Not everything in the summer holidays has to cost money.
And honestly, some of the best things we end up doing are the ones that require the least effort, the least planning, and absolutely no spending.
So this is a list of free things we actually do, not the “perfect activity” version, just the realistic, slightly chaotic version.
Go to the park
The same park, every time, with the same swings and the same “five more minutes” that are never actually five minutes.
Walk through the woods
Not fast, not organised, just wandering, picking up sticks, spotting random things, and taking twice as long as it should.
Bike or scooter rides
Up and down the same paths, stopping for snacks, drinks, and breaks that turn into full sit-downs.
Play in the garden
Even if it starts with “there’s nothing to do,” it usually ends with them finding something to do without you being involved.
Water play
Buckets, cups, a hose… it doesn’t need to be fancy to keep them busy.
Picnic at home or the park
Same food as usual, just outside, which somehow makes it more exciting.
Movie afternoons
Close the curtains, get snacks, and pretend it’s a proper cinema experience.
Drawing or colouring
Simple, easy, and one of the few things that can sometimes lead to actual quiet.
Make up games
The kind where the rules don’t make sense, change halfway through, and somehow still cause arguments.
Treasure hunts
Hide random things around the house or garden and let them find them, even if you’re making it up as you go.
Help with jobs
Not always helpful, but it fills time and makes them feel involved.
Reading time
Even if it’s just ten minutes, it counts.
Doing nothing
Letting them be bored long enough to figure something out themselves, even if it takes a while.
None of this is groundbreaking.
None of it is Instagram-perfect.
But it’s real, it’s easy, and it works.
And most importantly, it gets you through the day without needing to spend anything.
Which, at this point, feels like a win.
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