5 FREE Ways We Have Summer Fun

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Disclosure: I am an NCircle Entertainment blogger and receive DVDs for review. Opinions shared are mine. Hosts & participating hop bloggers of the Summer Fun Event are not responsible for sponsors or self-sponsoring bloggers that do not fulfill prize obligations.

Summer is my favorite season because I get to enjoy 10 weeks off with my kids!  After the first week, though, our togetherness starts to make me a little weary.  It’s challenging to find activities that are engaging for the kids yet won’t break the bank.  Here are some ways we find summer fun for free! 


Your local library is an amazing resource of activities and programs — beyond books — and they are FREE.  If you live near more than one public library, check them ALL out! (Like the library humor there?) We actually visit 3 different libraries within 15 miles of my home.  One of them offers a card to anyone who lives within 50 MILES of the library.  Here’s my sneaky broke-and-tired-mom plan….you could actually schedule your library visits to take advantage of multiple free programs for your family.  Hear the guest speaker at one library on Monday (our favorite is the park ranger who brings live critters!)  and go to the other library for sidewalk chalk drawings on Wednesday.  Have your kids register for the reading program — and listen to the books together (it counts!)   The point is, you likely have many options that go beyond borrowing materials.


During the school year, our family doesn’t have much time to watch TV.  The lazy days of summer make us dig out those movies gathering dust.  If you don’t have a lot of DVDs, ask around to see if your friends will let you borrow some.  If you have a Hulu or Netflix subscription, make it a mission to find a show that your kids haven’t seen. My husband and children have enjoyed watching He-Man together this summer. The kids make fun of it, but I know they secretly love it!


During the year I typically stash away a few movies for my kids; these could be hand-me-downs from friends or sent to me for review. One movie my son recently enjoyed was Season 1 of Alisa Knows What To Do.  Apparently, this is based on a series of science-fiction novels by a Russian author.  I’d never heard of it before!  My son liked that the “scientists” were teenagers in a futuristic world.  There are hovercrafts, aliens, and all things space-agish.  I appreciated that the show has scientific vocabulary to support the adventures.  This series is geared toward elementary age children and offers a chance for kids to speculate about the future, space, and problem solving.  There’s also a great positive message in each episode.  Whatever you choose to watch with your children, try to find that common ground and open the doors of conversation.  You never know, you might find a new favorite!


I am really bad about hoarding gift cards. To me, they’re like treasure. They are so much fun to receive, and I typically want to “save” them for a really special day or item.  I don’t know why I do this, but it’s a bad habit. More than once, a gift card expired before it was put to use.  So in the summer, we set out on a mission: Use up the gift cards!  It’s fun to splurge at Starbucks, have an ice cream or smoothie, and eat at a new restaurant.  Check your purse and wallet to see if you have a gift card hiding in there. Don’t have one? Then enter to win some here at Savings in Seconds, or earn free gift cards!


If you have a friend or neighbor who will be out of town for a couple of days, offer to check on their pets.  My kids loved taking care of their cousin’s dog last week, and it was a big help to her.  Our dog loves to have a “babysitter” to spoil her when we travel!

Most devices have some type of camera capability these days.  Arm your children with some type of electronic device — cell phone, digital camera, even a Nintendo DS — and give them a scavenger hunt.  As an alternative, you could ask them to do a daily photo challenge.  At the end of the week, compare the photos and have fun remembering the happiest moments!   My kids have learned to look for the beauty around them, partly because of this activity.  This rainbow was actually a double rainbow (the second one is barely visible, do you see it?)  My son spotted it right outside our front door.  What a fun discovery!  

What are your suggestions for FREE summer fun?

To help get you started on your free summer fun activities, one lucky reader will win a summer fun prize pack that includes the Alisa Knows It All DVD (from NCircle) and a $15 gift card for Tropical Smoothie Cafe (shipped by me).  The giveaway is open to US readers ages 18+. Enter on the form below. Void where prohibited by law. Good luck!

Check this out….




Comments

  1. I would love to win this dvd because it teaches kids to fight against injustice and global problems.

  2. stacey mccrary says

    I believe my 7 yr old daughter would get into this. Its Sci-fi and we are a Sci-fi family. we love almost everything sci-fi! Lately I have been trying to teach my daughter balance, so this would else help to further her.

  3. My boys are big Sonic fans so they’d probably like that show!
    Mimi recently posted…Summer Fun Giveaway Event With The Rope Co.My Profile

  4. Katrina Angele says

    My son loves everything science fiction right now so this DVD would be a perfect fit.

  5. susan smoaks says

    I love that they are interested in the things I am interested in. The bigger global picture.

  6. Ashley Chassereau Parks says

    I would love to win because I think my kids would like to watch this. They are really into science related shows, so I think they would find this interesting.

  7. Lisa Williams says

    I would love to win because this dvd sounds great for many reasons,my kids love sci-fi and the main character is from the future,fights against evil,and my favorite reason,she cares about the planet and space. It sounds so good my husband and I would watch it too!

  8. Stephanie says

    I would love to win this because m whole family is really into Sci-Fi right now and I know we would all enjoy it.

  9. Going to the library and checking out DVDs and books.

  10. The free jazz concerts in the park are awesome!

  11. We like playing in the local parks.

  12. Cheryl B says

    I love to geocache in the Summer.

  13. Going on a hike!

  14. I am not receiving your email newsletter. I even resubscribed again yesterday and made sure I confirmed it. Still nothing, I wanted the bonus codes.

  15. Laurie Nykaza says

    We have been working planting flowers for the butterflies in the garden everyday.

  16. Jeanna Massman says

    I love playing in the park with my grandson in the summer.

  17. I like going to a local small airport and watch the planes and gliders take off and land. Occasionally a pilot will take the kids up for a short ride.

  18. Angela Saver says

    We love going to the park and also the library to get DVDs and books!!

  19. Julie Waldron says

    We enjoy going Geocaching.

  20. Kayla Klontz says

    I enjoy swimming with my kids at the beach.

  21. Renee Rousseau says

    Bird watching hikes are a favorite summertime activity of ours!

  22. Jerry Marquardt says

    I love to go to the beach and enjoy an afternoon to make my summer day the perfect one.

  23. We like going to the splash pad

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