Summer Activies?

Question

My children are ages 10, 8, and 2. and I have a 4 month old. what can I do with them over the summer? also, we are VERY low on money so we can't do things that cost or require much driving.

Answer 1

Often the Park and Rec. have things for kids over the summer months. Most of it is free.

Answer 2

parks

lakes

sleepovers

walks around the neighborhood

going over to a friend's or relative's

Answer 3

Do you live near town or rural?  If you're close to town, try your public library for summer reading program or storytime, which our library has 2 times a week, for all age kids.  Also our local theatre has weekly free movies for the kiddos, and the public schools have a summer meal program that feeds all kids under 18 for free, breakfast and lunch.  Once again, it's if you live close enough to walk or drive short distances to these things.  If not--I'm 13 mi. out of town with an 8 yo and a 4 yo and can't afford the gas.  We play games, the kids have a little pool outside, we watch movies and take walks down the dirt road in back of our acreage.  Summer is HOT here so just in the AM for the walks.  Sometimes there are free plays for the kids in town.  Check the newspaper or the community calendar if there's a free  one in your area (sometimes your Sunday paper will give you some clues to local activities of different kinds)

Answer 4

Do you live near a YMCA or a community centre? Usually they will have day camps for children and if you live close enough you can walk. Some of the day camps the "Y" provides are free, and I know they do discounts based on income for gym memberships so I assume day camps would be no different.

Are you or your children religious? If you live near a church, many churches do "Vacation Bible School" for children and it is almost always free. They will get lunch there, as well as do crafts, do physical activity, etc. It is a day camp so they will be away all day giving you some "quiet time" with you and your 2 babies.

Have you considered "sleep-away" summer camps for your children? You can do an online search for camps nearby. For families who are low on income, there are usually charities set up so that children can go to camp for free or a very huge discounted rate. While you will have to drop your kids off at the camp - they'll be gone for a whole week so the driving actually is cut down a whole lot. Children make friends at camp and do activities that they normally wouldn't be able to do (canoeing, water skiing, wake-boarding, rock climbing, etc.)

Do you and your older children have bikes? Your 10 and 8 year old can go rollerblading, biking, walking, hiking and play in the park. You and your babies can go for stroller walks along the park or a shady area where they won't burn or get too much sun.

Do you have a public swimming pool near you? I don't know how young a child can go swimming, but many pools have a "mom and tots" program where mothers and their babies can swim and do simple water movement that isn't too extreme. Prices to get into swimming pools are very low - around $2.00 or less in most places and you can get a summer pass to save $$ if you'll be going there a lot.

Do you work? If you are a stay at home mother you can invite your children's friend over for lunch once or twice a week and they can have craft time or you can hook up a waterhose outside for them to run in. Perhaps your child's friend's mother will offer to take the children one or 2 days as well to do lunch and an activity.

Board games are another option - especially for rainy days - so are video games. Families usually have these things on hand anyway.

Lots of museums and science centres are either free or very cheap. If you live near one, why not check it out and make a day of it?

Hopefully you live near some of these places as gas is very expensive. Summer is the best time to try lots of different activites because it's warm and children have school off. Have fun and look for coupons for waterparks, themeparks or children concerts/plays in the newspaper. Good luck!

Answer 5

Swimming, picnics, playing in the park, going to the beach or river (if you live nearby them)...