Summertime is full of sun and fun, but when the kids are itching to do something different, you may be pressed for ideas. And your budget may be keeping you from doing that trip to the Grand Canyon. You don’t need a big budget and a fancy vacation to have a fun summer. Give these ideas a try, and be sure to keep this list handy for some fun family time.

1.    Paint with…pudding?
You read it right. What kid doesn’t want to play with their food? You can make a big bowl of pudding for a group of kids or hand out the individual sized pudding snack packs and let them go to town on construction paper. This is best done outside on a warm day so you can hose them off before they scurry into the house.

2.    Happy (backyard) campers
Kids want to go camping? You don’t have to worry about packing food, tent, sleeping bags, stove, bathroom supplies, towels, etc. Set up a tent in the backyard. This gives kids access to bathrooms and mom and dad while keeping the feeling of sleeping under the stars. This is also a great way to get your kids used to camping, so you can eventually venture out to a state park. And if the weather turns sour, they have a warm, dry bed inside.

3.    Dance party USA
Throw some music on in the backyard and host a dance party. From mom and dad to a birthday party of kids, music is a great way to get anyone up and moving. Turn on a sprinkler, throw on the bathing suits, kick off the shoes and play in the grass while watching your kids shake their tail feathers.

4.    Forget the bedtime
Some really great things happen after hours in the house. It could be a game of Midnight Tag, where one child tags the other kids with the beam of a flashlight when he or she finds where they’ve hidden, or watching an episode of Star Wars for the first time. The evenings are usually a pinch cooler, so kick bedtime to the curb and enjoy the quiet time with your kids.

5.    Keep it in the minors
Seeing a major league sporting event can get a little pricey. That’s when it’s time to check out your local minor league teams. Tickets are reduced, food is cheaper, and parking is usually affordable or even free.

6.    Trick them into learning something
If the kids are aching to get out of the heat, take them to a museum. Some parents might balk at the idea, but many museums have displays for the younger crowd that teaches them fun facts. If you’re worried about the cost, many museums run discount days, or you can get coupons for discounted admission through various websites.

We love sharing ideas with families, but we love hearing from you even more. Do you have a summer family tradition? Thinking about trying something new? Tell us what you plan to do with your kids this summer.

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