Anyone else freak out at the beginning of summer and think, “How in the HECK am I going to entertain these kids?” Okay, so it’s just me?
I am not a stay at home Mom but have the ability to spend 8 weeks off with my kids every summer. Every year I freak just a little about the open-ended time and the lack of routine.
Because summer days can be sooooooo LONG.
Entertainment is key to keep from hearing, “I am bored,” a million times. I try to keep them busy. If not, they default to melting into the couch, bellies rounded from eating unhealthy snacks, and spend hours vegging out in front of Netflix. Downtime is good, but sitting around for long periods makes us all a little cranky.
But entertainment ain’t CHEAP these days. How do you keep everyone busy without spending a wad BUT not spend every day at home in front of the tv?
Here are six ideas for what we do to pass the days (without spending a lot of money).
1. SEE A MOVIE! I posted last week about our local Quincy AMC theater’s Summer Movie Camp and realized that it was not as well known as I thought, which prompted this post. Our local theater offers $4 movie tickets at 10:00 on Wednesday mornings and that includes a drink, popcorn, and fruit gummies! Our local Hannibal B&B Theater also does a summer series! Movies are on Thursday mornings and tickets are $3, but don’t include popcorn and drink. If you don’t have an AMC Or B&B in your area, check out www.verywellfamily.com to see if a theater near you is offering discounted movies during the week for kids!
2. GO BOWLING! Check out www.kidsbowlfree.com. You can find your state to see the bowling alleys in your area that offer the program. Quincy’s Tangerine Bowl participates and so does Hannibal’s Ten Pin Alley. You register and sign up to get the free coupons sent to your email. Click the links to see hours and program details for FREE BOWLING!
3. GET ROLLING! Check out www.kidsskatefree.com You can find your state at this website and find if there are places to skate that offer the free program. In Quincy, Scotties Fun Spot participates for all you locals! Click the link to see hours and program details for FREE SKATING!
4. PARK HOP! On Friday’s we try to get to a different area park that we do not frequent often. It gives us a chance to explore and try new things. Sometimes we take a picnic with us and spend the afternoon eating, playing, and exploring. This last summer, we meandered over to Siloam Springs. I am hoping for more hiking/exploring this summer.
5. POOL TIME! We do have a small community pool that the city manages. Since Shawn is Mayor we support our pool as much as we can. It is a wonderful amenity and I am always amazed at how many people do not use it. We usually buy discounted punch cards and spend at a couple of afternoons each week meeting up with our friends at the local pool.
6. LIBRARY PROGRAMS! Check our the library where you live. You all know I am a book nut and I am always amazed at the programs that our local library puts on. As a country bumpkin, my Mom paid for a library card and I thought that the place was magic because I knew that my friends went to the library FOR FREE and I had to PAY! Now that I live in town and can go to the library for FREE and learn/read anything I want, it feels like a luxury. Our library has a very neat reading program for the kids in the town that is popular. My kids enjoy it every year. IF you have a library card to the library in town, the Quincy Public Library is also FREE to you. The children’s programs are awesome in the summer and throughout the year. We can’t wait to try QTube where kids, grades 4th-7th can try their hand at making videos for the library. They’ll write the script, act, and edit, which I think will be great for Sophie.
What did I miss? Tell me what you do with your summer vacation? How do you keep your kids entertained?