Six weeks. That's a long time to keep children entertained, engaged, and (relatively) happy — especially when the budget is tight. The good news is that some of the best summer holiday activities cost very little, and a little planning goes a long way. Here's our guide to a brilliant summer without breaking the bank.
1. Create a Summer Activity Binder
One of the best investments you can make at the start of the holidays is a simple activity binder. Print off a mix of colouring pages, puzzles, word searches, and creative writing prompts, pop them in a folder, and let your child pick something whenever boredom strikes. It keeps little hands busy and costs pennies to put together.
Our Kids Educational Activity Sheets are a brilliant starting point — 14 pages of mixed activities ready to print instantly.
2. Explore Free Days Out
The UK has a wealth of free attractions that are perfect for families. Many museums, galleries, parks, and nature reserves are completely free to enter. The Visit England free attractions guide is a great place to start planning days out without spending a fortune.
3. Set Up a Colouring Station
A dedicated colouring corner — even just a small table with pencils and printed pages — gives children a calm, creative activity they can return to throughout the day. Colouring has been shown to support focus and reduce anxiety in children, making it a brilliant screen-free option for quieter moments.
Download our Free Animal Colouring Book to get started at no cost at all.
4. Run a Summer Reading Challenge
Most local libraries run a free Summer Reading Challenge throughout July and August. It's a fantastic way to keep children reading, with rewards and incentives built in. Pair it with a simple printable reading tracker to keep things fun and motivating at home.
5. Organise a Garden or Kitchen Science Day
You don't need expensive kits for science experiments — vinegar and bicarbonate of soda, ice and food colouring, or growing cress on a windowsill are all free or near-free activities that children love. Print off a simple observation worksheet to make it feel more official and educational.
6. Host a Neighbourhood Sports Day
Rope in a few neighbours or friends and organise a mini sports day in the garden or local park. Egg and spoon, sack races, and a simple obstacle course cost nothing. Print off some certificates and medals to make it feel special — children love the recognition.
7. Keep Learning Ticking Over (Without It Feeling Like School)
A little light learning over summer helps children return to school confident and ready. The trick is keeping it short, fun, and low-pressure. Just 10–15 minutes of maths or English practice a day makes a real difference — and printable worksheets are far cheaper than summer tutoring.
Our Kids Learning Bundle covers Pre-School to Year 4 across Maths, English, and Science — everything you need for the whole summer in one download.
8. Create a Summer Bucket List
Sit down with your children at the start of the holidays and write a summer bucket list together. Include a mix of free activities (visit a new park, have a picnic, make a den) and small treats. Tick things off as you go — it builds excitement and gives the summer a sense of adventure and purpose.
Printable Resources to Make Summer Easier
- Kids Educational Activity Sheets | 14 Page Printable PDF — mixed activities to keep little ones busy.
- Kids Learning Bundle | Pre-School to Year 4 — gentle summer learning across all subjects.
- 4-in-1 Kids Colouring Book Collection — hours of creative entertainment.
- Free Animal Colouring Book — grab this freebie to get started today.
All products are instant download PDFs — print at home and you're ready to go.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I keep kids entertained in the summer holidays without spending lots of money?
The key is variety and a little preparation. A mix of outdoor activities (parks, nature walks, sports), creative activities (colouring, crafts, baking), and light learning (printable worksheets and activity sheets) keeps children engaged without a big spend. Planning ahead — even just printing a week's worth of activities on a Sunday evening — makes a huge difference.
What are the best free activities for kids in the summer?
Free activities that children love include visiting local parks and nature reserves, joining the library's Summer Reading Challenge, setting up a garden obstacle course, doing kitchen science experiments, and working through printable activity sheets and colouring pages at home.
How can I stop my child's learning from slipping over summer?
Short daily sessions of 10–15 minutes using printable worksheets are the most effective and affordable approach. Focus on the subjects your child finds trickiest, keep it relaxed and pressure-free, and reward effort rather than results. Our Kids Learning Bundle is designed specifically for this kind of gentle summer revision.
How do I download and print printables from Reggie & Co?
It's really simple! Once you complete your purchase, you'll receive an email with a download link straight away — no waiting, no shipping. Click the link, save the PDF to your device, and open it with any free PDF reader (such as Adobe Acrobat or your phone's built-in viewer). Then simply print at home on standard A4 paper, or take the file to a local print shop. Most of our resources are designed to print beautifully on a standard home printer. If you have any trouble with your download, just get in touch and we'll help straight away.
Can I print the same printable more than once?
Yes! That's one of the biggest advantages of digital printables. Once you've downloaded your file, you can print it as many times as you like — perfect if your child wants to redo an activity, or if you have more than one child at home. You can also laminate frequently used sheets and use dry-wipe markers for zero-waste, reusable practice.
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