Cheap Thrills - Everything Your Kids Need for Summer Fun

As a kid, my fondest memory of the start of summer, apart from no more school, consisted of a new pair of flip flops and an inflatable beach ball. There was more to it than that, of course, but those two things spring immediately to mind.

You can buy your kids' summer gear at a department store at inflated prices or, considering the short-lived entertainment value of most toys, why not go for the cheap thrills and get everything your kids need for summer fun at the dollar store?Here's what I found on a recent trip to Dollarama:

For Yard or Park Play:

Jumbo sidewalk chalk - This is a three-piece set of large-sized colored chalk that are shaped like crayons. A fun diversion for a sunny afternoon costing $2.

Skipping ropes - A summer staple, jump ropes start at just $1.25 at Dollarama and come in various designs.

Badminton rackets - Costing from $1.25-$2 each and made from either plastic or the more sturdy metal, batting a badminton bird around, even when you're not playing an actual game, is great fun and good exercise.

Foam airplane gliders - These come in various sizes. Kids get the fun of putting them together and then get hours of fun flying them around. At Dollarama, a a set of two giant ones cost $1.50.

Kites - Kites are fun for both young and old. I saw some in eagle and parrot shapes for $2 each.

Soap bubbles - The dollar store has soap bubble in different sized bottles. The best value is the giant 24oz bottle with wand for $2.

Large vinyl flying disc - This is the jumbo-sized version of a Frisbee costing $2.

Water guns - There's no better way for the kids to stay cool on a hot summer's day than to put on their bathing suits and spray each other with water. Dollar store water guns cost anywhere from $1.25 for a smaller, space age type gun to a larger tube-shaped squirt gun costing $2.

Toy fishing rods - There's a couple of different styles of these that look like they'd be fun for the little ones. They cost $2 each.

Beach and Pool Toys:

Large or small plastic pails - Get ready for a day at the beach with the requisite plastic pails. Some of the ones I saw are shaped for building sand castles and most of the smaller ones come with shovels. They cost $1-$1.25 each.

Inflatable beach ball - No pool party is complete without one! You can get a package of two for just $1.50 at Dollarama.

Inflatable swim ring - Another good toy for the pool, an inflatable swim ring costs just 1.50 at the dollar store.

Inflatable mini mattress - These are great for the smaller kids to float on and cost just $1.50 each.

Pool noodle - Another floatation device that's been hugely popular over the last few years, Dollarama's version of the pool noodle costs a buck.

Kick board - Patterned kick boards cost $2 each.


It's bound to happen at least once during the summer. The kids will be confined to the indoors due to inclement weather. Keep them busy with a variety of puzzles, board games, coloring books and more all moderately priced at the dollar store. If you've got kids, it's worth checking out. And, oh yeah, they've got flip-flops, too.


Like this article? Don't miss another one. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook


RELATED LINKS
Schools Out for Summer - Six Awesome Ideas to Keep Kids Busy and Entertained
Looking for the Best Value in Kid's Sports
Throw Your Kid's Birthday Bash for Less


Marlene Alexander is a freelance writer and Dollar Store Diva. She writes tips and tricks for using the best that dollar stores have to offer.