If you want to go out...
Park Outings
Going to the park can be an outstanding way to spend quality time together as a family. Of course there are all the jungle gyms, slides, and swings you can play on, but there are other things you could also do afterwards.
Collecting wild flowers, pinecones, nuts, and leaves that you could classify later on when you return home is plenty educational and fun. You could also take a shoebox for each of your children and begin a little "memory box" by taking the wild flowers or leaves and pressing them, then placing them inside the shoebox along with the information discovered about the plants such as computer printouts. Take the printouts and glue the nuts, leaves, or flowers to them is another activity you can do with the treasures you find while at the park.
Also, encourage your child(ren) to write down the date they found the park treasures so they can always look back and remember when you spent those moments together as a family. This is an excellent way to strengthen your family bond.
Library
Local libraries are a wonderful wealth of information for you and your child(ren). Making plans to visit a library during the summer month's can be a fantastic way to keep the learning process going when the kids are on summer vacation.
Plus, most libraries have a plethora of activities planned during the summer for your child(ren) to enjoy ranging from all age groups. Make it a plan the next time you're running errands to stop by your local library and pick up their activity list for the month to see what's in store. You may just find something interesting and fun for your child(ren) and yourself!
There are more than just books available at most libraries as well. Things like DVD or VHS movies can be checked out, music CD's, audio books, etc. can also be a day of fun that doesn't end once you walk out the library doors.
Checking out and returning items to the library can also help develop your child(ren)'s responsibility skills too. Keep that in mind when you go out to discover what your local library has available for you.
Museums
What better way to spend time with your family than appreciating fine art? Most museums are free, but you would really need to check with your local area museum to be sure. Some museums may have summertime family oriented activities planned as well. Yet still, there may be discounted "family" days for specialized educational museums such as The Center for Science and Industry in Ohio(COSI).
While some may not be free, you can find out which days of the month, week, or year, have been designated as "family" days that offer discounts. Many museums have websites that list most of their information including pricing and hours of operation.
It's never too late, or too soon, to begin the learning process. So keep this in mind when heading off to your local museum. While your children may think this activity will be boring, there are always "battle plans" to make it fun for everyone. You could always visit the museum's website to see what is on display as many museums have time limited exhibits to research first what may be of interest to your child(ren) beforehand. Then make up some list printouts to take along with you that have checklists to be sure that you view everything on the printouts.
You could even put in some random questions to ask your child(ren) while at the museum. Or you could even do a sort of scavenger hunt to see who can find the items on your checklist first.
Swimming/Playing In Water
What better way to spend a refreshing and playful time with your family than going swimming! Even if you don't have access to a swimming pool in your own backyard, you can always take a trip to your local lake or beach. You won't need money to enjoy the water,but you will need enough gas to get there and back ;-)
Plus, you can always take a picnic basket full of your favorite healthy snacks with you for a quick lunch. Now, if you happen to live in an area that doesn't have access to lakes or oceanfront beaches, why not pull out the garden hose for some watery fun?
Using what you have "on hand" with water is always a super way to have some fun on a hot day. Sprinklers, water pistols, and water balloons are great alternatives to keeping cool and having fun on a hot day. Divide your family up into teams and see who gets the most wet. Have a big bowl of fresh, frosty fruit as a reward for the winning team.
Most apartment communities have swimming pools available to their residents. Why not go for a dip? Also, many other community areas have public pools that are quite inexpensive to get into. Some only charge a quarter for access for the entire day. Visiting your local community pool can help build your child(ren)'s social skills too. And that's always a fabulous idea!
Whatever your plans, don't forget to put on the sunscreen to protect yourself and your children from the harmful UV rays of the sun. This is especially important on extremely hot days.
Skating
Roller skating is a great way to have a little outdoor fun with your family anytime. Except if it's raining that is ;-) While you can have plenty of fun skating around your neighborhood, why not try heading out to your local park for a different scene?
You could always venture off to your local bicycyle trails for an even better skating arena. Most bike trails that are made from blacktop will give you a smoother skate. And, the trails are designed for bikes, joggers, and skaters ONLY. Meaning, you won't have to worry about oncoming traffic from cars. Making it all the more safe for your family to enjoy the outdoors.
Let's not forget too that learning to roller skate, or roller blade, can be a very enjoyable activity. Especially if the parent is the student and the child is the teacher! Be sure you put on your safety padding and helmet before heading out the front door for your day of learning. Or you could end up worse for wear when returning home!
Bike Riding
Not to be outdone by the previous outdoor activity, riding bikes is always fun to do. And, for grown ups, it takes them back to their youthful childhood.
This is a wonderful way to spend time with your child(ren) while taking a trip down your own "memory lane" in the process. Instead of driving to your local park, why not ride bikes to it? Need to make a quick trip to the corner store? Ride your bikes down.
Of course there are local bicycle trails you can utilize as well. Both paved or natural dirt trails can be loads of fun for your family to enjoy together.
Plus, riding a bicycle is a great way to get some much needed exercise for everyone. Remember when planning extended biking journeys to take a water bottle along with you to recharge your batteries. And always encourage your child(ren) to wear a helmet when biking. Don't forget to set a good example for them by electing to wear a helmet yourself too.