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. Go blackberry picking
The end of the summer holidays is prime time for a spot of blackberry picking. No matter where you live, chances are you’re never far away from a wild blackberry bush. Have a hunt at your local park or venture out into the countryside if you fancy making a day of it - and don’t forget to pack some tupperware for the fruits of your labour! Once the kids have helped you give your blackberries a good wash at home, they can help you make a crumble, bake them into muffins, or serve them with some creamy Greek yoghurt for a super-simple pudding.
Pro-tip: The ripest, sweetest blackberries will be dark and shiny, and should pull off the plant easily. Aim to pick the highest berries you can reach, as these will be the cleanest.
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. Craft a leaf lion
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 homemade smoothie ice lollies
Long gone are the days when a 99 ice cream would cost you just 99p of your hard-earned pocket money. These sustainable alternatives are not only much cheaper than a trip to the ice cream van, but they’re great for using up any overripe fruit you might have hanging around in your fridge. It doesn’t matter if your strawberries are a bit squishy or your bananas are going brown, get the kids to help you (safely) chop them up, then pop them in a blender with some yoghurt, a dash of honey and a splash of milk. Pour your mixture into an ice lolly mould, and freeze for an hour or so before letting the kids tuck into a tasty frozen treat.
Pro-tip: If you don’t have an ice lolly mould or prefer not to use plastic, pour your smoothie mix into your kids’ empty yoghurt pots with a lolly stick, a strong paper straw or even a silicone spoon.
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
- Go blackberry picking
- Make no-bake cereal bars
- Make homemade playdough
- Do some bubble painting
- Watch a sunrise
- Craft a leaf lion
- Make homemade smoothie ice lollies
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