Free and eco-friendly family activities
Whether you’re running out of ideas for free family activities at the end of the school holidays, or are looking for some simple rainy day activities, we’re here to save the day.
Totally free and eco-friendly, our family playtime ideas cover everything from simple things to do indoors, to fun outdoor activities that won’t cost you the earth - and should keep your little ones busy, at least for a little while!
1. Nature scavenger hunt
Perfect for getting little ones out and about in the fresh air, grab yourself a piece of paper and write or draw a list of things to find in the garden or at the park. From creepy crawlies and birds, to leaves, plants and flowers, they’ll love ticking each one off the list as they head out on a nature scavenger hunt!
Pro-tip: Pack some paper and some crayons with you on your hunt, and get the kids to draw what they see, or even do bark and leaf rubbings.
2. Build a cardboard box castle
Little kids and big kids alike will love this one - including you parents! If you’re looking for a free and easy rainy day activity, grab your Kit & Kin subscription box out of your recycling bin and make a cardboard box castle. Simply cut some turrets in the top edges, and make some holes for windows and doors. If you want to get really creative with your design you could even tape a few boxes together for an even bigger fort!
Pro-tip: If you’re feeling adventurous, get out the paints and crayons. Your little ones will love decorating the walls of their castle.
3. Water painting
We love this one because not only is it totally free, but there’s no cleaning up at the end - win-win! If the weather is looking dry, grab yourself some pots of water and some paintbrushes and head outside to your garden or your local park. Find a brick wall or a dry, clean stone surface and get painting using just the water. Little ones will love watching their drawings magically disappear as they dry, then they can start all over again! If you’ve got younger babies as well as older kids, you can get them involved in the sensory experience by dipping their hands and feet into the water to make some cute prints.
Pro-tip: Whilst you’re out and about, pocket a few smaller pebbles to take home and stash them away for a rainy day - they’re perfect for decorating with coloured paints!
4. Make a mud kitchen
The weather might not be great at this time of year, but that can only mean one thing - finding some mud to splodge about in will be easy! This free activity is perfect for little explorers who love getting their hands dirty outside. Set up a simple mud kitchen using old pots, pans, wooden spoons, and a bit of imagination. If you have a garden, choose a corner where the kids can dig up some soil and mix up their muddy recipes. No garden? No problem! Take some pots and pans to your local park and let them create mud pies, puddle soups, or leaf salads.
Pro-tip: Collect leaves, twigs, and acorns on your next nature walk to use as ingredients for your little chef’s creations.
5. Make no-bake cereal bars
Welcome to the world’s easiest homemade cereal bar recipe. If you’ve got little ones in your house, you’ll probably have these 3 simple ingredients in your cupboards:
- About half a box of cereal. Rice crispies will work perfectly, or you could use hoops, cornflakes or granola.
- A tablespoon of nut butter
- A tablespoon of honey or maple syrup
To make, simply melt your nut butter with your honey or syrup over a low heat. Cool slightly, then get the kids to help mix in their favourite cereal - use your judgement with quantity, as long as the cereal is well coated in your sticky mixture! Spoon into a brownie pan and squish into the corners, then chill in the fridge. Once set, cut into small squares and serve at snacktime.
Pro-tip: Bigger kids (and hungry parents!) will love choosing extra toppings to sprinkle on top. Think dark chocolate chips, a handful of nuts or dried fruit.
6. Homemade play dough
Another simple recipe that can be made with just a few store cupboard ingredients - this time for playing with, rather than eating! This homemade playdough recipe is something the kids can get involved with making, then have fun playing with afterwards, too. All you need is:
- 8 tbsp plain flour
- 2 tbsp table salt
- 60ml warm water
- food colouring
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
Start by mixing the flour and salt with the warm water, oil and food colouring. Knead it all together using your hands, using a few extra drops of food colouring if you prefer a more intense colour.
Pro-tip: Store your homemade playdough in reusable sandwich bags in the fridge, so it’s always ready to bring out on rainy days.
7. Bubble painting
This is one we remember from our own childhoods, and it’s so simple to recreate at home. In a small bowl or cup, add a dash of washing up liquid to some child-friendly paint and mix with a bit of water - our non-toxic washing up liquid is ideal for this as it won’t irritate sensitive skin! Get your little ones to blow into the mixture using a straw, until they’ve made a big pile of colourful bubbles that spills over the side of the cup or bowl. Place a piece of paper on top of the bubbles, gently pat down, then pull it away. You’ll be left with some amazing bubbly patterns!
Pro-tip: Smaller children might need a helping hand blowing into the straw, to stop them from sucking up the mixture!
8. Watch a sunrise
This is a beautiful way to make memories with your little ones - and it’ll cost you absolutely nothing. As the end of the summer holidays draws nearer, the sun is rising a little later - but trust us, this one’s worth the early alarm clock all year round! Pack a simple breakfast picnic the night before (think cereal bars, fruit, or jam sandwiches!), grab a blanket and get up early to head out into the garden or your local park to watch the sun rise. Not only will the kids start the day with some fresh air, but you’ll likely feel better for it, too.
Pro-tip: Introduce older kids to a spot of mindfulness whilst you’re watching the sunrise. Get them to close their eyes, take a few deep breaths and describe how they’re feeling, and what they can hear, smell or feel around them.
9. Hold a toy swap party
Another great use for your old Kit & Kin subscription box! Cut out a panel from your box and get the kids to draw a big lion’s face on it. Help them cut it out, then head outside to find some leaves to make a mane - the bigger the better! Use some glue or tape to stick the leaves on the back of the lion’s head, making sure you go all around the outside of it for a lovely full mane.
Pro-tip: For a slightly different spin on this one, leave space around the lion’s head when you’re cutting it out. Poke some holes in using a pencil, then get your little one to pick dandelions and daisies to poke through the holes to make a beautiful floral mane!
10. Make a home cinema
For a cosy afternoon that feels like a family day out, turn your living room into a kid-friendly cinema. Grab your blankets, cushions and duvets and create a comfy seating area on the floor, then dim the lights and let the movie magic begin. For a bit of a different twist on movie night, find a nature documentary on a subject your bigger kids love - that way everybody will have fun and learn a little something, too! And don’t forget the popcorn…
Pro-tip: Before you get started, make DIY cinema tickets and let the kids sell them at the door before your movie starts!
Rainy day activities or school holiday entertainment ideas don’t need to cost you the earth! We hope the whole family has fun trying out these simple, eco-friendly family activities.
TLDR; here are 10 ideas for free kids’ activities:
- Do a nature scavenger hunt
- Build a cardboard box castle
- Paint with water
- Make a mud kitchen
- Make no-bake cereal bars
- Make homemade playdough
- Do some bubble painting
- Watch a sunrise
- Hold a toy swap party with friends
- Make a cosy home cinema
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