When the weekends come around, or maybe even the school holidays, it can be hard to think of things to do with children that don’t cost a fortune. If you’re a bit stuck for ideas then have a look at these 7 cheap and simple ideas for days out with children.
Local play area
No matter where you live, most places tend to have a local play area not too far away. You might be able to drive to one or you might be luckily enough to have one within walking distance. You might want to look into parks appropriate for your child’s age to ensure they have something fun to play on. To make it even more fun why not invite a couple of friends to join you.
Scavenger hunt
A fun way to get the children out and about is to create a scavenger hunt for them. You can theme it however you want and maybe get together some clipboards and pens so that children can mark things off as they go around. If you want to stay close to home maybe theme your hunt around the town and see how many things you can find.
A day at the beach
If you’re lucky enough to live close to the coast then a beach trip is an idea cheap day out. Of course, the beach is usually best enjoyed during the warmer months with a bucket and spade but there’s plenty to do all year round. A simply walk along the beach can kill some time or maybe you can find somewhere to go rock pooling, if the time is right. Be sure to take waterproofs and a change of clothes though.
If you have time, and some money spare, a Sea Life centre is a great place to spend some time with the kids.
Picnic in the park
During the warmer months of the year the park is a great place to take the children. Usually you’ll find a play area, lots and lots of grassy space and maybe even some football goals. By getting together some friends or family you could spend hours at the park, especially if you pack up a picnic for everyone.
A walk in the woods
For a change of scenery you might fancy a walk in the woods, if you have some close by. The woods are somewhere you can spend as much or as little time as you like and that could really depend on how old your children are. It’s great to walk around and see what you can find, especially at different times of the year. You might want to see how many different kinds of leaves you can collect or see if you can spot any fungi in autumn.
Discover charity shops
If your children are asking for a shopping trip but you don’t have the budget for that then consider getting out and showing your children how magical charity shops can be. Give the children a budget/ set amount that they can spend on the trip and see who can find the best bargain in the charity shops.
Go on a bus adventure
If you’re someone who is used to driving you might get stuck going to the same places and going along the same roads over and over again. You can discover some fantastic places on the bus and it’s something children usually really enjoy doing, especially if they’re used to the car!