School is out and we are ready to play and have fun. But since I'm frugal, we won't be spending a lot of money. So here are some fun things we plan on enjoying this summer that are free or frugal:
$1 kids movies! They were free last year, but the local theater was bought out so now it's $1. We plan to go a few times this summer. There are also movies in the park. Check out some free or frugal kids movies in your area.
Splash Park! We will be spending lots of time here... my kids love it!
This is Warrick's first ever splash pad experience... 2010 :)
Library summer reading program! We have never done this before, and the kids have really enjoyed it. We go to the library weekly to story and craft time and pick out new books to read. The goal for the summer is for children to read 2400 pages. For every 600 pages you read to your child, they receive a prize. We so far have read over 1200 ... the kids love going to collect their prizes and pick out new books. Here they are with their prize picks.Local Parks! There are some great parks/playgrounds in my area. Pack a picnic and head out for the day. Your kids will have a blast and take long naps when you return home :)
Your backyard! We don't have a swingset, but I've found some fun things to keep the kids occupied. We have a kiddie pool, a sprinkler, and a little tykes slide. Never underestimate the little things. My kids also enjoy blowing bubbles, water balloons, and sidewalk chalk... with a mere $3, my kids can be entertained for hours!
Festivals and Parades! Last year we went to PBS kids in the Park and the kids loved it! This is how we will be spending our Saturday morning :)
State Fair! They always have free or discounted days. And where else can you get a donut burger and fried oreo?? Don't worry, we only eat that way once a year.
Check your local chamber of commerce or park department website for more summer activities!
What is your favorite frugal summer activity?
I am not sure if Warrick is old enough to get into this or not but the kiddos I nanny for are ALL into the kiddie pool. The family has a great deck, so we pull the pool up to the deck (which is in the shade). We have car washes, surfing contests (they have little lego surfers), and make origami boats. The kids are so creative and always coming up with a new idea to play in the water. (The middle of the kiddos is a 6 year old boy, he and I have some pretty epic water gun battles, we shoot the grass, not each other, but see how can shoot the farthest).
ReplyDeleteI like to play store with the kids too (they LOVE playing any version of store). I pulled out ALL the DVDs, lined them up and let them go to it. The first time they could walk through the "aisles" (DVDs laying on the floor in rows) and pick out their top 5. The next time was what they thought their friends would like, and then some for charity. The best part - I would check them out and organize/alphabetize the DVDs before putting them away.
We also like to tour parks. (I am more into this than they are - but we make a pro/con list of the different parks - there are TONS out here) and then we give them an overall rating.
And since summer days can get long, there is a bigger emphasis on chores during the summer. Since we are not rushing out the door to school, we spend a good hour or so getting ready for our day and doing chores in the morning. It makes play time seem like a reward then.
Okay that was long :) When all else fails, watching TV in an air-conditioned living room proves to be a good activity too!