20 Low-Cost (and Free!) Screen-Free Summer Activities Kids Actually Love

Summer holidays are magic but the reality is, it can be exhausting. Six weeks of “I'm bored” can send any parent reaching for a screen just to get five minutes of peace, we’ve all been there and absolutely no judgement at all, it is very normal to feel this way. We get it. But some of the best childhood memories (and some of the best learning moments) happen when there's no screen in sight - just imagination, a bit of fun exploration play and maybe a pencil in hand for some fun learning opportunities.

At Love Writing Co, we believe every scribble, doodle and made-up story is a small step towards building a love for reading and writing, whilst strengthening skills over the holidays ready for the new school year. So we've pulled together 20 activities that cost little or nothing, keep little hands busy, and quietly build the skills that matter - no tablet required. Take a quick read, note a few down if you like and give them a try.

Out and About

1. Explore your local park (Free)

Swings, grass, a ball, a picnic blanket. Bring chalk or a small notebook and get kids to “collect” what they find - leaves, feathers, funny-shaped sticks – great to use for a craft later.

2. Visit a free museum or gallery (Free)

Many cities have brilliant hands-on museums with interactive, kid-friendly exhibits. Bring a small Love Writing Co notebook so they can sketch their favourite exhibit or jot down one new word they learned.

3. Library trip and story hour (Free)

Libraries are a screen-free goldmine - free books, often free craft sessions and a quiet, cosy place to fall in love with reading. Let your child pick their own book, even if it's “too easy” or “too hard.” Ownership builds enthusiasm.

4. Go on a nature scavenger hunt (Free)

Give them a simple list; a pebble, a yellow flower, something round, something spiky. Write the list together beforehand; it's a sneaky writing exercise in disguise. Let them explore and go on an adventure to find these things!

5. Walk-and-talk story time (Free)

On any walk, take turns adding one sentence to a made-up story. No pens needed - just imagination and a shared laugh. “What can we see around us to make our very own story?”

At Home, Keeping Hands Busy

6. Build an indoor den (Free)

Cushions, chairs, a blanket roof. Ask your child what their den is - a castle, spaceship, secret HQ - and help them write or draw a sign for the door. A great way to sneak in some handwriting practice – don’t forget to use our tripod grip writing tools to help build writing skills whilst doing this activity. You can explore our collection here.

7. Chalk art on the patio (Low Cost)

A pound-shop tub of chalk goes a long way. Encourage them to chalk out letters, their name, or a giant hopscotch alphabet trail.

8. Puppets from recycling (Low Cost)

Toilet roll tubes, old socks, lolly sticks. Once made, get your child to “write” a tiny script or a few lines of dialogue for a mini puppet show.

9. Leaf and texture rubbings (Low Cost)

Collect leaves, then rub crayon over paper laid on top. Talk about the shapes and patterns  a lovely, calm way to build fine motor control, the same muscles that make handwriting easier later.

10. Build a backyard obstacle course (Low Cost)

Cushions, a skipping rope, a “balance beam” chalk line. Great for burning energy and for following multi-step instructions, a skill that quietly supports reading comprehension.

11. Homemade playdough letters (Low Cost)

A simple flour-salt-water playdough (no cooking needed) goes a long way. Get your child to roll it into snakes and shape their name or favourite letters — brilliant hidden hand-strength practice for holding a pencil.

12. Sensory bin letter hunt (Low Cost)

Bury magnetic or foam letters in a tray of dry rice, pasta or lentils. Call out a letter or sound and have your child dig it out and say it aloud — a hands-on twist on phonics practice.

13. Lacing cards (Low Cost)

Punch holes around the edge of a cardboard shape and thread wool or an old shoelace through. It looks simple, but it's one of the best fine-motor builders there is the same pincer grip and control that makes early handwriting so much easier. Use our erasable tripod grip colouring pencils to colour in to practice fine motor and tripod grip skills.

14. Sticker story collage (Low Cost)

Hand over a sheet of stickers and a piece of paper and let your child build a scene. Then ask them to tell you the story of their picture — write it down underneath as they talk, and watch them beam when they see their own words.

15. Paper plate weaving (Low Cost)

Cut slits around a paper plate and weave wool in and out. It's calm, repetitive, and quietly builds the hand strength and hand-eye coordination that writing depends on.

Creative and Quiet-Time Ideas

16. Start a summer journal (Low Cost)

This is one close to our hearts. A simple notebook and a chunky, easy-grip pencil (scaled to little hands, so writing feels comfortable, not frustrating) can turn into a daily ritual — one sentence, one drawing, one favourite moment from the day.

17. Decorate blown eggs or stones (Low Cost)

A lovely, messy, creative outlet. Once dry, get kids to write a name or a tiny story on each one.

18. Letter and word hunts around the house (Free)

Hide paper letters or words around a room and send your child on a hunt to find and read them aloud. Simple, silly, and secretly literacy-building.

19. Make a “Wonder Jar” (Low Cost)

Every day, write one question your child asks (“Why is the sky blue?”) on a slip of paper and pop it in a jar. At the end of summer, read through the whole collection together — a beautiful record of a curious mind.

20. Pen-pal a grandparent or cousin (Low Cost)

A real letter, stamp and all. In a world of instant messages, waiting for a reply in the post is its own kind of joy  and a genuine reason to write. Use our tripod grip writing pencils to build hand strength and practice letter formation with our screen-free letter formation activity packs – now on offer.

Why we should try and avoid screens as much as possible this summer…

None of these activities need expensive kit or a big budget – we know the summer holidays can be expensive as it is already! So low cost / free it always a win!

What they do need is a little time, writing tools and pencils that actually fits their hands so they can be supported with their learning and handwriting and the freedom to get things wrong, messy and wonderfully imaginative.

Key takeaway - Less screen time means more time for imagination, movement, creativity and the hands-on experiences that help children learn and grow.

That's exactly what we build for at Love Writing Co.; writing tools and books designed for little hands, so the act of writing feels good from the very first scribble. Because the most confident and happy writers and readers aren't made on a screen. They're made at kitchen tables, on garden patios, and in blanket dens - one small, screen-free moment at a time. It can be hard to move away from screens for weeks on end, but small changes everyday can help and we are here to support you do this.

Want more ideas ready to go? Head to our website www.lovewritingco.com for free printable activity sheets, letter-tracing pages and reading prompts you can pull out any time the “I'm bored” starts creeping in – they are great to print, grand and go!

Explore our SEND & left-handed friendly writing tools, designed to make writing time calmer, easier and genuinely enjoyable — all summer long and beyond.

 We are here to help. Feel free to message our team at info@lovewritingco.com for any product recommendations for your child’s age and ability and we’d be happy to help. Sign up to our free newsletter for more helpful hints, tips and educational advice all year around.