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Whether it’s a rainy day or you have kids who are currently doing remote learning, it’s essential that you have a list of cheap or free ways to have fun at home with kids. Since most of us are stuck at home, unable to go to local parks or hike our favorite trails, I wanted you to have a list of creative ideas to enjoy while you’re stuck at home with kids.
I know that many parents are living within a tight budget, even before the virus hit us, so having a list of cheap or free activities is a valuable resource for parents everywhere. I hope you enjoy my list of ideas and use some during your family time together.
Cheap or Free Ways to Have Fun at Home With Kids
Play Outdoor Games
If you have a good size yard, you can enjoy playing outdoor games together. Some outdoor game ideas that are cheap or free for families include soccer, hopscotch, tag, hide and seek, and volleyball. There are many ways you can enjoy some outdoor games in your yard with kids as a means to stay safe at home while having fun with your kids.
Have a Buffet Brunch
Gather up your favorite recipes for brunch, and then make sure you have all of the ingredients. If you don’t have the ingredients, then order some via grocery delivery, so that you’re prepared. Pick a date and time to host a buffet brunch. Have your kids help with all of the cooking and baking so that this is a family affair.
Host a Reading Marathon
Gather up some favorite books and read them together. If you have younger kids, then you can host a reading marathon where you read a bunch of books out loud to your kids. Enjoy acting out the characters and using your actor (or actress) voice as you get into reading books with your kids.
Reenact a Scene
You can reenact a scene from your family’s favorite books or movies. Work with your family to select the movie and scene. Then gather up some clothes and other supplies so that everyone can get into character. Have fun pretending to be in that scene while you’re at home with kids.
These are just some of the best cheap or free ways to have fun at home with kids during isolation or on a rainy day. Pausing your busy adult life to enjoy some quality time together is an excellent way to reduce stress, strengthen your family bond, and get in touch with your inner child.
the joyous living
June 19, 2020i love the 2-4 options. those are all terrific for someone like me who loves entertainment and food. how about a combination of all? 🙂
Cristina Petrini
June 20, 2020I like these ideas because they are also incredibly healthy for the baby’s mind! Instructive!
Marie Phillips
June 20, 2020These are perfect ideas for me to do with my boys.
Elizabeth O
June 20, 2020Great list tho. playing outdoors with your kids is such a fun idea. Build a family bond this time of pandemic is all worth it.
lynne Harper
June 21, 2020Loving the idea of the reading marathon. What a fab idea 🙂 and the buffet I know my kids just love a buffet style meal
Emman Damian
June 21, 2020Having a Buffet Brunch seems like a good option. I hope I can do this as well for the kids at home.
Rhian westbury
June 22, 2020Some great things to do at home with the kids, I love the idea about having a reading marathon myself even without kids x
Michelle Twin Mum
June 22, 2020Gosh how I wish mine would be up for a resfi g marathon, I’d love that. Broken only by a buffet brunch!
Georgina @ Culinary Travels
June 22, 2020Some really good ideas here. Having fun & making memories doesn’t have to be an expensive thing at all.
Steven
June 22, 2020Hey those are cool tips. We usually try to build the biggest tower out of our huge collection of Legos
shannon gurnee
June 22, 2020These are some great ideas, especially with everyone at home as often as they are now. Thanks for sharing.
Ntensibe Edgar Michael
June 23, 2020Buffet first and then, a reading marathon thereafter should get the job done for me.
Nick Ziakas
June 23, 2020Great post! I love reading! It is one of my favorite things when I stay at home. I would like to try a reading marathon someday!
Anosa
June 23, 2020These are some lovely ideas, my son would love reenacting a scene with us! Definitely going to bring this idea up next time he tells me he is bored, thanks for the idea!
Jessica Collazo
June 24, 2020I love the idea of reenacting a scene. It makes kids practice theatrical art. I also love the brunch idea is super cute.
Rebecca Smith
June 24, 2020I had started to run out of ideas for things to do with the kids so this is a very timely post. During lockdown, it seemed like we had exhausted every option!
Kara Guppy
June 30, 2020Outdoor games are great when the weather is good. We are all reading Harry Potter together at the moment
Brianne
July 6, 2020I think these are really great ideas. I would combine the buffet with the book marathon and just have a day full of reading adventures and yummy food!
Stephanie
July 6, 2020Being the little theatre kid I was, I would’ve loved any opportunity to reenact a scene from a favorite movie or book. What a clever idea! When I was bored as a child, my mom would give me a hand-mirror, tell me to place it mirror side up beneath my nose, and as I walked around the house, it looked like I was walking on the ceiling! Ah, the things we did before all screens were even a “thing.” Haha!
Tara Pittman
July 6, 2020I like the cooking idea. My boys love baking so we need to try this idea
LauRA
July 6, 2020Thanks for the tips! We definitely need more things to do at home, especially right now.
Kathy
July 6, 2020I love all these ideas. We love doing outdoor games. They are so much fun, and it gets everyone outdoors.
Celebrate Woman Today
July 6, 2020There are endless ways to make the time spent at home memorable, functional, effective, educational. I like your reading marathon a lot.
Sherry
July 7, 2020Can I turn back time to when my kids were young? I would have enjoyed doing all of this with them. They are now 16 and 21.
Toni
July 7, 2020Love these ideas!! My kids will love these!
Gervin Khan
July 7, 2020These are great ideas. During these quarantine days we use to play in our backyard to enjoy the sun, to have a little exercise and to ease their boredom.
Claudia
July 7, 2020Such great ideas! Thank you for sharing them! I can’t wait to use some of your ideas when our young nephews come over!
Janeane M Davis
July 7, 2020It is always good to have new ideas to have fun with the children. It is especially true when we are stuck at home
!
Wren
July 7, 2020I find doing things at home with my kids far more rewarding than spending a bunch of money! Plus who doesn’t love to save a little money when they can for bigger adventures?
Deborah
July 8, 2020I don’t have kids, but I want to do a lot of these items on your list for myself! How fun!
Scarlet
July 8, 2020My little sister and I used to memorize lines and preform scenes from a play. She still remember parts of her soliloquies as an adult. Fun memories!
Fatima Torres
July 8, 2020I love that you mention re-enacting scenes. We do this often with the kids and love mentioning the funny parts. Such a great way to bond with the kids. Thanks for this, a lovely reminder of the simple things that make us smile.