5 Screen-Free Summer Activities for Kids That Won't Break the Bank

We're halfway through the summer holidays here in Ireland, and if you're anything like me, you're juggling work with summer camp pick-ups, or keeping a toddler entertained day after day. Days out can cost hundreds, and full days stuck in the house can cost us our sanity.

If you're struggling for ideas on how to keep little hands busy, I've pulled together my top 5 cheap summer activities for kids, activities you can easily DIY at home, or make even easier by supporting a small business with a ready-made kit.

 

1. Treasure Hunt

An obvious favourite in our house, my 5-year-old asks for these so often that I ended up starting a business around them while on maternity leave! All you need is a sheet of paper, some pens, a bit of "treasure," and a few witty rhymes. A couple of our favourite story prompts to spark the imagination:

• The trickster twin fairies have stolen [insert treasure], we have to find them before the Summer Party begins.
• The treasure is hidden in a faraway land, guarded by an angry boulder monster. Let's work out how to free it without waking him.
• The pirates have sailed away with the princess's tiara, we must follow them through the seven seas to get it back.

Support a small business: If life's a bit too chaotic for story prompts and witty clues, our immersive treasure hunt games come with everything you need in the box to get going; an introductory story prompt, clue cards, action cards, and rainbow gems. Shop Rainbow Falls Rescue for £15 and endless magical memories.

2. Potion Making

Pretending to be witches making magical potions, or bakers running our own little café, is a firm favourite with my oldest two girls. We keep it simple in our house, whatever's going spare in the cupboards gets hastily chucked in. Think flour, water, cake sprinkles, and food colouring, and suddenly you've got a potion (or a "special drink for the fairies").

Support a small business: Magic By Post creates the most beautifully designed potion kits, ready to use and packed with magic ingredients for your little one to enjoy. Mini Potion Kits start from £12.50.

3. Writing & Crafting

Some days it feels like my 5-year-old's personal mission is to keep Royal Mail in business. We carefully pick our favourite notepaper, draw pictures, write letters to friends suggesting playdates, send party invites, pack it all into envelopes, and head off to the postbox. All you really need is simple printer paper, some pens, and stickers, enough to keep her happily locked away in the playroom for a good half hour.

Support a small business: I recently discovered Tilly's Letters and I'm obsessed with the idea, a little story, activities spread across the week, and the excitement of a letter arriving with your child's name on it. Subscriptions start from £12.99.

4. Baking

If mess doesn't send your anxiety through the roof, baking with kids makes for some of my favourite memories. I'll admit it, I'm the parent who says yes when little faces ask for "Elsa snow," and flour ends up decorating the kitchen floor. A Victoria sponge or Mary Berry's fork biscuits are our go-to for something quick and simple. Proud to report my 5 and 3-year-old are now expert egg crackers.

If you're raising future star bakers and fancy something a little more elaborate, Craft and Crumb have excellent baking kits designed for little ones to create magnificent bakes starting from £10.

5. Bracelet Making

I dread the thought of this one but love it once we get started. The anticipation, the making, and the wearing afterwards leaves my kids giddy with excitement. Beads can be picked up cheaply, or we've even unpicked old bracelets to start fresh. Household string or pipe cleaners work a treat for threading, especially for the littlest hands.

Support a small business: A local favourite of mine, known for creating lovely keepsake bracelets with the names of our most special people, is Ivy and Gold. Their kids' bracelet making kits include everything needed for the cutest bracelet, perfect for days in or a summer playdate. Starting from £5.

 

These screen-free summer activities for kids are proof that keeping little ones entertained doesn't have to mean spending a fortune. Whether you DIY it with what's already in your cupboards or treat yourself to a ready-made kit from one of these wonderful small businesses, there's a low-cost, high-fun option for every kind of summer day.