This summer, we can challenge ourselves to keep the kids (and the whole family actually) entertained with things that don’t cost anything (or at least very little). Here is what we have come up with so far…
Because of the holiday, there was a lot to do this weekend.
Today, we attended our town’s Fourth of July festivities. First there was the parade. My husband and my oldest son rode their bikes, while the rest of us cheered. The little kids got to catch candy thrown from the parade floats. Afterward, there were games and prizes offered for the kids, plus free hot dogs and drinks. Everyone had a lot of fun.
Last night, we attended a near by town’s fireworks. It was a wonderful show, very grand, and except for the cost of gas (we had to travel about 20 minutes), we were able to watch it for free. Some shows in our area are starting to charge admission for the best viewing spots.
Early in the afternoon, the kids got a lot of fun in, thanks to our wonderful neighbors and their pool. My oldest son even got some swimming lessons!
Since I am still recovering from an illness, the weekend has wiped me out, so this may the limit of entertainment that requires a lot of energy or even standing up on my part. Maybe we will have a small fire in the fire pit and invite the neighbors over to catch fire flies. Of course the summer isn’t over yet. There are many other events, such as free movies, free music concerts, etc. The library has many summer events, as does a local “city” that we can take advantage of this summer.
Unfortunately I am noticing this year, that a lot of things for the kids that used to be free, such as learning excursions at a local art museum and at a local nature preserve, now charge good size fees for participation. Have you seen this trend in your area, too?
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