Summer is here! School is out, and our time is our own! While we are thankful for a more relaxed pace, I also know that my kids will quickly be begging to do more than just play at home. As every parent knows, summer camp tuition and admission to activities quickly gets expensive, but staying home day after day can be tiresome. I want to make the most of this time with my family, but as we prepare for an overseas PCS, it is important to me that we stick to a budget. If you also want to keep costs low this season, here are some ideas to enjoy summer break on a budget.
Set Realistic Expectations
This is my first line of defense for both myself and my kids. Despite what it seems like on social media, summer does not consist solely of fun activities. We have regular responsibilities that need to be accomplished, even more so as we pack and prepare to move. This obviously requires that we be at home at least some days, and that is okay. You can still make summer memories with your children without entertaining them every moment of every day. My goal is to enjoy summer break, not burn out by the end of June.
Activity Mind Map
As my kids get older, I am encouraging them to take ownership of how they spend their time. At the start of the break, I created a mind map listing different types of activity categories such as outside, inside, quiet time, things I want to learn, etc. My seven year old spent some time brainstorming her preferred activities. Now, when she complains about being bored, she can refer back to her mind map and get inspiration from her list. This also let me gather necessary supplies at one time instead of making multiple Target pick up orders in a single week, saving time and gas.
Summer Reading
Being a long time bookworm, the library’s summer reading program is one of my favorite free summer activities. You have the visit to the library to pick out books and the time reading them at home – it’s a two for one activity! Libraries typically offer other free events and story time for school aged kids over the summer, as well as incentives or prizes for reading books each week. If you haven’t signed up for your local summer reading program yet, now is the time!
If you have kids in first through sixth grade, make sure you also check out Barnes and Noble’s Summer Reading Program. After reading eight books (which you can borrow for free from the library) and filling out a reading journal, your child can pick out their own free book from the store!
Free Days Out
When you want to spend the day out, there are many opportunities for keeping costs low! Public parks and splash pads are usually the first things that come to mind for free days out, but when it’s raining or simply too hot to be outside, we need indoor activities as well. Kids Bowl Free is a program that offers free bowling all summer with registration. Many movie theaters host summer programs with free or reduced pricing for kids. Blue Star Families recently released the 2024 list of Blue Star Museums which allow free admission for active-duty military members and their family! Visit their website to see if there are any close to you.
Child Care Alternatives
In addition to budget friendly activities to do with your kids, there will also be times when you have things to do without them. For a childcare alternative, find local churches that offer Vacation Bible School. Typically offered free for school-aged children, VBS programs run throughout the summer, with some churches offering morning programs and others offering an afternoon/evening time. You may even be able to find a program for every week!
Another childcare option is arranging a child swap with friends or neighbors. This is working well for my family and another mom in my neighborhood that works from home. One day a week her daughter plays at my house, another day my daughters play at hers. We both get a few hours of childcare, and our kids get some time with their friends!
With so many opportunities to enjoy summer break on a budget, the question isn’t, “What can we do?,” it’s “What should we do first?”
