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Memorial Day is almost here. It's time for the Baby Cheapskate Guide to Cheap Summer Fun!
1. Hit the books: Your local library has AC, free books, free DVDs, and kids classes and storytimes. What more could you ask for? Tackle a reading list for a real sense of achievement. See the top ten reading lists for kids here.
2. Join a playgroup. Use the Web to Find the Perfect Summer Playgroup
3. Catch a free family movie.
AMC Movies Summer Movie Camp shows kids movies for a buck on Wednesdays. Regal Cinemas Family Film Festival offers free movies, too. Check for free outdoor family movies at the park or at a local pool (Google "outdoor movie" and the name of your town.)
4. Play in a fountain. In Atlanta we have a great play fountain at Centennial Olympic Park for kids to play in. Find one in your town by Googling the name of your town plus "play fountain." Local public pools and ponds are cool spots, too.
5. Ride the escalator at the mall. If you have a toddler you know what I mean. Bonus points if your mall still has a fountain.
6. Visit a playground you've never been to. Find one here (or Google your town plus "playground") and head out in the morning before it gets too hot. Take some sidewalk chalk, a ball to kick around and a picnic lunch.
7. Listen to a story. Your local bookstore probably conducts storytime for kids at least once a week. GoCityKids is a good place to look for one. Barnes and Noble and Borders have them, too.
8. Stroll an arts festival. Many arts festivals have children's areas with arts, crafts and entertainment. If not, try an easy scavenger hunt: "Can you find a painting with an apple on it?"
9. Ride a bike (or skate or walk). Check out Bikely.com for route ideas. Browse hikes near U.S. metro areas at LocalHikes.com.
10. Catch fireflies (and let them go). Learn all about fireflies here and have a great science lesson, too.
Super Bonus Fun:
- Search for overlooked local attractions at Waymarking.com
- For more rainy-day fun, check out these three fun websites for toddlers.
- For more fun, check out Rookie Moms.
- Find 7 Backyard Games and Activities at Kaboose.com.
- Family Fun has summer activities sorted by age group.
photo by hoyasmeg via Flickr
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8 comments:
Going along with the library idea - many libraries offer free passes to zoos and museums, as long as you have a library card. We just picked up a coupon at our local library good for up to 4 free admissions to the children's museum. We saved $26!
We go to the botanical gardens here in fort worth a lot(I'd say at least every third weekend, sometimes more). Most parts of it are free, and it's gorgeous. Back in MA I used to go to the greenhouse and gardens at smith college(from when I was a wee bub until I moved away at 22), which was also free. I'm sure a lot of areas have something similar.
Highly recommend the summer movie camps! Our theater also offers lower priced kids snacks, and will carry them all for you if your hands are full with the kiddos.
Fun ideas... but the escalator one isn't such a good idea with little ones! Dangerous! I know several people who have been injured from an escalator.
woo hoo for summer fun! i'd throw my 2 cents in for free theater and concerts. lots of outdoor shakespeare festivals take place on big lawns--easy to get a bit of the bard while you eat and play on blankets. can park your picnic in the back and leave early when the wee ones crash!
anon,
I feel completely comfortable letting my child ride the escalator with me. We just make sure he's not wearing shoes with laces and that I'm holding his hand.
a bucket of soapy water (dish detergent) and the hose is good, clean, and cheap fun for my toddler. I like to let her "wash" the car.
Minnesota started to get rid of public fountains for kids to play in. There have been to many outbreaks of E-Coli. When you get little ones in the water and they are still in diapers, that can get into the water and it just keeps recirulating. If it gets into your mouth...ick, E-Coli can occur.
We also use $.99 bowling nights. My three year old loves bowling, even though he isn't very good at it.
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