How to Find Free Summer Fun for Kids

Give your kids a great summer without breaking your budget. Your community hosts plenty of free events. Companies also like to offer free events to boost their image--and build their customer base.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Review your kids' history; go over what you've seen them do for fun. Choose an indoor activity if your kids like to spend time indoors. Maximum board game participation gets the blood rolling. Get the kids involved with baking. Kids love to get their hands in the dough, lick the batter and move the cookies to and from the oven.
2. Search the Internet for free summer activities. For example, free movies are available. Many base theaters offer free matinee movies for military and dependents. Regal Cinemas provides "free for kids" movies at selected theaters. AMC runs AMC Summer Movie Camps that give free movies to kids.
3. Call your family and get wind of upcoming family reunions. Plan one if there isn't any, the family can get together on July 4th for barbecue and fun. Hold this barbecue reunion at the beach. Kids love to interact with their cousins who offer more participants for their games and more people to swim.
4. Plan swimming picnics. Watch your kids have fun on rafts or build sand castles. Choose a busy beach, these places tend to have barbecue grills. Crowded beaches add to the sense of fun. Teach your kids how to barbecue when you want to break the swimming monotony. Give them flexibility on when they eat, then jump into the water.
5. Read your city's tourism webpage. The city hosts free community events to lure tourists. Rock bands often entertain street parties or at fairs. Attend church or employer sponsored events. Some companies boost employee morale through employee barbecue picnics.
6. Pay your parents a visit if they live in town. Grandparents love to see their grandchildren and tend to spoil them. Tell your kids that they're going to grandpa's and grandma's and watch them get excited. Visit a brother and sister that live in your city. The change of scenery is enough to lift kid morale.

Tips & Warnings

• Check with the doctor about eating before swimming. Prevent swimming cramps with proper stretching.