Fun and Easy Surprises for Kids that Don’t Cost $$

I am a giver. I love giving gifts.

My husband always jokes that if we were really rich, we’d still be broke. That just means I have to get creative.

Finding meaningful gifts for my kids, a family member, or friends gives me so much joy and can also be a fun challange! But I absolutely love seeing their face when the gift is something they wanted or love.

Whether it’s gifts or my time, I love blessing others in ways they can’t do for themselves.

Of course, surprises can come in all shapes and sizes, but that doesn’t mean they have to cost an arm and a leg. 

You can still treat your kids to something fun without having to spend a dime! These surprises for kids are not only a ton of fun, but your kids will love them!

Planning a surprise for your kids?

If your kids are like mine, they may love surprises, but that doesn’t always mean they are met with the excitement we anticipate.

Surprising someone your love is definitely a fun way to show how much you care. However, one important thing to remember is surprises come with a bit of emotion too.

​Whether its due to the interruption of their usual routine, or the anticipation inducing anxiety, it is important to know the person you are surprising and the “level of surprise” they can handle.

My children love surprises, but we have learned over the years that months of anticipation and what we thought was building up the excitement, was actually quite the opposite for several of our kids. So when we planned a huge family trip, we waited until about a week before we left so they had just enough excitement, but the wait time for the actual event was minimal.

So the first thing I encourage you to do is while planning and plotting your surprise, make sure you are doing it in the best way for the recipient.

Why do you want to surprise your kids anyway?

Picture this: You spend months planning the “perfect gift”, sneaking around to make all the plans, only to have it go horribly wrong! What happened?

Maybe it’s a parenthood right of passage or that you want to see the look of joy and elation on your child’s face, but be forewarned surprises can also backfire if not done properly.

First, let me say that not everything needs to be a surprise. In our family, we reserve surprises for special birthdays, one-time trips, unique experiences, etc.

Now, I’m not talking about surprising them with a special note, lunchbox message, or their favorite dinner. I honestly just consider those acts of love, not surprises.

What I am talking about are the big moments in life. A once-in-a-lifetime trip to unexpected places, a large present (aka car for their 16th birthday), or even a surprise party for a milestone birthday or any special occasions. Personally, I love small surprises and doing special things for those I love. I do not like being the center of attention for anything, so my surprise 16th birthday party was not a fun experience, if I’m being honest.

So, as you’re planning the surprise, be mindful of the recipient and their feelings as well. This will only enhance the experience and make the suprise a memorable gift to remember.

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly of Surprises

I remember one day when my oldest was roughly five years old. I took him to run some errands with me as a special day out with mom. He was thrilled to be spending quality time with me, so off we went.

As we set out to run our errands, he asked how many stops we had to make. I gave him a number, maybe 4 or 5, but I wasn’t sure. I also told him we would grab a special lunch just him and I. This seemed to make his little face just light up with joy!

After lunch, I realized I need to make a couple additional stops, and that’s when it happened.

Complete and utter meltdown.

For the life of me I couldn’t figure out what happened to my sweet boy! Suddenly he was having an absolute come-apart at the thought of two additional stops, regardless of how short they might be. That’s when I knew, setting expectations with him and being sure to clearly communicate each step was key for his enjoyment (and mine). Now that’s an extreme case and not the norm, but it proves my point that not everyone takes surprises well.

However, after being a mom for nearly 19 years now and pulling off surprises for all of my kids, I am convinced that there are ways to surprise your kids with success.

There are many reasons a surprise can go wrong, but there are plenty of ways they can go right too. While some people appreciate surprises more than others, there are ways you can surprise even the most reluctant child, if done correctly.

The key is to pay attention to each of your children (or those you’re surprising) and make sure you know how best to surprise them. There may just be a better way.

Good Secrets vs Bad Secrets

​We have always taught our kids that secrets are bad. So are we really sending mixed signals by surprising them or withholding information for surprises?

That is a tricky one and something that I think needs to be thought through for each child and family.

In our family, we choose not to keep secrets from our kids, but we have also clarified with them that sometimes it is necessary until details are finalized and that we don’t want to get their hopes up should things not work out.

We don’t consider that keeping secrets though, so I think it is important you define those parameters for your own family.

​Fun Surprises that Won’t Break the Bank

Family Game Night

Whether they want to play their favorite board game, card games, or you find a new game to try together, family game nights can be a great way to surprise your kids. This is quality time you will treasure and build memories that last a lifetime.

Spa day at home

Spa days don’t have to just be for mom! Make a fun bubble bath and let them sip on sparkling grape juice. You can even do manicures and pedicures if you have daughters or just do a foot soak with your kids. It’s a great way to relax together!

Have a surprise play date

Don’t tell them a friend is dropping by and let it be a fun surprise! You can plan a whole afternoon of fun for them and their friends. Make some special treats for them and they’ll love you and the time they spend with their friends.

Create your own holiday

Who says you need a calendar holiday to celebrate? Make up your own holiday and do something fun. You can have everything from activities, crafts, to food that you create right at home.

Safe Sweet Treats

Sweets are few and far between in our home, so a sweet treat is a definite surprise. When we find ones we like and are safe for our kids, we will bring them home on occasion. 

Let your kids pick for the day

Choose a day and let it be a kid’s choice day. Let each kid pick something for the day. Whether it’s an activity you do or what meal you eat. Make sure you give each child a pick to make it fair.

Have a movie night

Surprise your child with a fun movie night. Look for new releases that have come out in the last few months and may be free viewing now. Or save some upcoming releases to your Amazon Prime video account and watch for them to go “FREE”.  You can have popcorn, soda, and other goodies at home to make the movie night a success.

Themed dinner night

Dress up for the occasion or even create a restaurant atmosphere right in your own home. Set up candles, put on music, and enjoy some good food right at home.

Go camping in the backyard

Tell your kids to grab their sleeping bags and have a fun camping vacation right in your own backyard. Make s’mores and tell silly or spooky stories by the campfire.

Host a game show night

Dress up and have a game show night. Pick a fun game show you can play as a family and make a night of it. You can easily make a deal or no deal board with sticky notes or suitcases if you want to. Have the whole family participate and take turns being the host.

Make a delicious treat

Whether it’s a pan of brownies, their favorite cookies they can decorate or a seasonal pie – they’ll love seeing a surprise treat show up unannounced. Maybe let them in the kitchen to help you bake for some added bonding time! 

These sweet surprises are worth far more than money and can be enjoyed by kids of all ages.

Have a Treasure Hunt

Personally, I think treasure hunts are greatly underrated. They can be simple or as elaborate as you want to make them. I remember having a “treasure hunt” for a Christmas gift one year. We had a pirate themed party for our oldest’s 5th birthday and had a treasure hunt for the kids to find their treat bags. Whether you use simple clues or go all-out, your kids, especially younger children, will love finding the a surprise box filled with small toys for everyone or a new toy for the entire family. 

Birthday Morning Surprises

This is probably the most difficult to pull of without spending a ton of money. But one way we try to make each birthday special is by hanging a birthday banner up before the birthday person wakes up. I always want this to be the first thing they see when they wake up on their special day. I know many families that also decorate the kid’s door to usher in their birthday. These are in addition to their cake and other presents, but has become a beloved tradition in our home and one that we all enjoy.

Surprising your kids doesn’t just have to be for those with extra room in their budget. Finding different ways to show those you love and care about them can one of the best gifts. And the best part is, none of these surprises will cost you anything but your time!

What’s your best surprise that doesn’t cost a dime?