9 (mostly) free things to do with your preschooler

Tagged with: mom, summer

Andrea Updyke

posted in Mom Stories

Summer is here! May there be cookouts and play dates and swimming and lots of ice cream in your future. If you are like me, you might have a few of these very plans up your sleeve to help pass the days when the little ones are not in preschool. It’s amazing how fast the plans can add up. However, there will surely be days when you need to stay at home so having a few ideas in place isn’t a bad idea.

I was once a child who played at home all by myself (gasp!) for many a summer. I only went to camp for one week out of 12 so I had lots of time to get creative. And if I had to guess, I would bet you did a couple of things on this list too. Wouldn’t it be fun to relive some of these moments with your own children?

9 ways to entertain your child at home (for free)

Build a blanket fort: Always great for a rainy day, blanket forts can be as simple or as elaborate as you allow them to be. Make it extra special and duck into the tunnels with a flashlight, some books and a yummy snack!
Dig a hole: Yes I am totally serious and I can’t be the only one who did this. Hand a child a shovel, pick a spot in the yard that is out of the way and let the magic begin!
Play dress up: If you have preschoolers, chances are they regularly play dress-up. Why not kick it up a notch and join in the fun? A little eyeliner and a raid of daddy’s dresser for the perfect pirate or a princess makeover with all the bells and whistles. Chances are you already have the makeup. Have fun with it!
Write a letter: There are so many directions to go with this. You could find a pen-pal or write a letter to the troops. Or a simple note to Grandma would surely be appreciated. Everyone loves getting mail!
Climb a tree: My 3 year old already loves “climbing” our tree, which essentially means stepping up 3 inches onto an old branch. Still, it was once my favorite pass time and I’d love our boys to enjoy it as well.
Make a newspaper hat: My grandparents used to do this for me and it was so much fun! Click over to Instructables for the full tutorial.
Take a nature walk: Decide on the objects you want to search for and head out into the yard for the great hunt! After you have collected all of your items, you can make a collage to remember your day.
Build a box house: This one may take some planning, but if you can get your hands on an appliance box, I promise you hours of entertainment! Simply cut out windows and a door and you have an instant playhouse that kids can not only play in, but also decorate.
Make your own matching game: Cut some cardstock into equal sized squares and glue pairs of matching images onto the cards. This on is great because your kids can help you make it and then play with it when it’s dry!

Summer is awesome and it doesn’t always have to be full of expensive or planned events. Sometimes playing all day at home creates the best memories! For more frugal and fun activities, check out this list at The Centsible Life.