It's the summer holidays, the "I'm bored" countdown has already started, and you're after screen-free summer holiday activities for kids that don't cost a penny and don't need a car journey to sort out. Good news: some of the best free things to do in the summer holidays are already sitting in your kitchen drawer. All you need is paper and a few coloured pencils.
Below are our favourite screen-free, budget-free ways to fill an hour (or three) with kids aged 4–9 — plus a free printable drawing pack you can download right now, featuring animals from both British gardens and the African savanna.
Why Drawing Is the Ultimate Free Summer Activity
Drawing ticks every box a bored-parent-of-bored-kids could ask for. It's completely free, it needs zero setup, it works at the kitchen table or in the back of the car, and it keeps little hands busy for far longer than you'd expect. Unlike most "free" activities, it doesn't quietly turn into a screen five minutes later either.
It's also quietly brilliant for kids: drawing builds concentration, fine motor skills, and — because every child can have a go regardless of ability — a real sense of "I made that!" confidence. That's the whole idea behind Chunky Badger's 6 Simple Steps method: break any animal down into easy shapes so children can draw independently, no reading required.
🎨 FREE Summer Holidays Drawing Pack
We've put together 6 step-by-step animals — 3 British favourites and 3 African icons — completely free to print at home. No email required, no catch.
📥 Download the Free Drawing Pack (PDF)7 Screen-Free Things to Do With Kids This Summer
1. Learn to Draw an Animal in 6 Easy Steps
Start with our free pack above and pick an animal — a ladybird, a squirrel, a lion, or an elephant. Each one breaks down into 6 simple steps, so even first-time artists can follow along without help.
2. Turn the Garden Into a Sketching Safari
Head outside (or just look out the window) and see what you can spot — a robin, a bee, a spider in the shed. Sketch what you see, then look it up afterwards to see how close you got.
3. Run a Living Room "Animal Art Gallery"
Draw a few animals, colour them in, and Blu-Tack them up along the hallway or living room wall. Give your little artist a proper "gallery opening" — it costs nothing and the pride on their face is worth more than any subscription box.
4. Make Up a Story to Go With the Drawing
Once the animal is drawn, ask "what's their name, and what are they doing today?" A five-minute drawing can turn into a twenty-minute story session, and it's brilliant for language development too.
5. Have a Family Draw-Off
Everyone draws the same animal — mum, dad, siblings, grandparents on a video call — then compare results. It's silly, it's free, and it usually ends in a lot of laughing at Dad's wonky giraffe.
6. Build a Rainy-Afternoon Drawing Den
Cushions, a torch, a clipboard, and the free drawing pack. Ten minutes of setup buys you a solid hour of quiet, screen-free focus — perfect for the inevitable rainy day in the school holidays.
7. Post It to a Grandparent
A finished drawing in an envelope, sent to a grandparent or relative, costs a stamp and makes someone's day. It's a lovely screen-free way to fill a morning from start to finish — drawing, colouring, writing a little note, and a trip to the postbox.
What You'll Need (Spoiler: Not Much)
- Plain paper (the free pack above is ready to print)
- A pencil and eraser ✏️
- Coloured pencils, crayons, or felt tips
- A flat surface — kitchen table, bedroom floor, or garden picnic blanket
That's genuinely it. No subscriptions, no apps, no batteries.
More Free Animals to Draw
Once you've worked through the free pack, there's plenty more where that came from. Learn to Draw: British Animals covers 45+ animals from foxes to puffins, and Learn to Draw: African Animals takes you from the savanna to the jungle. Both use the same easy 6-step method, so if your child's enjoyed the free sheets, they'll be right at home with the full books.
Learn to Draw: British Animals
45+ British animals in 6 easy steps — foxes, hedgehogs, otters, puffins and more. Perfect for keeping the summer holidays screen-free right through to September.
Learn to Draw: African Animals
Savanna stars, jungle giants and river dwellers — from lions and elephants to meerkats and crocodiles.
Want even more for free? Grab our FREE 5-day drawing pack — 5 more animals delivered to your inbox, one per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good screen-free activities for kids in the summer holidays?
Drawing, sketching outdoors, storytelling, building dens, and craft with things you already own are some of the best screen-free summer holiday activities for kids. They need little to no setup, cost nothing, and can run for as long (or as short) as your day allows.
Is the Chunky Badger drawing pack really free?
Yes — the Summer Holidays Drawing Pack above is a completely free PDF download with 6 animals to learn to draw. No email sign-up required, no hidden cost. We also offer a free 5-day drawing pack by email if you'd like even more.
What age are the drawing sheets suitable for?
Our step-by-step method is designed for children aged 4–9. Younger children may enjoy colouring in the finished animal while an older sibling or parent draws the steps, and older children can usually follow the 6 steps independently.
Do I need any special art supplies?
No — just plain paper, a pencil, an eraser, and some colouring pencils, crayons, or felt tips. Nothing needs to be bought specially.
How do I download the free drawing pack?
Click the download button above the pack image on this page — it opens as a PDF you can save or print straight away, at home or at a local library or print shop.
Well Done, Little Artists! 🎉
That's a whole summer holiday's worth of screen-free, budget-free fun sorted — starting with six animals and a pencil. Print the pack, grab the crayons, and see whose lion looks the fiercest.
