It's time for some summer fun, enrolling in multiple summer camps can be
costly. The good news is there's plenty of free fun to be had that
entertains and even educates children while giving parents' wallets a
vacation too.
Weekend activity programmes for children
Find free summer programs for kids that won't cost you a cent and
will keep your children busy until the school bell rings again.
Movies
Watch a free movie at the theater or under the stars. Many movie
theaters host free movie days throughout the summer. Outdoor movies are
usually in the park where there's plenty of room for families to spread
out with blankets and coolers.Indoors or outdoors, some free movie
events are sponsored, which usually includes games, prizes, and food
giveaways. Kids probably won't get to see the latest box office smash,
but they do get to watch a family-friendly movie at no cost to you.
Sports Clinics
Learn from college athletes, their coaches, and even professionals
in the sport. Free sports clinics are usually held on college campuses
for a limited amount of kids. Each free sports clinic has its own rules
but many allow children as young as 4 and up to 17 years of age.
Behind-the-Scenes Tours
What's it like to work at a TV station? How does the mail get from
point A to point B? Let the kids take a behind the scenes tour to find
out.You can tour many places simply by asking. Be creative when choosing
locations to visit. If your kids are interested in animals, tour a
veterinary hospital. If they like baseball, set up a tour at your local
stadium.
Camps
Grants and sponsors make some summer camps free for kids. Art,
writing, theater, math, science and reading camps are some of the themes
of these camps. But many also include crafts, field trips, and
swimming.There are even special free summer camps that cover
anti-bullying, conflict resolution, self-esteem, leadership skills, and
personal safety topics.
Vacation Bible School
Churches hold Vacation Bible School as an outreach of their
ministries. Members of the church, as well as non-members, are invited
for a free week of fun. Kids sing songs, learn Bible lessons, make
friends, create crafts, perform in skits and learn how to treat others,
among other valuable lessons.Each church has its own age guidelines but 3
and up usually benefit the most from Vacation Bible School.
Volunteer Opportunities
As soon as kids can walk, they can start learning the benefits of
volunteering with you. When they get older, they can branch out into
their own volunteering opportunities.
Cleaning up the park or the beach, collecting books and toys for the
less privileged, visiting nursing homes and helping prepare meals for
the homeless are just a few of the many ways kids can volunteer.
Library Events
The library is an excellent venue for story time. But did you know
there are even more activities for kids at the library that won't get
them shushed? Most libraries offer free summer reading programs. Kids
sign up to read a certain amount of books over the summer. The library
then awards prizes and holds a party for the eager readers at the end of
the reading program.
Or just stop in for one of the library's other special events.
Themed activity days may include book readings, related crafts, and
hands-on learning. For example, a fire safety day might feature stories
about firefighters, a dress-up time where kids can put on a
firefighter's gear and a visit from a real fire truck so kids can see
how it works. Other lessons can also be educational with activities
designed to teach kids about computers, stranger danger, and bike and
water safety.
Arts and Crafts at Museums
Introduce art appreciation at a young age. Museums are reaching out
to future artists through free kids' programs that encourage them to
create their own works of art.
Storytime ties book illustrations into the art you find in the
museum. Kids enjoy craft time, paint, use clay and a variety of other
mediums to enrich their art experience.
Parks and Recreation Activities
Playing in the park can be more than an hour on the playground. Many
parks and recreation departments set up a summer schedule of day-long
activities.Kids are exposed to the arts, fitness lessons, a variety of
sports, even computer instruction. Check your city's local parks and
recreation department website to see what activities are planned near
you.
Building Workshops
Some home improvement stores offer free building workshops that help
kids build everything from a birdhouse to a miniature schoolhouse. Kids
get free aprons, goggles and the required tools and supplies to build
their own project with the help of the store's employees.The most
popular kids' workshops are through Home Depot and Lowe's. Home Depot's
Kids Workshop is the first Saturday of the month. Lowe's Build and Grow
Clinics are every Saturday.
Admission to Children's Museums, Theaters and Art Museums
Spend a day at a children's learning museum, children's theater or
art museum absolutely free. Target Free Days lists thousands of places
across the country where admission is free. Some locations have a
reduced-cost admission, but most waive the admission fee completely. The
program is available all year long, but it's perfect for summer outings
with the whole family.
The Wall