The summer months are exciting, but sometimes it’s tricky to keep the kids occupied and make sure they aren’t always begging for screen time. The great news is that there are a lot of activities and ways to have fun that won’t break the bank. Take a look at these ideas for inexpensive summer activities around Noblesville, Indiana, a suburb of Indianapolis — or really anywhere.
Go bowling (for free).
Check out kidsbowlfree.com. You can sign your children up for two free games of bowling this summer. Look for bowling centers around the country that are participating so you can get their exact location and details (some charge for a shoe rental only). Bowling is great especially on those rainy days. You can register for two games per day and your kids will get a little exercise while playing, too.
Visit local parks and splash pads.
Look online to find parks and splash pads near your home. The area around us has so many parks and splash pads, we can drive fifteen minutes or less and visit a different one every day of the week for a couple weeks! Kids love — and need — to enjoy the great outdoors this summer, and running and swinging and climbing at the park is the perfect way to make that happen.
Go strawberry picking.
Many towns offer a place to go strawberry picking. We visit Spencer Farm, a place where strawberries are safe to eat off the vine so we don’t need to worry if our kids snack on a couple while we are there. Picking season is May and June, and Spencer Farm is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The staff at Spencer is friendly and helpful and the place is clean. The cost for strawberries is $2.25 per lb. and the shop there sells all sorts of baked goods, including amazing shortcakes. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen before you go and pack some water, too.
Go to Dollar Summer Movies.
Regal Cinemas offer $1 movies all summer! The movies start at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and each week they play two movies both days. Look online for a Regal theatre near you for more information. The 2017 summer movies include Trolls, Sing, Storks and The Secret Life of Pets, to name just a few. Regal Theatres offers sensory friendly shows at 10:05 a.m.
Sign up for Vacation Bible School.
Churches all over the country offer Vacation Bible School and it’s often free or the fee is minimal, mostly to cover supplies. My kids are going to the church we attend this summer. They can’t wait! I grew up going to VBS during the summers and think they’ll love it, too! Look online to find out if your church, or a church near you, offers VBS.
Enjoy old-fashioned fun.
There’s nothing quite like the summer fun we had when we were kids. Whip out the bubbles, chalk and the sprinkler and let your kids use their imaginations. Invite some neighbor kids over so your kids can play tag, Red Rover, or Mother May I?
Visit the local library.
Our library has weekday summer activities that are great for kids of all ages. We frequent the library year round and love the programs, from Baby Time to Music Time to Story Time. There is a summer reading program at our library, too. Look online to find out what is happening at your local library and get involved!
Check out free concerts.
There are free weekly concerts at the parks around Noblesville. This is a perfect evening activity to let the kids burn off some energy, sing, and dance. Head to a free concert for some fresh air and live music.
It’s easy to feel like you aren’t doing enough if you don’t have a big family trip on the calendar during the summer months. A good thing to remember is that kids benefit from play. Play is important to develop their imaginations and language skills and it improves their ability to focus and problem solve. Summer time doesn’t have to be jam packed with activities and cost you a fortune. The summers fly by, so enjoy every moment and don’t feel like you need to plan a rigorous schedule. Instead, let the kids be kids, sleep in, enjoy the fresh air, and keep your ears open for the ice cream truck!
Photo credit: Sandierpastures.com
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Category: KidsTags: Lori
