Keeping the Kids Busy without Breaking the Bank - Part 3

School's out, the temperature is rising and boredom is beginning to set in. Rather than drive each other crazy indoors or hear the dreaded "Mom, I have nothing to do," keep the kids active this summer with these frugal, fun and family-friendly activities...

This will begin a four part series, where each day I will help you discover ways to beat the summer boredom. Check out the previous posts:

Part 1: Staying Cool
Part 2: Getting Artsy

Part 3: Creating Learning Experiences

Fostering a Love for Books - The teacher in me knows that it's never too young to begin immersing your child with books! Check out your local library for story times or head into a Barnes and Noble or Borders bookstore for their story times. Or invite a group of your child's friends over for a storytime with snacks -- for older children, have them "act out" the story (re-telling the story is an important skill).

Check out these awesome Summer Reading programs and have your kids earn FREE stuff:

* Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program
* Pizza-Hut's Book It Program
* Half-Priced Books Summer Reading Program
* Borders Summer Reading Program


Become a Movie Critic - Check out your local theatres for their summer movie programs for kids, many include discounted tickets and concession items: Regal Cinamas FREE Family Festival, AMC Theatres Summer Camp Movie for $1, or Harkins Theatres Summer Movie Program. Check out Wild About Movies to see how you can score discounted tickets for the whole family! Follow-up to the movie by having your child re-tell the movie to you, talk about his/her favorite part, or keep a journal of all the summer movies you will see.

Becoming Diverse - If you live in Phoenix, you can give your children the chance to experience a wide array of museums and activities this summer with the FREE Cultural Pass available at local libraries. (I highly recommend the Phoenix Children's Museum.)
Not in AZ? Many local museums and science /art centers know that with the kids being out for the summer, they have huge potential. They will likely have discounts and even FREE days or evenings for the family.

* Target is sponsoring FREE Admission to over 40 museums throughout the nation. Check out this list to find one in your area!

Extending the Education - We simply adore our local community centers. They offer a great variety of classes for kids and adults of all ages, and they are very reasonably priced. What better way to see what extracurricular activities your child clings to than by introducing them at a fraction of the cost! Do a simple Google search "Your City Name" + community centers or type in parks and recreation to find a local center near you.

* Kids ages 8-12 can also join the Apple Store's FREE "Apple Camp" this summer. Available camps include Movie Workshop, Music Workshop, Photo Workshop, and Presentation Workshop. Sign your child up for all four to round out his Apple education. Although spaces are limited, this is definitely worth checking out if you have a techy-child. :)

* If you are interested in enrolling your child in a summer camp near you, check out MySummerCamps.com where you'll be able to search by state and find a camp that's just right for your child.

* Extend the love of arts and music by visiting TakeLessons.com where you can download FREE music lessons for your kids!

Planting the Seeds - Learning the life cycle of plants is a state standard for most students in public schools. What better way to introduce your child(ren) to the life cycle by beginning your own garden. Check out the best vegetables to grow in the summer and keep a plant journal or chart to track the progress. Younger kids can talk about the changes with you (e.g. "it's taller, bigger, etc.") while older children can use a ruler to measure the growth!

Give a Little, Get a Lot - Taking your children to volunteer down at a shelter, soup kitchen, food pantry or other community service program helps to create a sense and appreciation for the things they have. The reward your family will feel by giving your time and seeing the "fruits of you labors" will be a lifelong treasure that will carry on.

Stayed tuned tomorrow for Part 4 (the last part) of this series!