Summer is officially here and that means three glorious months of sunshine, barbecues, and the kids love this… no homework! It’s also three whole months to keep the kids busy – a task that can wear on nerves and the pocketbook. So, this summer make it your mission to get out there and explore your surroundings. There are so many free and low-cost sights and activities that will keep kids active, occupied, and learning all summer long, as long as you know where to look!
Take a family field trip, no school bus necessary!
A family of four can get an annual museum membership for about $75, an investment that quickly pays off especially when you take advantage of reciprocal admission programs. Become a member at a participating center and get free or discount admission to hundreds of other locations that participate in reciprocal programs offered by the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Factory tours are a surprisingly great and inexpensive way to keep kids occupied or break up a road trip. Factory Tours USA lists 571 to choose from including some very kid-friendly tours like the Stuffington Bear Factory in Phoenix, Arizona.
Minor League Baseball games are an affordable way to enjoy America’s favorite pastime this summer. You’ll save on tickets and concession favorites, plus you’ll get to watch the game in a more intimate setting. Visit MiLB.com to see if there is a team near you. Check promotional calendars for family nights where a family of four can get tickets and concessions for less than $10 each.
Find summer discounts at your usual hangouts.
Kids can get two free games of bowling every day this summer at participating locations when their parents register them at KidsBowlFree.com. Adults who want to join the fun can sign up for a low cost family pass.
If you need a break from the heat, step into an air-conditioned theater with summer movie discounts. Theaters like Cinemark, Harkins, and Regal Cinemas are playing popular kid’s movies like Parental Guidance and Ice Age 4 for $1 or less when you join their summer programs, which typically play flicks on weekday mornings.
Look for retailers offering free or low-priced kids activities. Home Depot and Lowe’s have free, monthly building workshops where kids can construct a take-home project and get gear like an apron or goggles. Michael’s craft stores host $2 workshops where kids can paint planters, spring necklaces, and more.
Turn fitness into fun for the whole family.
Spend a day on the water. Rent kayaks at a nearby lake or check for rental sites at a nearby state or national park. The first hour usually costs around $20 but becomes less per hour the longer you stay out on the water. Save your kayak trip for August 25, National Park Service Birthday, when entrance is free to all national parks.
Some local parks and recreation departments rent out very low cost sporting equipment. Spice up your next family picnic or trip to the park with croquet, badminton, or a parachute.
Make walking a friendly competition. Have each family member wear a pedometer and see who racks up the most steps by the end of the day. Create weekly goals like walking the dog as a family three times a week or make it part of a larger goal like training for a kid-friendly walk-a-thon.
Give a lesson in healthy eating and financial responsibility.
Turn grocery shopping into a savings lesson. Establish a weekly grocery budget, then help kids plan well-balanced menus and make a shopping list within that budget. Teach them saving strategies like planning meals around store ads, comparing unit prices, and clipping coupons from www.couponsforchange.org.
Take the amount you save each shopping trip and set it aside for a special end-of-summer family outing like a camping trip or day at the amusement park. These simple strategies can save hundreds of dollars so anything is possible! Let kids know that by taking the time to coupon through Coupons for Change, not only are they saving money, but they are giving meals to children in need.
Do some good with all that spare time.
Filter volunteer opportunities that are goods for kids or teens at volunteermatch.org. Choose an activity or cause that appeals to one of your child’s interests like a beach cleanup day if they love whales or a book drive for a literacy program if they love to read.
Host a lemonade stand that could save lives. Alex’s Lemonade Stand was started by 4-year-old cancer patient, Alex Scott, who raised $1 million towards childhood cancer research before passing away at age 8. Since then, kids across the country have continued her mission, raising more than $60 million. Register at alexslemonade.org and they will send your family a kit complete with banner, fliers, and thank you notes.
Teens can volunteer as an assistant couch, mentor, or camp counselor. It’s a chance to take on a leadership role and be part of an activity they love without parents having to pay enrollment and participation fees.
