As a parent of three who's survived countless school holidays, I know the drill: bored kids mean constant 'what can we do?' pleas. We've relied on our trusty activity jar for years to spark joy without draining our sanity or wallet.
With summer breaks looming, it's time to create yours. We've curated 150+ free or low-cost activities that blend fun, learning, and chores – proven to work in our home.
Best part? It's simple, zero-cost setup. Here's how:
How to Make Your Activity Jar
- Grab a glass jar (or any container).
- Print our activity list (click here).
- Cut strips with the kids for buy-in.
- Fill, shake, and let a little hand draw the day's adventure.
150+ Free or Low-Cost Activities for Endless Fun
- Read a book
- Research the Romans
- Organize a room in the house
- Call friends
- Go to the library
- Do an obstacle course
- Clean your room
- Draw your sibling's silhouette
- Make a puzzle
- Make animal footprints
- Bake a cake
- Bake cookies
- Collect flowers
- Do the dishes
- Make a path with pebbles
- Groom the dog
- Learn to jump rope
- Write 5 things you love about your family
- Decorate stones
- Feed the ducks
- Play Nintendo DS
- Make a pizza
- Go for a swim
- Make music
- Hopscotch
- Coloring
- Sort socks in pairs
- Play Lego
- Take a neighborhood tour
- Set up the play tent
- Play toy cars
- Take a bath
- Count bones in the human body
- Imagine you're a knight
- Organize a tea party with friends
- Bake cupcakes
- Take a bike ride
- Water the plants
- Make iced tea
- Set the table
- Play with Playmobil
- No electronic toys today
- Write a story
- Take a shower
- Sort laundry
- Empty the dishwasher
- Cook whatever you want
- Painting
- Make soap bubbles
- Vacuum the stairs
- A chore chosen by mom
- 30 minutes of Wii
- Create maps
- Draw a house plan
- Draw a robot and label parts
- Build paper planes
- Jump 20 times
- Watch a DVD
- Go to the park
- Eat ice cream
- Tinker with Dad
- Make a comic
- Make waffles
- Make a bird feeder
- Make a rain collector
- Bake muffins
- Make a board game
- Store shoes in pairs
- Take a walk
- 30 minutes with mom
- 30 minutes on Xbox
- Plan dinner: menu, cook, serve
- Plant a seed
- Write a poem
- Make a family tree
- Build a cabin
- Climb trees
- Make or fly a kite
- Roll in the garden
- Borrow camera
- Sweep the floor
- Clean the car
- Go to the museum
- Run a race
- Make finger dolls
- Watch a TV show
- Make a treasure map
- Do a science experiment
- Create spoon characters
- Make popcorn
- Go to the beach
- Find 5 toys to donate
- Sewing
- Play badminton
- Build a volcano
- Wash pots
- Find shapes in clouds
- Imagine you're a cowboy
- Make paper mache mask
- Learn the washing machine
- Wash the bathroom
- Make a drawing
- Dress up
- Fun with garden hose
- Eat ice cream
- Tidy bookshelves
- Make fruit salad
- Build pebble tower
- Snail race
- Paint a rainbow
- Make a windsock
- Go to playground
- Make paper boat
- Sweep driveway
- Play hide and seek
- Take out trash
- Find 8 different leaves
- Photograph 6 insects
- Decorate flowerpot
- Make rubber band bracelets
- Decorate pebbles
- Play Minecraft
- Tell jokes
- Imagine you're a pirate
- Write to pen pal
- Vacuum a room
- Mop kitchen floor
- Collect pretty stones
- Make paper flowers
- Invent crossword
- Play volleyball
- Play cards
- Make pom poms
- Make origami
- Play dominoes
- Scrapbooking
- Decorate box
- Write 3 gratitudes
- Make gift wrap
- Make instrument
- Bowling
- Learn magic trick
- Research Vikings
- Prepare tea for mom
- Learn cross stitch
- Walk the dog
- Make windmill
- Make comic
- Invent recipe
- Make pottery
- Potato prints
- Pitch tent in garden
- Play soccer
- Make pancakes
- Draw on old clothes
- Write postcard
- Make shopping list
- Skipping rope
- Make milkshake
- Write diary
- 30 min iPad
- Make smoothie
- Play basketball
- Play tennis
- Make boomwhackers
- Geocache (app here)
- Garden with mom
- Play tic tac toe
Real Results from Our Family
We've filled holidays with laughter and learning – kids engaged, house tidier, parents recharged. Use any jar; I upcycled a kitchen one with a cute tag.
Your Turn
What's your go-to activity? Share in comments – let's build this list together!
