Free or cheap summer activities

[redsoxphan]

What types of things do you do with your kids when school is not in session?

There's only so many times one can walk to the park ;)

[Twinmamas]

our movie theatre has a special kids' movie on Tuesday mornings, just $1 admission. It's not new stuff, but rather stuff like Shrek, Charlotte's Web, etc. The $ goes to a local food pantry.

Slip-and-slide has proven a cheap way to kill afternoons!

[Kanga]

Wading Pools - they are several ones around here that are free and geared towards the under 5 crowd.

[Renrel]

Gardening
running through sprinklers
chalk on the sidewalk
library
aquarium
free outdoor concerts
picnics (even on the front lawn)
feeding the ducks at the river edge
bubbles
foam air launch rockets
bug collecting

[catmom]

Zoo
library
pool
farmer's market
local nature center
local fountain
up to the lake to walk around/check out the geese/have a picnic

[myshel]

Do you have splashpads in your city? We have quite a few in mine, and the kids love them!

[Tray85]

There's a butterfly house we go to ($1 donation)
Bike rides in the Burley to a park & then have a picnic
Splash park (we have a free one and a low cost one around)
Go to tennis courts/basketball courts & throw bouncy balls around
Pet stores
Feed the ducks down by the river
Go to the pool during twilight hours (its cheap after say, 6pm)
Playgroup
short train ride - a few bucks
there are a few free zoos nearby
We've been to various town's history museums and a lot of them have kid stuff to do, believe it or not
Library storytime - usually free

[mamax2]

Library (not just for Story Time, but ours does lots of extra summer programs, today we did a 'Build-a-Bear' type workshop - FREE!!)

Beach (I know, we're in the lucky minority on that one though)

Make stuff like ice cream, popsicles, etc.

Sprinkler

Playdates w/friends

[hub1176]

Library
town parks
local children's museum (low cost)
neighbors pool;)
county beach (lake)
Grandma's house:D

[Winter Biscuit]

Campfires w/ S'mores
Run a lemonade stand (IMO, every kid should do this at least once ;))
Play croquet and bocce ball
Grow your own veggie garden

The first Saturday of every month, Home Depot hosts their Kids Workshops (http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentView?pn=Kids_Workshops&langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053). It's free, and the kids get to make something while learning safety skills. The workshops are available year-round; it's not just a summer activity. It's supposed to be for kids 5-12, but my 4.5 year old has been going to them.

[Renrel]

We have been doing those Home Depo things since DS was about 3, maybe younger. They are great. Some projects are better then others though, either because there is more to do or the end product is more fun/useful. Our favorites so far are the fire engine bank, car and cataman(sp).

This past weekend we were having company and needed to clean the house. I gave DS a spray bottle of vinigar and water and a rag and let him clean any window he could reach safely, including standing on his stepping stool for a few. He had a good time and earned himself a dollar (the window may not have been really clean but he made a sincere effort to help.)

Washing the car with water and soap detergent or some other safe soap.

I just read and intesting suggestion - let your child create a garden in a small wagon. drill holes in the bottom for drainage, fill it three quarters full of soil and let your child pick what floower he/or she wants to grow. They he/she can care for the garden all summer and even take it for a walk.

Take a mini vacation. Go to a local hotel or motel for just a night or two, mid week or weekend depending which is cheaper. Use their pool, their room service, rent movies and stay up late watching TV.

[hub1176]

Wanted to add, strawberry picking at your local farm. My MIL took my 3 yo DD yesterday and they had a blast. Not to mention the strawberries are to die for! We are having strawberry shortcake for dessert tonight :)

[Renrel]

I just noticed your online name and realized you are likely in the MA area. Thus a few more idea that I know are possible around the boston, Metro West area:

MBTA rides - Train or Ferry rides just for the fun of riding.
Learning Express has arts and craft activities on Saturdays, I haven't done them but they look interesting
Many libaries have free or discount passes to things like the Science Museum or Children's Museum.
On Sundays Mem Drive becomes a park for strolling, biking and blading.
Join a town pool if you have the option
The beach
Some towns of sprinkler parks. I know of a great one in Belmont we used alot and the is one in the park behind Arsenal mall, just one sprinkler but it is fun.
There is a hotel in boston where you can get a day pass (weekdays only) to there roof top pool for $30. Not a daily activity of course but for a big slurge it could be fun.
Canue ride -though I would want another adult around.
Ferry to Salem Willows
TRU just to play around with the display toys (my mom does this when her grandkids visit, I don't)
Mall play areas

A few more idea non-boston related

Mini golf - real or buy a set and play in the yard or even a park
Badmitten (sp)
Croquet
Tennis - just hitting a ball around obviously
practice hitting a ball with a bat, off a T or with a soft pitch
Make Ice Cream
Hide some small thing, like beads or marbles or mini plastic toys, whatever would work for your kids, in the yard or at a park and let the kids hunt for them.

[redsoxphan]

These are perfect, you guys. Thanks!!!

[Renrel]

Just wanted to give you a heads up that the Lowel Folk Festival is coming up the weekend of the 27th. Free outdoor concerts all day for 2-3 days if I remember and lots of really good ethnic concession food - things from private groups like Churchs or Associations rather than your normal fair food. Anyway thats what I remember from when I went sans child many years ago. I think it would be a fun event for kids though I am not sure there is anything particularly designed for them, I have not checked out a schedule for this year. There might be special kid stuff. I think they are doing free kids concerts on vaious wednsdays during the summer but I have not paid much attention since I work during the week.

Some other ideas in MA -

Friday nights are free or maybe $2 to get into the Childrens' Museum and I think they are also having free concerts.
Friday night movies on the Esplanade
Drive in movies in Mendon ($20 a car load so it is cheap if you have a number of kids or go with another family. The snack bar is good but gets expensive when you add it all up. You can bring in your own food.)
Trips to the Harbor Islands.
Wednsday nights there are concerts on Government plaza (oldies groups and stuff like that usually) and classical concerts on the Esplanade.
Saints festivals in the North End of Boston.



I have heard the local beachs are dangerously over crowded this year. Locals all decided to stay near home apparently given gas prices and the life guards are freaking out over how many people they need to keep track of. Just something to be aware of before heading out for the Ocean.

[junkinmytrunk]

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