The summer holidays can be a joyful but intense time. When you are parenting solo, keeping everyone entertained without burning through your budget takes some creativity. You want to make memories that your kids will treasure, but you also want to stay sane and not spend a fortune along the way.

The good news is that some of the very best summer activities are completely free. Whether your child is wild about nature, loves to build and create, or simply wants your time and attention, there are so many ways to make this summer feel special without spending a penny.

Here are nine unusual and interesting free ideas to try with your children over the holidays.

1. Become Nature Detectives

Your local park or woodland can become the setting for an exciting mystery adventure. Make a simple checklist with your child before you head out. Think beyond the usual pinecones and butterflies. Include fun things like a tree that looks like it is dancing, a stick shaped like a letter, or a bird making a strange sound.

Give your child a magnifying glass, a notebook, or a homemade badge and let them become the lead detective. You can even draw a treasure map to follow. This is a brilliant way to encourage imagination while getting everyone out in the fresh air.

2. Host a Yes Day (Within Reason)

Inspired by the book and the family film, a Yes Day is when you agree to say yes to whatever your child wants to do, within the limits you set. Keep it free and manageable with a few rules. For example, no spending money, no travelling too far, and nothing that involves adopting a pet.

Let your child come up with the day’s activities. It might mean eating cereal for dinner or turning the living room into a jungle. It is silly, simple, and incredibly fun for everyone involved.

3. Organise a Toy Swap Party

If your child has become bored of their toys or books, a toy swap can work wonders. Invite a few Frolo friends or neighbours and ask each family to bring a small selection of toys, books, or puzzles they no longer use.

Lay everything out picnic-style and let the kids browse and choose a few new treasures. It is a free and fun way to refresh your toy collection, reduce waste, and enjoy some time with other families.

4. Chalk the Pavement

A box of pavement chalk is one of the cheapest ways to unleash your child’s creativity. Find a quiet stretch of pavement or your own driveway and let them turn it into a gallery.

They can draw murals, create hopscotch grids, design obstacle courses or write cheerful messages for people walking past. Older kids might enjoy creating a comic strip or writing a story path, where each square of pavement adds a line to an adventure tale.

Once it rains, the canvas is clean again and ready for next time.

5. Run Your Own Outdoor Olympics

You do not need a garden or any fancy equipment to hold your own mini Olympics. A local green space or even a large room indoors will do the trick.

Create simple events like a three-legged race, sock throwing, or a balancing challenge. Let your kids help make medals using cardboard and ribbon. You can even design team names and invent your own sports, like the backwards crab crawl or the cushion discus.

This is a brilliant way to burn off some energy and bring out everyone's playful side.

6. Visit an Outdoor Gallery

Many cities and towns now have trails, murals, or public sculpture parks that are completely free to explore. Look up local art trails or search for "public art near me" online and turn it into a mini day out.

You can take photos of your favourites, sketch them in a notebook, or create your own art inspired by what you see when you get home. Add a stop at a picnic bench or a cafe that allows you to bring your own food and you have a lovely afternoon sorted.

7. Build a Den Village

Den building is a classic for a reason. It taps into creativity, teamwork, and the basic human love of hiding in cosy spaces. Head to the woods with a few friends and challenge everyone to build their own den using sticks, leaves, and found materials.

You can then decorate the dens with nature treasures, give them names, and pretend they are secret homes or woodland cafes. Bring hot chocolate in a flask and you have a day full of imaginative play and connection.

8. Run a Kids’ Radio Show or Podcast

This one is perfect for rainy days or for kids who love performing. Use your phone to record a homemade podcast or radio show. Your child can be the host, the guest, the weather reporter or even do impressions and comedy sketches.

Set a theme for each episode or just let it flow naturally. Some children might enjoy pretending to interview you about your childhood, or reading the news from an imaginary town where the squirrels have taken over.

You can play it back together and even share it with friends or grandparents.

9. Create a Time Travel Day

Choose a decade or historical period and spend the day stepping into that world. You might go back to the 1980s, the 1960s, or even ancient Egypt. Pick clothes from home that fit the era, make up a themed lunch, and find a playlist or film to match.

You can invent stories about who you are in that time period and what your daily life might look like. For added fun, write postcards or diary entries from your new world. It is a lovely way to blend history, creativity, and play without needing to leave the house.

The summer holidays do not have to be packed with expensive outings or paid activities. Some of the best moments come from slowing down, being silly, and spending time together doing something simple but new.

If you try any of these ideas, why not share your day in the Frolo app and inspire someone else too? Or better yet, browse the Meetups on the Frolo app or create your own, and make some new friends in the process!

Your summer of low-cost magic starts here.

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