Great (and Cheap) Summer Activities for your Kids

Summer is here! And, around my house, it is pretty obvious. Over the years I have noticed that my kids always seem to get a condition during the first week of summer called "rulesdontapplya." Rulesdontapplya is a common ailment that hits kids of all ages right after school lets out. Maybe your kids get it too. You might see this ailment displayed in behaviors like eating popsicles for breakfast, wearing pajamas until 6:00 p.m. or by the noncompliance of standard household rules like wearing shoes outdoors or bathing. It usually takes a week for my kids to get this illness completely out of their systems. That’s why I typically do not schedule any activities for them the first week. I let them be lazy daisies. That way, by the second week of summer vacation, my kids are practically begging me to put them in summer school to combat their boredom. That’s when our real summer schedule begins.

There are so many things to do with kids in the summer to keep them busy without spending a lot of money. Start by scouring the local newspaper to find out the happenings in your local area. Although each area is different, there are some summer staples that are typically found throughout the country.

First of all, the library usually offers programs for preschoolers all the way up to teens. You can enroll in a summer reading program that rewards kids for reading books. Also, many libraries have weekly storytelling sessions that include arts and crafts. And, most of the activities are free to the public. Public libraries also offer classes for kids on things like babysitting, pet care, and learning special skills. Our library has weekly activities for kids as well like bingo, scavenger hunts, and puppet shows.

Next, check out some movie theater discounts. National Amusements offers a wonderful program called "Bookworm Wednesdays" throughout the summer. This program encourages young children to read by offering a free movie on Wednesdays for those kids who read a book and write a short book report about the book. Bookworm Wednesdays entitles kids to free admission to a specific children’s film every Wednesday from June 27th to August 15th at 10:00 a.m. All they need to do is present the Official Bookworm Entry containing their book summary at participating Showcase/Multiplex Cinemas or Cinema de Lux box offices. Children under six who accompany a participant are not required to do a book report. Adults who accompany a participant receive free admission to the Bookworm Wednesdays movie. To learn more about Bookworm Wednesdays, visit the National Amusements website.

Another great place to look for great summer activities is your local Parks and Recreation Department. Many sponsor free programs for children of all ages and families. For example, you can register for scheduled activities, art projects, nature hikes, environmental education and other various park happenings. For a nominal fee, you could also sign your kids up for youth athletics and other age-specific activities.

Vacation Bible School (VBS) programs provide fun and engaging ways for kids to learn about the Bible during the summer. Typically about a week long, kids attend either a morning or evening VBS, depending on the church. Not only do children have the opportunity to learn about the Bible and meet new friends, they also get to play games, participate in fun activities and make crafts. Always free for kids, it's also common for Vacation Bible Schools to have a theme each year. Activities, crafts and scripture lessons taught throughout the week all center on the chosen theme. My kids have attended as many as three different Vacation Bible Schools at different churches during the summer. They love it and always learn new things.

The bottom line is, you can keep your schedule full of free activities if you take some time to look around. So, make sure you beat the boredom blues by getting your kids involved in local programs that can keep them active physically as well as keeping their brains busy. Check out your local area newspapers and websites for free and nearly-free summer activities that will keep your children entertained, healthy and active without you going broke!