Ten Free Things to do with your Kids this Summer

After two uncertain summers in a row, many people are looking to get back into the groove of warm weather fun with family and friends. Evening bonfires, swimming, water balloon fights, and s’mores are always great summer staples, but here’s a list of 10 other free things you may not have done in a while.

1. Go bowling, for free! Have you heard of Kids Bowl Free? Register your child to receive 2 free games of bowling everyday this summer! Check the site for participating locations near you.
2. Go to the library. There’s nothing better than curling up with a good book on a rainy day, except for spending a whole day at the library! Check your local branch (or those in nearby towns) for special events including puppet shows, summer reading programs, parties, special readings or musical acts.
3. Visit a farm. Hop on Google to find farms in your area. Some offer special opportunities to pet or feed animals, pick fruit or learn about and observe harvesting or planting processes.
4. Volunteer. Every community provides special services and opportunities to give back. This benefits others and is a great way to help your children become more compassionate and civic-minded. Consider visiting local nursing home residents, picking up trash around parks or city centers, or even coordinate a can drive at your neighborhood grocery store. Look up opportunities in your area with volunteermatch.org
5. Get outdoors. A simple hike is great for a change of pace. Whether you take a quick walk around the block in search of bugs, or hunt for four-leaf clovers in an open field, you and your child will benefit from the fresh air and curiosity.
6. Plan a picnic. An outdoor meal doesn’t have to be fancy to be fun. Cube some cheese, pack a box of crackers, a bunch of grapes, a couple bottles of water and a blanket. Good to go.
7. DIY with Home Depot. Summer is a great time to finish the house projects you’ve been putting off… and a great time for kids to learn how to help! Saturday mornings offer fun building workshops for kids at The Home Depot. Click to find locations/times near you.
8. Stargaze. Make summer fun last well into the night. Older kids love learning about constellations or sharing family stories under the open sky. Pack a sweatshirt, drive out in the country and lay out under the stars together. See who can spot the first shooting star.
9. Build a fort. Gloomy days provide opportunities for fun to happen indoors. Grab all the blankets, sheets and cardboard boxes you can find, then haul them into the basement or living room to build the ultimate kid-friendly fort. Reading or watching a movie becomes instantly more fun when you do it in a fort!
10. Ask Google. Coming up empty handed? When all else fails, just type into Google: Free things to do in (insert city or county you live in) and hit enter. You just might be surprised what pops up!