Free weekend activities with kids

This weekend we haven’t spent a penny on activities.

We’re just about to apply for a mortgage and are in FULL saving mode. Usually at the weekend we’d go for coffee at the very least.

But not this weekend.

It’s not always easy to think of free weekend activities with kids. There’s always the temptation of a coffee shop or an ice cream van.

This weekend I also had an extra kid in tow. My nephew (6). So this would add an extra cost to any paid activities. Even more incentive to keep it free.

And you know what, we had such a fun, busy and kid focused weekend.

Here are a few free weekend activities with kids to try next time you’re saving, or on a tight budget.

Free weekend activities with kids

Ball court

Take a ball to the ball court. Play football. Basketball. Tag. Whether your kid is into sports or not, they’ll love playing games with you. It’s also a change of scene from the P A R K.

Allotment

Now, you might not have an allotment. But that doesn’t mean you can’t go outside, or inside and plant stuff. If you don’t have any seeds, look in your cupboard. You can grow chilli, strawberries and peppers from the seeds you find on the fruit and veggies. You can also grow food from scraps you usually throw away. Here’s a great blog on what you can grow.

40 40 in / 52 Bunker

People call this different things depending on where they’re from the UK. Basically, choose a place everyone has to get back to like a tree. Someone is ‘IT’, then everyone has to run and hide, making it back to the tree without the IT person catching them. Five of us played this for an hour. And we all loved it. Playing is so much more enjoyable when everyone is having fun!

Woodland treasure hunt

My friend mentioned that her and her boys went looking for things the colour of the rainbow on their woodland walk. I love this idea. We play “Can you find me something [Spikey/Soft/Smooth/Small/Big/Etc]. It keeps them busy for ages, and if you’re tired you can find a comfortable log to sit on while they run around hunting for things.

Picnic

Take a picnic to a new park. Remember to pack a few fun things too, then if there are shops nearby, you can show the fun things you already have packed to reduce the temptation.

Car free

Aim to stay in your local area all weekend. That might mean you scoot or cycle everywhere, or walk more locally. Avoiding the temptation of the car will hopefully stop you going to any shops, and will save you money on petrol.

Church

I don’t mean Sunday service. I mean an open church where they’re happy for you to go in. Churches in my area leave the doors open so you can go in and read, worship, or in my kids case, play with the toys. I usually give a little donation too.

Museum

In Oxfordshire we’re blessed with lots of local free museums. The Ashmolean in Oxford Centre, and the Natural History Museum in Tring (Yes, this is Bucks, but it’s close!) The Natural History Museum is lots of taxidermy animals, which is quite chilling, but also very fascinating. You can get up close to so many animals, some that are now extinct. There’s crafts for the kids here and a cafe too.

There you have it. A little imagination and some energy (take a flask of coffee!) and you’ve got yourself a free weekend. Take a picnic, pack snacks and drinks and you really can find free weekend activities with kids that you actually enjoy too.