Summertime is a great time for families to bond and spend some much needed time together after the school year is over. Midway through the summer though, your wallet might be hurting a bit from all of the outings you’re taking your kids on.

The good news is that not all summer fun has to be inexpensive. There are some fantastic ideas for you to do with your preschool-aged kids in New Jersey (NJ) this summer.

For more information on how you can find a great private educational program or Hazlet NJ preschool for your kids at the end of this summer, contact local leaders in private education.

In the meantime, grab your kids for some summer fun that isn’t so hard on the wallet. Here are our suggestions below.

Grab some chalk for some outdoor art fun.

If you have a driveway or a safe place for your kids to spend some time outdoors, buy them a box of chalk and head outside to make some art with them. Not only will this be a good way to keep them occupied outside, but it will make your driveway a little more festive and decorative.

In addition to making some cool art, your kids could also play games. Have them draw hopscotch, foursquare, or make them an on-driveway obstacle course and keep them moving before the head back to Hazlet NJ preschool.

Kids absolutely love bubbles.

Something inexpensive that is bound to entertain your kids for hours is a bottle of bubbles. Kids can run around outside (or inside if you don’t mind soap stains) with a bottle of bubbles and play and smile for hours.

Have them play some games with their bubbles – hold a contest to see who can blow the largest one, or have them dodge them as they fall from the air. Bubbles are also very pretty and make for some awesome photo opportunities if you’re looking to photograph some of your memories this summer.

Grab some cardboard for an in-house fort and playground.

One of the cheapest ways to entertain your kids this summer (especially on a rainy day) is to build a fort. If you have some extra cardboard lying around, perhaps from moving or buying some new furniture, give it to your kids for the afternoon and see what they can come up with.

You don’t need cardboard – building a fort with some extra chairs, blankets, and pillows is an old favorite. If you make it comfortable enough, you can even let them sleep in there for the night, and perhaps tell them some scary stories before they go to bed!

Hoses and kiddie pools make for backyard water fun.

Summertime is all about having fun in the water, but sometimes getting to the beach or a pool can be a little hard on your wallet. Have some easy fun in your backyard by setting up a sprinkler system for your kids to run through, or getting a kiddie pool for them to play in for a bit.

Water fun is something kids love – just don’t forget the sunscreen. Sunburn is no fun for a family to deal with before returning to Hazlet NJ preschool after the summer has ended.

Check out the local library for some nighttime family activities.

When the sun sets and the kids are still rambunctious, it can be hard to find something new to entertain your kids indoors without a trip to the toy store. Instead, check out your local library for DVDs, books, and sometimes games that you can check out and take home with you for a short period of time.

Checking out books and DVDs at the library is, of course free, and allows you to keep an influx of new and interesting stuff for your kids to do without breaking the bank.

Dig into your junk drawer for a crafting challenge.

Crafting supplies can get extremely expensive, especially at the big box stores. The good news is that you probably already have a ton of things around your home that your kids can craft with, and have a great family indoor activity for you to do together this summer.

If you’re having trouble finding items, try some macaroni crafts, colored cotton balls and glue, spaghetti, or other small common items that your kids could use to have a great time.

Home Away From Home Academy is a private education center for early education. To learn more about our leading strides in early childhood and elementary education, contact us.