9 Budget-Friendly Summer Fun Ideas

6/3/2022

By: Jan Lashbrook

You can keep boredom at bay in your household this summer with these nine budget and family-friendly activities recommended by Jan Lashbrook, CCA’s Early Childhood Director. Check them out!

Summer break is here, and as a parent, you may be wondering how you’re going to keep your child(ren) occupied so you don’t hear those two dreaded words: “I’M BORED!”

Trying to keep your kids entertained over the summer months without spending a lot of money can be challenging. But there are things you can do to have fun with the family while still sticking to your budget. Below are some affordable summer activities for the whole family to enjoy:

Have a Water Fight
Snag water balloons or squirt guns from the dollar store, divide up into teams, and have at it! You can even invite the neighborhood kids to this epic water fight!
Host a Movie Marathon at Home
During inclement weather, host a rainy day movie marathon. Pick a series your kids will enjoy, gather snacks, popcorn, and drinks, and settle down together for a lazy enjoyable afternoon at home.
Plant a Garden
A garden is a great learning activity for kids to see just where their food comes from. You can use seeds or a starter plant to get it started. It’s also a great way to enjoy the fresh air, sun, and exercise!
Have a Picnic
This is especially fun after a day of playing at the neighborhood park or a water park. Picnics make meals feel special, even if the food itself is something simple. You can even host the picnic on the beach, South Florida style!
Visit a Museum
There are always interesting things to see on a variety of topics at museums, and many offer a discount or free admission days several times throughout the summer. Bank of America/Merrill cardholders can get one free admission on the first full weekend of each month at museums participating in their Museums on Us program, including the Museum of Discovery & Science in Fort Lauderdale and the Miami Children’s Museum in Miami Beach.
Make Homemade Ice Cream
There are lots of good recipes on Pinterest or online by searching “easy homemade ice cream recipes.” Some of them don’t even require an ice cream maker, and many of them use very few ingredients!
Go Roller/Ice Skating
This is a great way to get some exercise and have fun together at the same time. Air conditioned rinks are also a huge bonus in the Florida summer heat!
Make a Craft Together
To save money, use recycled items from home, such as toilet paper tubes, popsicle sticks, glue, tissue paper, glitter, fabric, etc. and let your child(ren) be creative. To have even more fun, make an edible craft; there are many ideas on Pinterest!
Attend a Matinee
One of our favorite activities with our kids was the summer matinees that theaters offered at special summer rates. With some popcorn and bottled water, it makes a great outing, especially on rainy summer afternoons.

If you are a working parent or looking for more in-depth extracurricular activities for your child(ren) this summer, consider registering for CCA Summer Camp in Fort Lauderdale!

With a day camp (with awesome field trips!), athletics camps, performing arts camps, and other specialty camps offered, there is something for every student entering grades Pre-K4 through 12th grade, regardless of whether they attend CCA! To learn more and register, visit CCASummer.org.

I hope these ideas bring spark joy and laughter in your household this summer!

Jan Lashbrook is the director of Calvary Christian Academy’s Early Childhood program, overseeing our Pre-K and Preschool programs. Jan holds a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Liberty University. She and her husband are “empty-nesters,” having raised three children who are all grown and married. Their youngest, Shawn, attended CCA for 12 years, graduating in 2012.

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