I am thrilled to be writing my first post for The Homeschool Village. In taking over the Frugal Homeschooling column, I hope I can bless you and help you keep your homeschool budget under control. Over the last few years I’ve enjoyed finding and sharing great teaching resources around town and on the web – for free. I’ve learned that it is possible to teach all subjects creatively without spending your hard-earned money.
You can find great ways to have summer fun with your family for free too, if you’re willing to take a little time and be creative. Here are a few ideas to increase your family’s summer fun without blowing your budget:
- Kids Bowl Free: You can register your kids to receive two free games per day, all summer long. Stifling hot day, head to the air-conditioned alley and play for awhile. On the site, you can click on your state to find participating lanes near you.
- Library Programs: Most public libraries have kids programs all year long, and summer is no exception. Check out the children’s section of your library for information about the programs they offer, sign up deadlines, and get your kids involved in their summer reading program. At our library, my kids earn prizes and gift certificates to area restaurants and ice cream shops when they reach book-reading milestones.
- Summer Movie Programs: Ask your local theater if they have a program for families in the summer. This isn’t free, but it’s close. We save up our movie budget throughout the year, and see all the movies we missed during the summer and still have money to spring for popcorn! Regal Cinemas across the country {we’ll hit up one when we’re in CA for 3 weeks, then finish the series here in OH} show family-friendly movies at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesday for $1.00. Cinemark hosts a Summer Movie Clubhouse that shows G and PG movies at 10:00 a.m. for $1.00, but if you plan to attend the whole series, you pay $5.00 in advance for all 10 shows — $0.50 per movie! If you get on your local Cinemark’s email list, they’ll send you a concession “coupon of the week” that you can use then too. We can see 10 movies and have popcorn at each for less than it would cost to take our family of five to ONE movie without popcorn on a regular evening.
- Explore your city: Last year, we decided to see what we were missing in our own area, and started asking friends and having them ask their friends what we should do. We found two sprinkler parks we’d never visited, an amazing Amish cheese house that gave tours, a rustic store that sells lots of non-electric appliances and gadgets, and so much more. None of these things cost much more than a bit of gas, and maybe an ice cream cone at the Amish dairy or a few jars of jelly at Smuckers. Take your family on lots of little local adventures.
- Have Fun in Your Own Backyard: Don’t forget about the simple pleasures of a childhood summer – camping in the yard, catching fireflies, roasting hotdogs and marshmallows over a fire, blowing bubbles, playing with a hose or sprinkler, drawing with sidewalk chalk, riding bikes to the park, staying up late to look at the stars…
The bottom line is that summer fun doesn’t have to cost much money. You don’t have to go on huge outrageous vacations, either. There are so many great, free and cheap things to find no matter where you live. The most important thing is to enjoy the time with your kids. Make memories. And laugh… a lot.
Colleen blogs about family fun, hands-on learning, science, and homeschooling at Raising Lifelong Learners. She’s the author of over a dozen books for teachers and kids including her newest release, Free Resources for Elementary Teachers, a compilation of over 240 pages of free things anyone who works with or loves kids can get to help them learn anything.
Rebecca says
#5 is my favorite! My children love exploring the woods behind our home…those are some of my best memories as a child, too!
Carrie says
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the local bowling alley offers the free game deal! Thanks for sharing!
Colleen Kessler says
Rebecca — Truthfully, #5 is my favorite, too. Some of my best summer memories from my own childhood were the ones that happened in my own backyard. My three kiddos could play together and with the neighbors all day with nothing more than a little water.
Robin says
Our backyard is usually where we spend our summer. Lots of room, safe, clean restrooms, and food 😉
Nicole says
Since the summers are SO SHORT in Buffalo, NY my favorite thing to see is all of my kids outside in the backyard enjoying the fresh air. It is amazing how little they argue, how hard they play and how long they can go without asking me for help! Great list. OUr movie theater is also starting a summer series. Now that the girls are old enough I may have to check them out…great ideas Colleen and Congrats on your new column! Can’t wait to read what’s next!
Kirsten Larson says
Barnes and Noble also hosts free story times. We are always looking for cool, indoor fun in the late morning and afternoon.
Jennifer says
Great list, Colleen! We’re already doing most of these. I feel so fabulously frugal. 🙂