If you're anything like me, by the second week of the summer holidays you'll have already heard "I'm bored!" more times than you can count.
As a single dad of four, I'm always looking for affordable ways to keep the children entertained without relying on tablets or TVs. The good news is that creating happy summer memories doesn't have to cost a fortune.
Here are some of our family's favourite screen-free activities. Most are completely free, the rest cost very little, and they've helped us make some of our best summer memories together.
I hope they inspire your family too.
☀️ Get Outside
- Beach days
- Splash parks
- Lakeside walks
- Nature walks through local woods or country parks
- Find a new playground to explore
- Feed the ducks
- Ball games in the park
- Bike and scooter rides
- Fishing (with close adult supervision)
- Water fights
- Paddling pool fun
- Wash the family car together (toddlers absolutely love this!)
- Visit local free farms
- Picnic in the park
- Fruit picking
⭐ Marc's Favourite: "Letchworth Splash Park is one of our favourite places to visit during the summer holidays. We pack a picnic, spend a few hours splashing around and the children sleep brilliantly afterwards!"
📚 Learn Something New
- Visit your local library
- Museums (many are free)
- Children's centres and their summer activity programmes
- Fire station open days
- Police station open days
- Bus depot open days
- Visit a pet shop or aquatic centre to look at the animals
📸 Marc's Tip: "Don't forget to take lots of photos while you're out exploring. My children love looking back through them afterwards and talking about their favourite parts of the day. They're also perfect for creating canvases, personalised gifts or memory books that help those special summer memories last long after the holidays are over."
🏡 Stay Home
- Bake cookies or cupcakes together
- Make homemade ice lollies
- Painting and colouring
- Activity books
- Complete a puzzle together
- Home cinema afternoon with snacks
- Read lots of books together
🎨 Marc's Tip: "Painting is always a hit in our house, but I've learnt it's much more enjoyable with a little preparation! I always choose washable, water-based paints, dress the children in an apron or old clothes, and protect the table or floor before we start. If the weather's warm and it's not too windy, take the paints outside instead. It means less mess indoors, plenty of fresh air, and you won't have to worry quite so much about the inevitable splashes!"
❤️ Everyday Moments
These are often the ones children remember most.
- Visit grandparents
- Meet friends
- Take children food shopping with their own little trolley (my children absolutely love doing this!)
- Picnic tea in the garden
- Read bedtime stories outside on warm evenings
⭐ From Our Family: "Taking the children shopping might not sound exciting, but finding a supermarket with toddler trolleys completely transformed food shopping for us. They love helping, and it turns a chore into something they genuinely look forward to."
Childhood doesn't need to be expensive to be magical. Some of our happiest summer memories have come from the simplest moments - sharing a picnic, exploring a new park, reading together under a tree or laughing through a water fight. I hope these ideas help your family enjoy a fun-filled, screen-free summer and create memories that will last long after the holidays are over.