25 Totally Free Family Activities to Do This Weekend (Kid & Dog Approved!)

Free Child and Dog Friendly Activities To Cure the Boredom!

Here are 25 completely free activities you can do as a family that don’t cost a penny — and most are perfect for the dog too. Whether you’ve got an hour to fill or a full day to explore, there’s something here for everyone.

🌿 Outdoor Adventures

Explore a New Local Woodland – Use apps like AllTrails or OS Maps to find a nearby trail you haven’t walked yet.

Have a Picnic in the Park – Pack your own food and let the kids and dog run wild (bring a blanket and dog water bowl!). 

Beachcombing at a Dog-Friendly Beach – Look for shells, sea glass, and stones while enjoying the sea air.

Go on a Nature Scavenger Hunt – Create a simple checklist of things to find: a feather, pine cone, squirrel, purple flower, etc.

Watch the Sunset from a Scenic Spot – It’s peaceful, free, and magical for all ages (and tails).

Visit a Dog-Friendly Garden Centre – Many welcome dogs on leads, and kids love browsing the plants, decorations, and mini cafés. A lot of them also have play areas too!

Feed the Ducks at a Local Pond – Just remember to bring bird-friendly food (like oats, peas, or sweetcorn).

Do a Local Village Trail or Heritage Walk – Many villages have free downloadable trail maps full of local history and hidden gems.

Build a Den in the Woods – Collect sticks and leaves for a back-to-nature engineering project.

Try Geocaching – It’s like a treasure hunt for all ages! (In my thirties I still love this!) Download a free app and start finding hidden containers near you.

🎨 Creative At-Home Fun

Make Homemade Dog Treats with the Kids – Simple recipes using peanut butter, oats, and bananas are a hit. We love this one from @ourdogcosmo

Create a Time Capsule – Include drawings, letters, small toys, and family “favourites” lists.

Camp Indoors with a Blanket Fort – Turn your living room into a campsite and tell stories by torchlight.

Have a Family Movie Afternoon – Use a streaming service you already, if you have a DVD player you can even borrow DVDs from the library.

Paint Rocks and Leave Them Around Your Neighbourhood – A fun, feel-good craft for all ages.

Make a Dog Obstacle Course in the Garden – Use cones, chairs, sticks, and more for a simple agility course. The kids play tunnel is always a hit for this!

Write and Perform a Mini Play – Costumes optional! There are even great inexpensive stop motion options like Stikbot for the more tech savvy so you can make your own mini film!

Build a Lego Zoo or Dog Park – Encourage imaginative building with a family theme.

Hold a Dog and Kid Photo Shoot – Dress up, pose, and print your favourite snaps.

Draw Your Dream Day Out – Let the kids use their imagination to draw where they’d love to go (dog included!). I love this for getting ideas for our upcoming days out too! Win win

✨ Feel-Good Family Moments

Start a Family Gratitude Jar – Each person writes one thing they’re thankful for this week. You can also do an end of week round up where you all sit and read them out and pick your favourite moment of the week.

Do a Litter Pick Together – Grab gloves and bags and make your neighbourhood cleaner. The beach is a great place for this (dogs love sniffing along!).

Make DIY Toys for the Dog – Old socks, tennis balls, and plastic bottles make fun chewable creations.

Create a “Dog’s Eye View” Video – Use your phone (or even a GoPro if you have one) to film a day in the life of your pup — let the kids narrate it!

Dance Party in the Kitchen – Turn up the music, grab the dog, and let loose! If you're not into the dancing we have a light projector that projects space images on the ceiling and we all lay on the floor and have a chill together!

✨ Final Thought

You don’t have to spend money to have fun — just a bit of creativity, time together, and maybe a wagging tail! These simple ideas help you make the most of your weekends, no matter the weather or budget.