Other than the obvious singing songs and telling stories, you might be drawing a blank on just what you can do with your kids (or suggest to them to play with each other, some can even done by themselves) that require zero supplies.

What could be cheaper than zero? (Not to mention that you are not using any resources so you’re being green too!)

I have come up with a big list of things to do this summer while at home, at a park, while visiting friends and family and on those family road trips. These are all great things for warmer months, but some might work in the winter too. Check out my list of ideas below and let me know what you think. What could you add to this list?

• Rock, Paper, Scissors
• Thumb Wrestling
• Arm Wrestling
• Telling Jokes
• 20 Questions
• I Spy
• Practice Lip Reading
• Sign Language
• Shadow Puppets
• Crazy Olympics (hopping, skipping, running, crawling, etc.)
• Rhyming Games
• Develop a Secret Handshake
• Make up a Secret Language
• Make up a Password (for entrance in to a clubhouse/tent/fort)
• Play the Quiet Game (see who can be quiet the longest)
• Hike or Walk (consider making a list in your head of 10 things to find or encourage to look for things that start with a particular letter)
• Road Trip License Plate Game (look for cars with license plates of each of the states)
• Car Ride Alphabet Game (first person looks for something that starts with an A, second looks for something that starts with a B, then go through the alphabet taking turns, or make it a competition to see who can spot something that starts with that letter first)
• Play Tag (or You’re It!)
• Play Hide & Seek
• Play Slug a Bug
• Count Stuff while in the Car (see how many blue cars, semis, cows, 0r roadkill if that’s your kid’s thing that you see on your road trip)
• Play Charades
• Have a Spelling Bee
• Play “How Far Away” (have kids guess how far away something is and watch your odometer)
• Play Cat & Mouse
• Play Duck, Duck, Goose (or – Duck, Duck, Grey Duck for you native Minnesotans!)
• Dance/Run in the Rain
• Jump in Puddles
• Climb a Tree
• Play Red Light, Green Light
• Play Mother, May I?
• Play Simon Says
• Play the Telephone Game

You can also check out my list of 100 Things To Do This Summer to give you more ideas on stuff to do.

Do you have any games that you can add to this list, or perhaps a game where you re-purpose something destined for the recycling bin (like Kick the Can or Milk Jug Catch Game.)?  Please share!