21 Cheap Activities to Get Out of The House with Kids

Whether it’s your goal to get out of the house as much as possible or you just sometimes want a place to take your kids it doesn’t have to be expensive to do so. Getting creative with the resources you have around you will make this much easier. Try activities out and see how your kids like them. Try and switch it up so it doesn’t get old and the kids are always excited to go out.

If you or your kids are stir crazy at home or you feel overwhelmed it may be time to get out. Don’t put too much pressure on your trips. You’re going to have good days and bad days no matter where you decide to go. The more you go out the better your kids will adjust to doing things in public settings.

If you have high expectations and it’s simply a bad day you may be left feeling defeated. You got out of the house and that’s an accomplishment in and of itself. Try again, and you will learn how to make it easier and smoother to get out as time goes on.

If you’ve been wanting to get out, but don’t know where to go or need new ideas because your normal activities are getting out try out these cheap activities to get out of the house with kids.

Outside activities

• Your backyard– yes I know it’s not getting out but it is out of your home and just being outside can be a breath of fresh air. You don’t always have to overcomplicate getting out. It can be as simple as stepping out your back door and enjoying the space you have.
• Lake or any water- go on a walk, fish, or play at the beach. There are many different activities you can do near bodies of water. You can do multiple activities or just one in a day. Having one place where you can go and do different things each time is a great thing so you don’t always have to think about where to drive.
• Nature preserves- There are many different kinds of these and typically have lots of different things to do. Take some time to explore nature and see which places around you are best for your kids to go to more often.
• Any type of park- There are also so many different types of parks that you might not even be aware of that are near you. Search around you and ask around to see if there are any cool parks you and your family can check out.
• Picnic area- Designated picnic areas are great for your kids to run around and also get some good food. Try out a picnic as an outing. It will take more time up than going out to eat somewhere and your kids can move around.
• Splash pads/pools– There are many splash pads that are free to go to and a great way for your kids to run around and have fun at. There are also many public pools you can get into for relatively cheap. You can go to the same places or switch it up and try different places around you if you or your kids want a change of scenery, but you don’t have to come up with a new activity to go do.
• Take a walk around the neighborhood– Sometimes getting in a car doesn’t sound fun. Try walking around your neighborhood and see what it all has to offer. You can make games out of it or have your kids take different things like bikes, scooters, etc. on these trips to keep it fun.
• Seasonal activities- If you want to switch things up, taking advantage of the seasonal activities is a great idea. Things like pumpkin patches, the fair, flower patches, etc. are fun ways to get out and support your local area.
• Local food places- Mom and Pop places are fun to get out and support those businesses. See if you have any that you can eat outside or have a cute inside.
• Nature centers- Check out your local area to see if you have any around you. There are many fun things for kids to do at these normally.

Indoor activities

• Library- Sign up for a library card if you don’t have one, it’s free. Depending on the rules of the Library you may be able to get library cards at different places. There are many activities to do there and events. Take advantage of the different resources the Library offers near you.
• Visit people- Try visiting people as a way to get out, but also to be able to spend time with the people in your lives. If you want to take it a step further bring an activity everyone can do once you are there or have your kids do an activity to bring the person you are visiting like baked cookies or an art project. Try and bless the people you are going to see when possible and include the kids in that.
• Thrift store- This is a great way to shop cheaply and get to see new things each time you go. You can also practice manners you want to see at stores from your children by going to them often.
• Grocery store- Why not get a task you need done while also getting your kids out of the house? This will probably be overwhelming at first, but if you make this a routine it will become easier as everyone gets used to this task.
• Bowling- This is a great activity to go out and do. There are cheaper blowing alleys than others so look around at pricing if you have options of places to go to. This will take a chunk of time out of your day and they will learn a new skill.
• Roller rink/Ice rink- If you have either of these resources near you, you may want to take advantage of them. It may take some time to learn, but it’s a fun way to get moving and a memory maker for sure. You may have to go multiple times before it becomes an easier activity to do for everyone.
• Indoor playgrounds- There are also many different styles of these at all different price ranges, but if you need an activity indoors that will get some of your kid’s energy out this is a great option. Try different ones out and see what your kids gravitate towards. You may want to switch it up often or not go routinely to keep this activity fun for your kids.
• Home Depot- on 1st Saturday of the month they do a free activity for kids. This is a great way for them to get to do a project and learn how to do something new while having fun doing it.
• Bookstores- If you want to shop and drink some coffee this may be an option to get to a new place. Your kids will also be less likely to ask for everything in the store if the majority of the store is books. You can get creative with this and include them in however it makes sense for your family.
• Museums/attractions- These come at all different price ranges, but try and find the cheaper ones. They also do not have to be kids geared. There are things for kids to do and see in any kind of museum or attraction you choose to go to.

Make your trips fun and exciting

Hype up the activities you are about to go do. Make it known that you are excited to go to wherever you may be going so that they know it’s a fun activity.

Try packing your lunches or snacks and have a picnic or eat wherever you go. This not only is fun to have a picnic but also saves your wallet. Also keeping your kids from getting overly hungry if you have the food ready and you don’t have to stop or leave what you’re doing to go get the food. Then you are able to do your activity for as long as makes sense and doesn’t get cut short just because you need to eat.

Try to make it feel special even if you go to the same place often. You don’t have to do the same thing each time you go somewhere and you can think outside of the box of what you can do at each place. Try inviting people to go with you. This makes it different and fun for everyone.

Do things that they want and what you want. You do not always have to go places that are for your kids you can do things for yourself or run errands. This is a great thing for kids to see and learn that you have needs and wants as well and they can do things for others.

Try these cheap activities to get out of the house with kids

Try them out, switch things up, or get out of the house more often. Things may be hard at first, but eventually, everyone will get used to the new routine or new places. Most importantly have fun and make memories!