The temperatures are warming up, the kids are getting anxious and everyone is ready for that last school bell to ring! We’re excited. Our family loves the lazy mornings of summer, pool days, summer nights, picnics, s’mores, BBQs, fireworks. It’s all coming!
Summer absolutely our favorite time of the year. We also know that sometimes you want to do fun things with the kids. But it takes some creative thinking and planning to avoid the dreaded “ Mommy, I’m bored.” So I am trying to be proactive this year with our summer activities. My goal is to make summer fun and create tons of memories without breaking the bank. So I scour the internet for summer freebies. Here is a list of free (and cheap) summer activities for kids. And I use some of these activities to create our Summer Bucket List.
Free Summer Activities For Kids
MOVIES
Free and almost free summer movies are a great way to keep the gets entertained and occupied for a while. After all, when the weather gets hot sometimes the best escape can be a cold movie theater.
Did you know that there are hundreds of movie theaters across the country that show free kid’s movies over the summer? There are even more that show really discounted ones!
Regal Cinemas Summer Movie Express program– Each Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 am, you can see a family-friendly movie for just $1. Click here for more information.
AMC Summer Movie Camp: For $4 your child can get admission to a kids movie and a KidsPack (includes popcorn drink and fruit snack) every Wednesday at 10 am, see your local AMC’s schedule for details HERE.
READING PROGRAMS
Barnes & Noble: This year the Barnes and Noble’s summer reading program gives out a free book to each child who reads and records 8 books during the summer.
This summer reading program runs May 15 – September 3, 2018. Click here for details.
Chuck E. Cheese Reading Calendar: Chuck E. Cheese has a summer reading program where kids can earn free 10 Chuck E. Cheese tokens for reading each day for 2 weeks.
Half Price Books Summer Reading Program: The Feed Your Brain Summer Reading Program encourages children to read for at least 15 minutes a day throughout June and July. Once a child has read for 300 minutes, they can turn in their completed reading log to earn a free $5 Half Price Books Bookworm Bucks reading reward for the month.
Sync Audiobooks: Sync has a summer reading program just for teens that will get them two free audiobooks each week this summer.
Each week there will be a current young adult book as well as a classic title that teens will be able to download for free through the OverDrive app. This summer reading program runs April 26 – July 25, 2018.
Don’t Forget Your Public Library: Some of the best summer reading programs are at your local public library. Every public library has a different summer reading program but almost all of them have rewards and prizes for kids as well as fun events.
ACTIVITIES
Kids Bowl Free Program: Kids can bowl 2 free games per day at participating locations, but you must pay for shoe rental. Click here for participating locations.
Kids Skate Free Program: Register and search for participating locations in your area.
Free Fishing: Go fishing! Takemefishing.org has a list by state of free fishing days and the best part is you don’t need a license to participate.
Apple Camp: For ages, 8-12 Kids expand their digital creativity through hands-on projects with experts at Apple. Campers choose one of three tracks, then spend 90 minutes a day for three days at a local Apple Store immersed in the subject of their choice. Sign up to be notified when registration opens.
Geocaching: With more than 2 million geocaching sites worldwide, let your kids find hidden treasures in their own communities. All you need is a phone or GPS. Get details here.
Museums on Us with Bank of America: Cardholders can get free visits on weekends to over 200 cultural and art institutions monthly. See website for details and participating locations
Let me know if you guys know of any other free or cheap activities to do this summer.
