School is out for Summer and many parents may be trying to think of ways to occupy the kiddos’ time. There are lots of activities and events in the area but what if you are on a budget and can’t afford the camps? What if you don’t have transportation and can’t make it to any of the free events or parks? No one wants their little one glued to a television or phone screen all day long, so what are some things you can do at home to keep them busy?

Water play
Every kid loves to play in the water, especially during those hot summer months. Most dollar stores sell small pools for the little ones at affordable prices as well as other water-related toys. If you can afford it, visit your local Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, or Dollar General and get a small pool and stock up on water toys.

For the bigger children that will no longer fit inside the “kiddie pools”, water guns or water balloons are a good option. If you don’t want to use balloons, you could buy a pack of cheap reusable sponges. They're soft and shouldn’t cause any injury if used in a “water fight.” Dollar stores usually carry a variety of different toys that squirt water that will keep them occupied for hours on end.

If you’re unable to get to a store and buy any of these items, never doubt the power of the water-hose itself. Hose them down and let them run around outside until they dry off! Small children aren’t picky when it comes to how they get wet; they just love the water.

Just be sure not to leave children unattended whenever water is involved. For their safety, an adult should always be present to monitor.

Chores
If you haven’t already begun introducing your children to household chores, the summer is the perfect time to get them started. It keeps them busy for a while, teaches them valuable life skills, and it’s a way to help out mom and dad. Oftentimes children really are excited to help their parents, especially the younger ones.

For really small children this can be something as simple as picking up their own toys and putting them away. The older your child is, the more they should be able to do.

A few household chores for kiddos that aren’t quite big and tall enough to do it all include:
• Dusting areas within their reach;
• Wiping down surfaces within their reach;
• Putting away laundry or groceries that is stored in places within their reach;
• Pulling small weeds from the garden/yard.

Older children should be able to do anything that you can do, such as:
• Washing dishes;
• Washing and putting their own laundry away;
• Taking the garbage out;
• Sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming floors.

The list for older children goes on.

If you have pets, it’s a good time to teach kids how to care for the pets as well:  Providing food and water, walking them, cleaning the litter box etc.

Once you decide which chores you want your child to tackle over the summer, make a schedule and hang it somewhere they can see it. Have them mark the chores off as they go. Young children rarely have the initiative to do work they don’t want to do without being told, so having it posted is a good reminder.

This also creates a routine and keeps them on track, so that when the school year starts, getting back into a routine isn’t as difficult a transition.

Cooking/meal prep
During the school year children eat lunch at school, and many of them eat breakfast there as well, so summer means a lot more meal prep on mom or dad. It’s the perfect time to get them involved and teach them to make their own meals. It may have to be something simple, such as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but it’s a start. It gives them something to do and makes them feel more independent.

It’s up to you to decide what you feel comfortable with your child doing, and if you don’t think they are ready to handle knives or use the stove, that’s understandable. For those children, have them do easier things like learning to make their own bowl of cereal or stacking meat and cheese onto bread to make a sandwich.

Sidewalk/driveway art
Sidewalk chalk is usually pretty cheap and can also be purchased at Dollar Stores. It’s an excellent way to get the kids outside while also embracing their artistic side. If they aren’t feeling very artistic and would rather play a game, there’s Tic-Tac-Toe, Hangman, or Hopscotch!

The great part about it: Chalk washes right off with the next rain!

Movie night
Have a designated movie night. This way you can control what your child is viewing, while it helps satisfy their craving for screentime. It’s also a good way to spend time bonding and cuddling with your little ones.

Reading
Not every kid loves to read but for those who do, give them a challenge. Have them decide how many books they think they can read over the summer and see if they can reach their goal.

For children who don’t like to read, read to them. Set aside time every day, or every few days (the schedule is up to you), and have Storytime!

If you don’t have a lot of books on hand at your home, a library card is free at your local library.

If you can’t make it to the library in person, check to see if your local library offers e-books or has books available on Libby. Libby is a free reading app that allows you to borrow e-books, digital audiobooks, and magazines from your local public library. Libby is available on both Google Play and Apple App Store. Libby does require you to have a valid library card from your local library. 

If you cannot access books through Libby, these websites offer free digital children’s books:
• Readmio.com

For teens you could try Simonteen.com. They have a variety of e-books for teens and young adults. 

While the goal is to limit your child’s screen time during the summer, this is an exception you may consider if physical copies of books aren’t available to you and your family.

Other games or a ctivities that cost $0
• Hide & Seek (Can be played outdoors or indoors if your home is big enough)
• Make a blanket fort!
• Tag (Probably best to keep this one outdoors!)
• Living room camp-out or a backyard camp-out
• I Spy (You can spy by color or spy things that begin with a certain letter. This can be played outdoors or indoors on those rainy summer days.)
• A Nature Scavenger Hunt: Have them find things in your own backyard. It can start with the tree stump by the porch and lead to the tire swing and so on. The prize at the end can be whatever you want from something they can eat or a coupon for “free time”.
• Got an old rope? There’s always Tug-of-War.
• Coloring or drawing (Don’t throw those crayons and pencils from last school year away just yet. Keep them on hand for the summer!)

If you have board games and bicycles on hand, make sure they get used this summer!

Keeping them active and engaged is the ultimate goal during the summer months. Any way you can think of to keep their hands busy that doesn’t involve a phone or tablet will do, even if it’s breaking down the cardboard boxes you have piled in the garage and having them build a box city.

The summer months are meant to be a break, but it’s still a good idea to have some kind of routine because it makes it easier to transition back into the school year. Even if it’s just as simple as making sure they wake up at the same time daily and brush their teeth.

Ultimately, it is up to  parents to decide the best way for your child to spend his or her summer and what you are comfortable with them doing.

And remember, when handling sharp utensils, playing outdoors or playing in water, an adult should always be present!