Free (Or Close to It) Summer Time Activities

Hi J.,
You can make this has free projects every week that you can make with your kids. It's the section called Kids can make this. Here is a part of their blog.

And the second piece of news is that we are opening a new section of the site called, “KIDS Can Make This!” Beginning in June, visit our site each week for a new FREE project download that you can do with your children! That’s right…KIDS can make this, too! We’ve read your comments and know how much you enjoy sharing your love of learning something new, with your own children and grandchildren. So we’re going to help you create some fun memories (oh,and a fun project, too!) each week this Summer.

Here is the web address. http://www.youcanmakethis.com/index.htm?cxaaffrefcodea=10... kathymize
They have lots of different projects for you to do, like sewing, knit, crochet, scrapbooking, beading, quilting, painting, photography, hair accessories, home decor, woodworking, and more. I love this website, and it just keeps getting better. THe first project for kids to make is paper bag mini books.
Hope you enjoy it, K.

3 moms found this helpful

My daughter's 8, and for the last few summers we've taken one day a week (a weekday, not weekend) to go do something fun. Weekday's are the best time to go places! She loves the History Museum and the Art Museum. They are both free - parking and admission. The History Museum has lots of kid friendly, hands-on things for the little ones. On Tuesdays any special 'pay to see' exhibit is free. The Art Museum has the mummy exhibit and the "knight-in-shining-armor" exhibit that the boys might like. Neither of those places get too crowded or crazy. We also like Laumeier Sculpture Park when it's not blistering hot outside. At home she is easily occupied for hours with water in any shape or form, bubbles, and sidewalk chalk. Not necessarily all at the same time!

1 mom found this helpful

J.-
Depending on where you live, there is a great play place in Wentzville. It is called playtimepartycenter.com, it is the cleanest, friendlist, indoor play place that I have ever found. It has a seperate toddler/big kids area with lots of fun games for all ages. It is free to get in but I believe that they have just instituted a $6.00 charge either for coins or food, not a bad deal for hours of clean, fun, playtime!! Go to their website and check them out.
Tks T.

1 mom found this helpful

There is Powder Valley Nature Center - it is free and has wonderful walking trails. Take Hwy 44 east to Lindbergh exit - Take a right on Lindbergh then a right on Watson Road. You will then take a right on Sugar Creek Road (I think that is the name of the road) and you will see the sign to turn left on Powder Valley road - then just look for the sign to the center. Also, there is Lone Elk Park and the World Bird Sanctury in Valley Park. My son and I have also been going to different parks to play. There is also a great walking trail in Washington - called the river walk - it's off by the picnic area on the river. All these are free. There is also a great train store in Fenton call the Whittle Shoreline railroad. The kids can go in and play with train tables. There is no charge to go in, they do have a donation kettle. They sell all kinds of train cars, books, puzzles. Also, the malls usually have a summer film festival for the kids (not sure if it is free or very cheap) Hope this helps!

1 mom found this helpful

I take my son to the lake, and feed the fish off the dock. You can take old crackers, bread, chips, etc.

1 mom found this helpful

My sister just told me that Wehrenberg and AMC Theatres have free kids movies every Wednesday and Thursday. They are shown at 10 am and noon. The movies are a little older, but it is a great treat to spend the morning or afternoon in a nice AC building! Right now, I think they are showing movies like Alvin and the Chipmunks and Charlotte's Web.

1 mom found this helpful

On Tuesday June 17th at 11 AM on the lower outside level of Union Station there is going to be an event honoring dairy farmers hosted by Borden Cheese. There will be a calf that the kids can feed with a bottle and pet and some other fun activities.

1 mom found this helpful

Go to any of the local lakes and go fishing!! especially with boys. If you just let your boys fish... then you don't need a fishing license, unless you start to fish and then you
will. And if you don't like WORMS (i don't) use hotdogs!!!!

Wonderscope in Shawnee has been very helpful in the past, as well as the Johnson county museum, AND the TOY and Miniture museum is fun and inexpensive. Kalediscope at Crown center is free, but I believe your younger boys maybe too young.

1 mom found this helpful

There are a couple of really cool parks.
Tower Grove Park has a cool water sprinkler/pool with a playground close by.
Tilles Park has a connected water sprinkler/pool with a connected playground. Both are free.
You could also buy some disc golf discs (like frisbees but a little different) and take up disc golf. The courses are free and all around the city. If you look up disc golf courses, Saint Louis, MO on google, you'll find some really cool stuff.
Gardening could be cool, too, even if you don't have a garden. Just use pots!

1 mom found this helpful

My sisters & I are currently making a list & schedule of "free or close to free" things to do this summer also. We have talked about the cheap movies in the mornings at most theaters. One of the things the kids are most excited about is a day of "Park hopping" there are all kinds of parks everywhere - not just swings & slides, but nature parks - we will pack a lunch & snacks!! We also love to go to the different State & County parks that have walking trails & lakes. We can fish, ride bikes, rollerblade, swim, etc.... We probably will do the Ride & Slide passes to Worlds of Fun & Oceans of Fun because they do pay for themselves in a few visits, plus you do not feel like you have to spend the entire day to get your $ worth. We can go at the "odd" times of the day & stay for just a little while if it gets busy, or stay for a long time if we like!!! There are a lot of things out there to do for not much $ - you just have to think about it & get out & do it!!! Have a fun Summer!!!

1 mom found this helpful

When my boys were around the same age we sat down together and made list of themes, colors, animals, cars, bubbles. We put each theme in the jar and would pick one out then have activities all day or sometimes all week if the theme was broad enough. When we did bubbles we found a recipe for bubbles and made a lot. We took lots of different things outside- slotted spoons, strainers, whatever we thought we could make bubbles with and expiramented with them. When we had lunch we cut the food into circles to stay with the theme, for dinner we had meatballs. Just have fun with it. If they like books the library has summer reading programs that reward the children for books or minutes read. If you attend a church they might have a summer VBS planned. or a lot of times even a church that is close to your home will let anyone attend. Thats a good way to meet some new people. Just remember to have fun and enjoy the time with them while they are young. They grow up so fast. Mine are 21,17 and 14. It seems a couple of summers ago they were a lot younger.

1 mom found this helpful

hello-

my family and i have loved the free concerts at the botanical gardens on wednesday nights. you get to bring all your own food and drinks (even coolers for cocktails). it is completetly casual. we bring swim-suits for the kids to run through the fountain in the lehman rose garden. you can sit anywhere- so the kids can go nuts without bothering the die hard music listners.

we bring- cooler on wheels, chairs and blankets, swimsuits/change of clothes for kids, BUGSPRAY, and comfy shoes as parking is at a premium and sometimes requires a little walking.

for details check out the whittaker music series at www.mobot.org

1 mom found this helpful

depending on where you live, this might be a bit of a drive but there is a resturant in Paola, KS called We-B-Smokin. It was recently featured on Food Network's "Dinners, Drive-ins, and Dives". The resturant is the airport so you can watch small airplanes coming in and out. You can even go out and see them up close. Thier BBQ is amazing but their breakfast is just like grandma used to make! Prices are cheap and portions are HUGE! We went a few weeks ago and there was an antique war plane that even did a mini-airshow when they left. Not sure who had more fun that day, my daughter, husband, or Papa!!!!!

1 mom found this helpful

ON Sundays at 130 or so, at the art museum there's a free craft and tour of an exhibit that goes along with the craft. this is all year long, but summer too.

1 mom found this helpful