The thing about kids is they cost money. And when it comes to school holidays they cost even more money.

Drinks, ice creams, magazines, days out – plus all the wine you have to drink. It all adds up.

Shelling out money hand over fist is one of things they fail to tell you about school holidays, and with half term nearly upon us I’m bracing myself once again.

This year I’ve got off lightly on the school holiday front – I’ve been on maternity leave since Littlest B arrived in February meaning I’ve been ‘just’ a mum for all of the school holidays so far this year, instead of juggling being a stay-and-work-at-home mum too.

That doesn’t alter the fact school holidays can be expensive though, so with the help of some fellow bloggers I’ve come up with a list of 10 free things to do with kids.

10 free things to do with kids

1. Go plane spotting. ‘We love heading down to park next to the airport and chilling with some plane action!’ says Sarah at Run Jump Scrap.

2. Visit a pet shop. ‘We love going to the local pet shop to see all the animals when the weather isn’t great,’ says Sarah at A Mundane Life.

3. Go on a scavenger hunt. ‘You can collect pine cones and other finds and use them for crafts,’ says Jayne at Sticky Mud and Belly Laughs (assuming you don’t hate crafting like me of course!) It makes for a great STEAM activity for kids, combining learning about nature and making art with it!

4. Visit the library. ‘Ours has a children’s area and some days there are free groups,’ says Helen at Mumatron. Also, according to Creatif-franchise: “Reading is a hands-on activity, giving young children the opportunity to touch, listen, speak, and feel, all of which greatly contribute to their education.”

5. Make a water slide. ‘Bin bags, washing up liquid, water and a fearless five year old – best fun ever!’ says Hana at The DIY Nappy Wielding Bride.

6. Go to the beach. ‘We love collecting shells, making sand castles and flying our kite,’ says Laura at Five Little Doves.

7. Play cinderella. ‘When she was younger my daughter would dress up like Cinderella and I had to shout orders at her. It was free, she loved it and the house has never been more tidy!’ says Natasha at Mummy and Moose.

8. Watch old home videos. ‘They love seeing themselves as younger children or babies,’ says Awaybies Kids.

9. Feed the ducks. ‘Nature in itself is a great source of fun for kids,’ says Janine at Medium.

10. Visit a garden centre. ‘We’ve found some fab ones with playgrounds and big sand pits. Plus just wandering around the plants is fun,’ says Cassie at Mummy on a Budget.

Do you find school holidays expensive business? Do you have any free activities to help keep them entertained? I’d love to hear what they are!

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