanging out of us!
Unfortunately, in the absence of money trees, most of us just can’t keep doling out the cash on a daily basis. We have to live within our means, and as a result, we have to get creative (and incredibly resourceful) when it comes to entertaining our little ones.
With that in mind, here are 5 more ways to have fun with your kids without spending any money at all.
More Fun Things To Do With Your Kids at Home
#1. Roller Skating
A pair of roller skates can turn out to be the best present ever, and it’s a gift that keeps the parents entertained too. How much fun can one possibly have rolling around on a set of wheels? The answer is a lot. Whether it’s inside the house, skating from room to room, or outside on the path, roller skating is brilliant, low-cost fun.
And the best thing is, you don’t need to put any skates on yourself. Just be on hand to enjoy the wobbles.
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#2. Play Outdoors
Heading outdoors with the kids and a football is one of our favourite free activities. Ok, we know what you’re going to say: you have to buy a football, so on that basis this isn’t strictly a free activity. But most homes with kids have a ball, a skipping rope, a hula hoop or something lying about that you can use as an excuse to get outside with the kids.
You could even make an obstacle course out of things you have lying around, or set up a scavenger hunt. Heading outside, you can enjoy hours of fun in the garden with your kids: kicking a ball, running around, and just killing a few hours with good, honest fun.
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#3. Watch Re-runs of Favourite Old Shows
Every family has that one show the kids can’t get enough of. In our house, it’s been the Late Late Toy Show on repeat over the festive season. Who are we to judge? They love it, and it’s free, so what more can we say?
If watching the same festive favourite over and over isn’t your cup of tea, why not dig out some old cartoons you enjoyed when you were small? Chances are your kids haven’t seen classics like Dangermouse or Hong Kong Phooey, and introducing them can be a fun, free trip down memory lane.
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#4. Bake or Cook Together
On a rainy day, when playgrounds, parks or outside play simply aren’t an option, the temptation is always to jump in the car and go somewhere, anywhere, just to get the kids out from under your feet. But of course, every time you go to the shops, you end up spending money, because they’re pestering you and they know you’ll give in!
So why not, on days like these, bake some buns or cook a meal for the week ahead, and get the kids to help? You’ll be teaching them a life skill at the same time too. There’s nothing small kids like more than helping out around the house, because they get to act like grown-ups by taking part in the household jobs that we, as adults, often find pretty dull and mundane.
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#5. Invite Friends for a Play-date or Sleepover
For a long time, we were sceptical of anyone who argued it’s easier to look after a whole bunch of kids than it is to look after one or two of your own. But we’re increasingly coming round to the idea that they might have been right all along.
The fact is that kids are at their happiest when they’re playing with their friends, and they won’t want boring old adults joining in anyway. So if it’s one of those days when there’s simply no entertaining them, invite their friends around to play or stay over, and see just how little they’ll collectively need you.
Those are our suggestions, based on our own experiences with our own kids. Some might work for you, others might not, but don’t knock them till you’ve tried them.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are some free activities to do with kids at home?
Simple, low-cost ideas work best: roller skating or scooting around the house, outdoor games with whatever’s already lying around the garden, baking or cooking together, watching favourite shows or old cartoons as a family, and arranging play-dates or sleepovers so the kids entertain each other.
How can I keep my kids entertained without spending money?
Focus on activities that use what you already have at home, a ball, a skipping rope, kitchen ingredients, or the TV, and add a bit of imagination. Getting kids involved in everyday tasks like cooking, or getting them outside for active play, keeps them busy without costing anything.
What can kids do on a rainy day at home for free?
Baking or cooking together is a great rainy-day option, as is watching old favourite shows or cartoons, having an indoor obstacle course, or inviting a friend over for a play-date.
Related Articles
- 5 Fun Things To Do With Kids That Won’t Cost a Penny
- 7 Fun Outdoor Games All the Family Will Love
- 25 Tasty Ideas For Cooking With Kids
- 11 Entertaining Sleepover Games
- 50 of the Best Family Movies of All Time
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Have your say! If you have any other ideas for fun, free things to do with your kids at home, let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!
