What are some cheap ways to keep my children entertained this summer?

Question

What are some cheap ways to keep my children entertained this summer?

Answer 1

I take my kids to a camp ground lake near us and it is free to go there and it's a nice small beach. We bring lots of food and sand toys and spend many summer days there. I also buy a beach pass for $60.00 and then we can go to the beach all summer on the pass which is normally $10 on wek days and $20 on weekends to park so the pass saves us money. We live 10 minutes from the ocean.

picnics at the playground, water balloons, sprinkler, arts and crafts, have friends over and play dates.

Answer 2

small pool, sprinkler, picnics, walks, playing at the park, playing sports, chores.

Answer 3

water balloons. scavenger hunts, a pool, walks, picnics

Answer 4

let them help you make their snacks, lunch, etc.

inexpensive crafts

wading pools

going to parks, playgroups, etc

having picnics

playing outside

going for walks

make a scavenger hunt, and play games with them=)

Answer 5

the movies around my way show free movies once a week.  they are not new movies but kid movies and all the theaters have these free movies on different days!

Answer 6

You can:

-Have your own drive-in movie. Bring the television set outdoors and let the kids watch a movie on blankets under the stars.  For added fun, invite the neighborhood kids to drive-in on their bicycles to enjoy the movie, too

-Water balloons.  An always fun, but often forgotten activity, water balloons are easy to make and cheap!

-Oversized painting.  Tape several large sheets of paper together on the backside, and flip them over on the lawn.  Fill a few containers with different colors of fingerpaints, and give the kids a box of strange items to make their painting with.  Try: spaghetti strainer, a balloon, a mop head, sponges, rain boots and any other objects you see lying around!

Answer 7

If you want cheap fun, the first thing to do is be organized!  I know it's hard to do (i'm definitely a genetic slob) but it really helps.  

First things first, check out local resources.  Your local library will probably have a "story time" or "movie time" or something once or twice a week, and possibly bigger events a couple of times during the summer.  Do you have a local museum or zoo?  Most museums offer family passes for around $60 or $70, and zoos for around $100.  This might sound like alot up front, but it's really not if you get in all year around - even better, it's the same price even if you have lots of kids.  A local children's museum would be great for kids under 8.  Do you have a public pool or a park nearby?  What about a local movie theater.  I know our local theater has free movies twice a week in the summer.  They are usually kid or teen movies that are a year or two old, and they show them for free.  

After you've determined what types of "outings" are available on a regular basis, find some bigger things to do.  Depending on your budget, you can do them once a week, once ever two weeks, or even only once a month.  Knowing they're comming will give your kids something to look forward to.  This could be trips to a museum, camp ground, amusement park, water park, or anything else they really want to do.  Make it special by taking them to a real, sit-down restaurant (it really doesn't cost much more than fast food, and teaches them how to behave and have dinner conversation).  

Now, grab your calendar and mark down your "out of the house" plans!  Once you've done that, it's time to prepare for your more daily schedule.  Lets hit your local library, wal-mart and (if you've got them) Dollar Tree!  

First, the library.  Take your kids and have them pick out a "chapter book".  "The Chronicle's of Narnia" and "Harry Potter" and tons of other series's geared to children are out there.  Sometimes it's fun to just pick up a random novel to explore.   Then, read your kids a chapter out loud every day!  If your kids are older, then you can have them take turns reading aloud to eachother (and you).  This can help their confidence and public speaking skills.

Next, you local discount store.  I suggest trying Dollar Tree first, because they usually have alot of what you'll want.  First - workbooks.  No matter how old your child is, they make workbooks to practice the important skills for that age - even teenagers.  Get some, and work them WITH your children.  Alot of people believe that "summer homeschool" is just telling your child to go do a worksheet every day.  You CAN do that, but it's much better if you make it an involved process.  If you sit down and do it with them, it'll make it more special.  Not only will your son or daughter stay in "ship shape" for the new school year, but they may even enjoy it more!  

Next - crafts.  Dollar tree has tons of great little craft kits.  There are ceramic piggy banks to paint, wind chimes to assemble, and light catchers.  It doesn't really matter.  Stock up on the finger paints, crayons, construction paper, glue, markers, paper plates and cups, pipe cleaners, and puffy balls!  Search the web to find different ideas.  Have a new craft each day, or have a more complex craft that you can assemble a little each day for the entire week.  A favorite one for many kids is pinata's!  The simplest can be made by blowing up a balloon and covering it with paper mache.  When you let the paper mache dry, the baloon pops inside, but the paper mache holds it's shape.  Once it's dry, your kids can paint it with poster paint.  Then they can fill them with candy (or boxes of raisins, coins, little toys, whatever) and break them!  

Don't forget to plan some time outside every day.  Kids are supposed to get at least two full hours of outdoor play a day.  If you live in a really hot area, you probably want to break it up.  In the mornings play outside games together.  Tag, or dodgeball tag, flying kites, frisbee, soccer, or just playing on a swing set can all be fun - so are bubbles!  In the afternoons you'll probably want to be a little cooler - so why not water play?  Sprinklers are great for fun, but so are water guys or even old fashioned water baloons!  Do you have a slide?  If so, but a small blow-up pool (they cost about $10) and put it at the bottom of the slide...  let the kids spray eachother with the hose as they slide down into the pool.  You'll be the best mom ever!  Don't forget the sunscreen and sun glasses - kids eyes can be easily damaged by too much sun these days.  

Now, one of the biggest problems is feeding them a whole extra meal.  Well, a great way to make that less of a hassle is by making them help - and they'll love it too!  Buy a kid's cookbook and let them take turns picking out the meals.  Design the lunch menu at the beginning of each week, and let them help you with the shopping.  When they pick it and help make it, they'll be more likely to eat it (veggies and all).  

Don't forget to schedule in the chores and a little downtime for all of you.  Even if your kids think they're too old for naps, everyone can benefit for an hour or two of "quiet time" in their rooms.  If your kids don't want to sleep, let them watch movies (quietly) or read.  

With a little forthought, you can make a summer at home as cool as any camp - and for much less! Good luck!

Answer 8

sprinkler!! always had the best time when i was little, go to the park, the pool (usually $10.00 a family) pack your own snacks to avoid the consession stand. paint pictures, depends on their ages

Answer 9

let them play house and explore things they never knew

Answer 10

Another outing idea would be the kiddie summer movies special.  For example, the big theatre here offers one kid's movie every Tues & Wed (same movie) for $3 and that includes the kid-size popcorn & drink.  Most of the big chains do this...so you might want to check it out!  Have fun!