Activities for kids that are fun and affordable
With almost 70% of UK parents concerned about affording family days out, we’ve teamed up with Parenting Expert, Jo Studholme, to share a list of things to do with the kids, including top tips n’ tricks and much-needed inspiration for fun, affordable activities, to guide parents as they navigate school holiday season.
Top ten budget-friendly things to do with the kids:
Nature is a treasure trove of free entertainment! Explore local parks, forests and beaches. Pack a picnic lunch, go on a scavenger hunt for interesting leaves or insects, or enjoy a simple game of frisbee.
Explore your local area on a family bike ride, plan a pit stop for a refreshing ice cream treat. Alternatively, local swimming pools offer a fantastic way to cool down and have fun on a hot day.
Keep an eye out for free or low-cost community events like concerts in the park, farmers markets, or cultural festivals, to explore local offerings.
Plan playdates with friends or family members with children of similar ages. Rotating hosting duties keeps costs down, and the kids have a blast playing together.
Plan a staycation and explore your own city or town. Visit historical landmarks, local attractions with free admission days, or simply enjoy backyard camping.
For larger families, consider a membership to a zoo or aquarium with discounts for multiple children. This allows for repeat visits throughout the year, stretching the value of your membership.
And a few indoor activities for kids when the weather’s not looking great…
Arts and crafts projects are a fantastic way to unleash creativity without breaking the bank. Use recycled materials like cardboard boxes, egg cartons, or toilet paper rolls for building, decorating, even designing costumes. You could also create nature collages out of those leaves and twigs you’ve scavenged!
For the inevitable rainy days, you could choose a theme park favourite (pirates, dinosaurs, princesses) and have a themed day at home. Decorate, dress up in costumes, create themed snacks, and build DIY crafts. It's a fun and imaginative way to recreate the park experience without the price tag.
Many museums offer free admission and special family exhibits, so if you and your kids are culture vultures, explore local historical landmarks like forts and castles, or inspire your creativity at a local art gallery. Pack a lunch and make a day of it.
Libraries are a goldmine of free resources. Attend story time events, borrow books and audiobooks, or participate in some of the many educational programmes offered by libraries.
Family days out are more than just a way to entertain the kids
“Family days out are more than just a way to entertain the kids. They offer a wealth of benefits that contribute to a child’s development and strengthen family bonds. By thinking outside the box and considering your family’s interests, you can create memorable and enriching days out without spending a fortune. The key is to get everyone involved in the planning process and embrace the adventure!”
Jo Studholme Independent parenting expert
What’s more, with 80% of UK parents opting to travel by car when embarking on a family outing, here are our tips to keep costs down while on the road:
- Keep it local – taking advantage of local attractions will help to keep fuel costs to a minimum (while avoiding back-seat boredom!)
The Volkswagen Multivan’s low-emission hybrid powertrain provides up to 30 miles of electric range, meaning families can charge their vehicle the night before an excursion, completing the journey on pure electric range and saving money on fuel. - Travel as one – heading out in one vehicle will avoid doubling up on fuel costs
With space for up to seven seats, the Multivan accommodates larger families, meaning there’s no longer a need to venture out in separate vehicles, further reducing on-the-road costs associated with family days out. - Pack the essentials – kitting out the car with all the essentials – whether that’s picnic hampers, beach toys, colouring books, scooters and bikes – will help to minimise spending on the day and ensure you have everything you need for your adventures.
Providing more space and flexibility than ever, the standard Multivan offers 469 litres of luggage space, extending to 1,844 litres with the rear seats removed. This means families can comfortably fit all the essentials (and some!) for a full day out, and avoid any unplanned spending on the day.
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- Mains electricity required for charging. Figures shown are for comparability purposes; only compare figures with other vehicles tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results.
What our research revealed….
We carried out a survey of 1,000 UK parents to find out how they find and go about school holiday time. Our research found that while three quarters (77%) of respondents would be keen to organise family outings on at least a fortnightly basis, the struggles of finding affordable days out are all too familiar for UK parents, with as many as one in five (18%) confessing that they have nothing planned over the holidays as a result of these challenges.
With the average UK family spending £93.00 on a single day out – and upwards of £400 across the summer holidays, according to the survey – it’s no wonder that the escalating costs of activities (52%) and difficulties finding affordable day trips (50%) rank so highly among parents’ concerns. For those with larger families, these costs are even higher. In fact, over one in ten (14%) parents expect to spend more than £600.00 on family days out across the school holidays.
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