We all want our kids to have an amazing time during the six-week holidays. Just not at the expense of being able to afford anything remotely nice for the six months that follow. On average, the six weeks summer holidays cost parents a whopping £1,445.23 per child, according to research from Epson.
What's more, parents admit to running out of things to do after just three weeks. So we've put together the tips and tricks you need to know to fill the summer holidays with exciting activities and family days out, without spending a fortune.
With money feeling tighter than ever, we've rounded up entertaining things to do with the kids for free or a small cost.
"One of the biggest thrills for children is having a picnic at the end of the garden or at the park," says Alison Rice, independent travel expert, who points out that we are lucky to have so much free open space in the UK.
Kids love to help prepare the picnic and don't forget to pack a ball or Frisbee. Or just sit and make daisy chains.
Picnics are also a great way to add some variety to your children's diet and help them explore new foods. Check out our packed lunch ideas for kids for inspiration.
Kids Pass members get access to around 3,700 offers, including kids-eat-free deals and up to 30% off cinema tickets. There's up to 57% off at thousands of family days out, including bowling, play centres and theme parks and lots of savings on family breaks in Britain. You can also save up to 25% off UK family holidays and resorts.
What's more, you can get a 30-day free trial for just £1. Monthly membership is £4.99 and annual membership is £39.99.
BUY NOW Kids Pass
Kids are never happier than when they have water to play in. So on hotter days, find a free splash park or a babbling brook. Or why not turn your own garden into a water park with a water sprinkler or a paddling pool and some pool toys.
Kids' love of water is also worth remembering on rainy days, points out Fiona Dads, co-author of Run Wild: Outdoor Games and Adventures. "Parents are fine with kids getting muddy on the rugby pitch, yet they often freak out about a bit of rain." So get the wellies on and let them splash in the (inevitable) summer puddles.
Local libraries can be a godsend in the summer holidays. You can borrow audio books and DVDs as well as traditional children's books, and many libraries run a Summer Reading Challenge for children, as well as organising readings of favourite books such as The Gruffalo. Libraries are also a great source of information, particularly around free and cheap activities in your area - anything from free swimming to local family-friendly events.
Make the most of your garden or backyard if you're lucky enough to have one. Encourage kids to appreciate nature by growing and caring for plants or building a bug hotel. You could always invest in a couple of new outdoor toys or garden games for them to enjoy over the summer. If you're on a tight budget, Facebook marketplace and eBay can be great ways to pick up a bargain on a pre-loved toy.
You might be surprised to discover how much sports coaching for kids is actually free. Tennis For Free's website lets you know where there's free coaching sessions in your area, for example. Book early.
Book a free tennis lesson
Let the kids camp in the garden - and if they're too young to sleep out in the elements alone, either bring them in just before sleeping time or join them for the night.
If you're feeling more adventurous, book a family campsite for your holiday. Tents knock the socks off hotel rooms, as any child will tell you. Plus, camping games are so much fun!
Whether your kids are into football, art or history, there are hundreds of great free museums, many with interactive exhibits and activities aimed at younger visitors.
"If you haven't been to a museum since you were a child, I absolutely promise you they have changed," says Alison Rice. "Gone are the days when it was all about whispering and yawning your way through the boredom of it all, and some big museums have special places where you can eat a picnic, so you don't have to buy food."
Encourage them to get creative with a crafty afternoon - perfect if it's a rainy day. You can pick up kids' art supplies relatively cheaply and you can use things you'd otherwise throwaway such as toilet roll holders and egg boxes to make fun new toys. We have loads of ideas for art and crafts for kids to inspire.
You can also buy craft kits for kids that include everything you need.
Family board games are a brilliant way to keep kids entertained and have some family fun. Most cost around £10-£20 new, but if that's out of your budget, look for a bargain in your local charity shop - just make sure all the pieces are present!
To keep kids engaged, why not draw up a tournament sheet to hang on the wall and keep the competition going for longer.
From summer science exhibitions to mini music festivals for families, there's a wealth of free days across the UK this summer. Check your local library and search for events in your area online. Remember eating out can add up, though, so take snacks, drinks or a picnic.
Word of warning: don't use the word 'walk' if you want to keep children enthusiastic about an outing. Suggest a scavenger hunt or a nature trail. Or download guides for outdoor fun from the likes of the Woodland Trust. Want to discover a new park? Visit the Green Flag Award site and, if you're an English Heritage member, remember you can get free entry for up to six children if accompanied by an adult.
Download Free nature activity sheets from the Woodland Trust
Whether you're booking up a visit to a farm, theme park or a train ticket, find offers, book up in advance, or take advantage of group discounts. Check everything from cereal packs to Tesco clubcard vouchers and if you're booking ahead, do it online.
Also remember that if you're likely to visit more than a couple of times in the year, it might be cheaper to buy an annual pass.
Sixteen and 17 year olds in England and Northern Ireland can apply to the National Citizen Service for a two to three week programme that includes activities such as climbing and canoeing and learning skills ranging from cooking to budgeting. It's either free via a bursary, or capped at £50 with all meals included. Two of the weeks are spent living away from home.
A growing number of eateries have a Kids Eat Free deal, slashing the price of eating out considerably. Be sure to check whether it's a walk-in deal, or if you need to register and print a voucher first. Asda has just announced kids can eat for just £1 at their in-store cafes during the summer holidays.
Forking out for tickets, popcorn and a drink at the cinema can cost a small fortune. But most cinemas now have deals for kids. For example, Vue enables children, and the adults accompanying them, to get tickets from £2.49 every morning in the school holidays, while Odeon has a similar offer for £2.50. You can also get 2-for-1 deals some afternoons and evenings.
Geocaching is a treasure hunt for the digital generation. So long as you have a GPS device, it's a great way to learn about your local area too. To get started, sign up for free membership on the Geocaching website, then enter your postcode to find geocaches near you. Now you're ready to use coordinates posted on the internet to hunt out an item or container holding a number of them - often toys.
Join In! Sign up for Geocaching here!
Booking late can be way to get a package holiday. The tour operators have chartered the planes and reserved the rooms and if they don't sell them, they lose money. You'll need flexibility about dates and destinations (see below), but you could get a top family holiday for a bargain price. Airlines are also known to cut prices when they can't fill planes for an upcoming weekend trip.
Leaving mid-week can make your holiday a lot cheaper. Wednesday is the cheapest day of all, and the first flight of the morning is usually the cheapest of the day. You might also want to fly two different airlines, if you're not booking a package. Most airlines now sell on-way flights at reasonable prices, meaning one might be cheaper for the outbound flight, while another one's better for the return.
Many schools and community centres offer summer holidays clubs and activities that are either free or heavily subsidised. And remember holiday clubs are often eligible for payment with childcare tax credits or childcare vouchers, too.