Sunday May 30 2010 12:14:55 pm

With summer fast approaching & no $$ for vacation, does anyone have any ideas on what there is to do locally, or even at home that is an inexpensive way to keep kids entertained? I don't necessarily think they need to be "entertained" 24/7 - -- but I would like some good ideas on activites we could do with them to make some good summer memories......and keep them away from the TV and internet as much as possible! Let me know your thoughts!!.....and most importanly, don't be afraid to post your ideas, even if someone has already talked about it.

Sunday May 30 2010 04:51:06 pm

I have found that our local libraries (in Miami) have story-time for the younger ones and often have some sort of activities for the older ones during scheduled times. You may want to check into that.

Cstern

Sunday May 30 2010 08:31:32 pm

Those are all great ideas!! I've been wanting to check out the chain of parks, but I always end up driving by when its closing up for the day! Now that I know exactly when they have it, we will go for sure! thanks

Sunday May 30 2010 10:35:06 pm

Make Your Own Water Park
Kids are the best at having fun with a water hose and a piece of plastic. A slippy slide isn't expensive but it's small and when you have multiple children all wanting to use it at once, it can become a fight to the finish as to who gets to slide first or more often. I spent about fifteen dollars on a large [12 feet x 25 feet] sheet of plastic. I cut it in half, making two 6 feet by 25 feet pieces. First checking for rocks, sticks or anything that might cut through the plastic. Place the water hose at one end, releasing enough water to form a stead stream. You will want to wet the plastic completely before trying it out. The child has to be able to slide smoothly down the hill. If for some reason your plastic isn't smooth enough to allow sliding, mix a small amount of dish washing soap in the flowing water, spreading it with your hand or a clean mop. Don't worry about the grass as a small amount of soap will not hurt it. Remember to move the plastic every couple days, so it will not damage the grass from wear and tear of the children.

donna lee

Monday May 31 2010 05:05:24 pm

...Ginger, I heard that our local museum, MOAS, will be hosting a very unique exhibit this summer. It suppose to do with video games. I have a pre-teen son who would be interested in that type of exhibit. Something out of the ordinary like that would get him into a museum and away from the computer at home for awhile.

Monday May 31 2010 08:43:28 pm

We always like to do water activities....beach, lake, pool, etc. Good luck!

Ron Cave

Monday May 31 2010 11:40:51 pm

A lot of Churches have Vacation Bible School open to everyone in the community during the summer...that's usually a lot of fun for the kids, and is usally free or a nominal fee for supplies.

Tuesday June 01 2010 06:45:38 pm

You can always bring them over to my house we are planning on a trip to blueberry pick and also to Marrianna caverns. There is free track races for the kids to run every Thursday night at 6ish at Maclay school off Meridian put on by the City and Gulfwinds, Check their website at gulfwinds.org; Usually each summer the movie theatres have a day where you can go for free or a dollar and see some movie. I'll let you know when that is. Family Fun magazine free from the library to borrow has so many ideas what to do and they also have a web page with great ideas.

:)

Tuesday June 01 2010 07:46:50 pm

You had another topic going on here too and it's disappeared! Anyway, as far as summer fun for the kids....I think that if you organized with your friends, a sort of 'moms-day-out' where a different mom can organize games, sprinkler fun , crafts etc for one day of the week. The kids get to go to a different house, instead of being bored at their own and if you get enough friends involved, everyone will only do one or two turns a summer, and each week the kids get new places and activities. Have everyone pack a bag lunch for their kids, just provide drinks..I promise, a fun day for the kids!...and probably an exhausting one for the host/hostess of the week! LOL ~ Jen

Tuesday June 01 2010 09:16:03 pm

Hi! Some of the public parks have booklets about the wildlife at the park (i.e. different animal tracks, plant life, etc,) and then they get to earn "Ranger" badges for completing these. We did that with our kids (plus a couple of our extra "summer" kids) last year and they loved it. We also got a bunch of old t-shirts & fabric paint that was on clearance at the craft store and they got to decorate their t-shirts however they wanted. The home water park thing is so much fun too; a simple sprinkler and slip&slide lasts hours. Our local AMC theater in Tampa has summer movie days where the movies are super cheap, and another local theater had a morning $1 movie day per month, which you can't beat on rainy days!

Cristina