I am part of an awesome, local mom's group on Facebook. Those ladies are really some of the sweetest more helpful ladies I know. Even when we don't see eye to eye on parenting issues it is, for the most part, a low drama group of women who genuinely seek to lift one another up. The past few weeks there have been a LOT of posts about things to do with kiddos that are free or low cost. I thought, to make life easier for them, I would compile the ideas here so there are all in one place. If you aren't local a lot of these may not work for you, but this may at least give you an idea of things to look for near you!
Low Cost:
Morning Movies at Movies Ten. Their movie list can be found here.
Morning Movies at Regal Movie Theater. Their movie list can be found here.
Free Kids Bowling at AMF bowling ally. (I have this on the cheap list since you still have to rent shoes).
Sheetz for slushies. (You can get the small ones for $0.99 with a sheets card)
Free (or close to free depending on what you have around the house)
Splash ground at Riverside Park
Interactive fountain at River Front Park.
Sprinklers in the yard.
Kiddie pool in the yard.
Squirt Gun Fight.
Make Popsicles
Construction paper, a magazine, and a glue stick will keep kids busy for HOURS!
Glow stick bath.
Play Dough out side (way easier to clean up)
Make a tent in the back yard (or front yard, or basement)
Make no bake (or preacher) cookies.
Barnes and Nobles has a children story hour every Wednesday at 11:00 am and Friday at 7:00 pm.
Go to the Library.
Pick a topic and learn everything you can about it.
Finger paint in the bathtub.
Fill up buckets with water and let them splash around/paint the side wall or deck ect.
Draw with Chalk.
Blow bubbles.
Make cards to send to family.
Special Occasion Ideas
If you are looking for something a bit more exciting, but still some what reasonable, most of these activities can be done for less then $10.00 per person.
Splash Valley Water Park in Roanoke.
Amazement Square in Lynchburg. (Hint check out The Clutch Guide for a 2 for 1 coupon!)
Hill Cats Game. (Their web site if FULL of discounts including kids club which allows kids to attend all 70 home games for free, as well as dollar pizza nights and Half Price Tuesdays.)
Mill Mountain Zoo.
Fun Center Putt Putt.
Funquest (Has tons of specials on roller skating, the indoor jungle gym, and laser tag all summer including a Christian Music night and $1.99 Mondays)
Bounce About.
*Be Sure to join Groupon. Typically you can get
READ!!!!
Join the Dig Into Reading program.
Read If You Give A Mouse A Cookie and make cookies.
Read If You Give a Moose a Muffin and make muffins.
Read a book about Johny Apple Seed and eat apples (or color apples or something with apples).
A great list of books to read to your daughters this summer from Virginia Sole Smith. (I must also add the Betsy Tacy books to this list if you haven't read them to your little girl yet it MUST go on your summer reading list)
Ten books to read to your 4-7 year old by Sarah Bessey.
Check out Our Cultivated Life for a tutorial on how to make you own summer reading board game!
Pinterest
Here are just a few links I discovered on Pinterest that sounded like fun!
Sewing Cards by Handmade Charlotte
My entire pinboard of printable paper dolls.
These Sponge Balls by One Charming Party so sound much better than waterballons!
Make Your Summer Bucket List
These are few of my favorite fill in yourself bucket lists available for printing at home to fill out with your own ideas.
Bugs Bucket List
Simple Bucket List
Summer Schedule Ideas
Color Your Own Bucket List
Summer Bingo Board (Great for vacation)
One other thing I always do is give my kids each a note book at the start of the summer. For older kids this is a great way for them to keep track of their summer adventures. For mine (4 and 5) it turns into more of a place for them to put stickers and glue stuff, but it still helps keep them busy.
I'm still working on setting our summer schedule and bucket list. Abi just got out of school and most schools don't get out till tomorrow so I'm giving myself a week or two to figure it out. But once I do, I'll be sure to share what we are doing this summer.
Low Cost:
Morning Movies at Movies Ten. Their movie list can be found here.
Morning Movies at Regal Movie Theater. Their movie list can be found here.
Free Kids Bowling at AMF bowling ally. (I have this on the cheap list since you still have to rent shoes).
Sheetz for slushies. (You can get the small ones for $0.99 with a sheets card)
Free (or close to free depending on what you have around the house)
Splash ground at Riverside Park
Interactive fountain at River Front Park.
Sprinklers in the yard.
Kiddie pool in the yard.
Squirt Gun Fight.
Make Popsicles
Construction paper, a magazine, and a glue stick will keep kids busy for HOURS!
Glow stick bath.
Play Dough out side (way easier to clean up)
Make a tent in the back yard (or front yard, or basement)
Make no bake (or preacher) cookies.
Barnes and Nobles has a children story hour every Wednesday at 11:00 am and Friday at 7:00 pm.
Go to the Library.
Pick a topic and learn everything you can about it.
Finger paint in the bathtub.
Fill up buckets with water and let them splash around/paint the side wall or deck ect.
Draw with Chalk.
Blow bubbles.
Make cards to send to family.
Special Occasion Ideas
If you are looking for something a bit more exciting, but still some what reasonable, most of these activities can be done for less then $10.00 per person.
Splash Valley Water Park in Roanoke.
Amazement Square in Lynchburg. (Hint check out The Clutch Guide for a 2 for 1 coupon!)
Hill Cats Game. (Their web site if FULL of discounts including kids club which allows kids to attend all 70 home games for free, as well as dollar pizza nights and Half Price Tuesdays.)
Mill Mountain Zoo.
Fun Center Putt Putt.
Funquest (Has tons of specials on roller skating, the indoor jungle gym, and laser tag all summer including a Christian Music night and $1.99 Mondays)
Bounce About.
*Be Sure to join Groupon. Typically you can get
READ!!!!
Join the Dig Into Reading program.
Read If You Give A Mouse A Cookie and make cookies.
Read If You Give a Moose a Muffin and make muffins.
Read a book about Johny Apple Seed and eat apples (or color apples or something with apples).
A great list of books to read to your daughters this summer from Virginia Sole Smith. (I must also add the Betsy Tacy books to this list if you haven't read them to your little girl yet it MUST go on your summer reading list)
Ten books to read to your 4-7 year old by Sarah Bessey.
Check out Our Cultivated Life for a tutorial on how to make you own summer reading board game!
Here are just a few links I discovered on Pinterest that sounded like fun!
Sewing Cards by Handmade Charlotte
My entire pinboard of printable paper dolls.
These Sponge Balls by One Charming Party so sound much better than waterballons!
Make Your Summer Bucket List
These are few of my favorite fill in yourself bucket lists available for printing at home to fill out with your own ideas.
Bugs Bucket List
Simple Bucket List
Summer Schedule Ideas
Color Your Own Bucket List
Summer Bingo Board (Great for vacation)
One other thing I always do is give my kids each a note book at the start of the summer. For older kids this is a great way for them to keep track of their summer adventures. For mine (4 and 5) it turns into more of a place for them to put stickers and glue stuff, but it still helps keep them busy.
I'm still working on setting our summer schedule and bucket list. Abi just got out of school and most schools don't get out till tomorrow so I'm giving myself a week or two to figure it out. But once I do, I'll be sure to share what we are doing this summer.
There's a water park in Roanoke you can get into for under $10!
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