With gas prices at an all time high right now, many families are looking at staying home this summer and finding local activities to pass the time. Here are ten affordable ideas that will make your stay at home summer, the best one yet!
1. Zoo Time– Many zoos across the country participate in programs for low income individuals or have a day set aside each month where the public can get in for a discounted price. If you’re not a family that qualifies for government assistance, make sure and check your local zoo’s website to see if they offer any special rates throughout the month or through your employer.
2. Bowling Fun– www.kidsbowlfree.com offers free bowling for kids at bowling alleys all over the country! Participating alleys offer 2 free games per day, per child. Each location is different but some of them even include shoe rentals with your summer pass! It’s a great way to get out of the house and burn off some energy for free in the air conditioning!
3. Movie Dates– When researching for this blog I found that most movie groups offer discounts on Tuesdays when you’re part of their free membership club. This is a great way to see new summer movies without the big ticket of regular prices. Costco also sells ticket passes at a discounted rate when you buy a pack of them.
4. Water Play– Search your local community for free water play areas. Many cities and towns have splash pads that are open to the public for free as well as fountains and small splash pools that kids can get wet in on a hot summer day. Your kids will love being in the water and around other children their age! For older kids who can swim, check Facebook for local community groups that can point you to the best swimming hole.
5. Puzzle Time– Grab inexpensive puzzles from the dollar store (make sure they’re all the same or comparable in difficulty). Set a timer and see who can finish their puzzle first. Older kids? Use the 500-1000 piece puzzles and spend the day on this. Make sure there are snacks and drinks, puzzle making is tough! You can also have a gaming day where you spend the day playing your favorite board and card games.
6. Hotel Night– Do you have a local hotel that’s not very expensive but has a pool (and bonus points for a restaurant), book one night and let your kids swim and act “fancy” by ordering room service or pizza from a local restaurant. Rent a movie and stay up late to talk and paint nails, or jump on the beds. You might not get a lot of sleep but your kids will remember it for a lifetime!
7. Geocash Search– Have you heard of geocashing? Touted as the “world’s largest treasure hunt” Geocashing is fun, free, and most importantly, gets you into nature. There are geocaches all over the world and you and your kids can search for them wherever you end up this summer! Go to www.geocaching.com or grab their app to sign up and start searching!
8. Camping Night– Grab your camping gear (or borrow from a friend) and head to the great outdoors… your backyard! You’ll have access to a full kitchen, bathroom, and if it rains you can run inside, it’s the perfect camping situation 😉 If you have a fire pit you can roast marshmallows and hot dogs, if you don’t there’s always the barbeque or oven! The beauty of backyard camping is in the memories you’ll make. If you live in an apartment ask a friend or relative if you can use their backyard for the night, your kids will love it!
9. Craft Day– Head to your local dollar store or raid your crafting closet and spend the day making crafts with your kids. You can find all sorts of ideas for crafting at www.easypeasyandfun.com which also has printables and ideas for art projects!
10. VBS– Vacation Bible School is a great way to not only entertain your child during the day but also have them be around the word of God and learn Biblical values. Many church programs are free for those in the community but if they aren’t and you need financial assistance, make sure and ask. I’ve never encountered a program that didn’t offer scholarships. Google VBS in your area or ask your local Facebook group for some suggestions of local churches that offer these. Your kids will make memories and learn values that will last their entire lives!
We hope whatever you’re doing this summer that you have a wonderful time and remember, making memories doesn’t have to cost much. Your children will remember the love they feel this summer more than anything else!
