Grandparents Are the Unexpected Heroes of Summer
A growing number of grandparents are taking on caregiving roles for their grandchildren, especially in the summer when kids are out of school and parents are working. The summer months can create some challenges when it comes to watching kids, such as planning full-day activities that will keep children engaged, active, and with a little luck, away from a screen.
Enter this guide to summer fun, where you’ll find all kinds of affordable (even free!) events and activities to help you create lasting memories with your little loved ones.
Go to the Movies!
Your local theater likely has some deals. Here are what some national chain theaters are offering this summer:
· Regal Cinemas Summer Movie Express - $1 movies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
· Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse - $1.75 movies on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
· AMC Summer Movie Camp - $3 movies on Mondays and Wednesdays
· B&B Theater Kids Summer Series - $3 or $5 movies Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
· Megaplex Kids Summer Movie Pass - 10 family-friendly films for only $25.
Summer Reading Fun
Your local library: Check out your local library for summer reading programs and all summer long! Most libraries host free in-person and digital events, award prizes for reading, and even offer free lunches for the community. Your library might also have free or discounted museum and zoo passes available to you with your library card.
Scholastic’s Home Base is a safe, moderated online platform to meet characters, play games, discuss books with fellow readers, write fiction, upload your art, and discover a world of adventure.
The Imagination Library is Dolly Parton’s global program that sends books to children from birth to age five in five countries.
Barnes and Noble hosts a Summer Reading Program for children in first-sixth grade. Kids read books, write about them, and earn free books from a list of choices in July and August.
Book It! is back at Pizza Hut! During the summer months of June, July, and August, any child that meets their parent-set reading goals can earn a free Pizza Hut® single topping Personal Pan Pizza®* from participating locations.
Panda Express is offering free kids meal coupons after reading five books with their Panda Cub Club. Check out their website for crafting ideas and activities to keep you having fun all summer.
Sporting Fun
Check your local professional and minor league sports teams for free events and programs. Here are a few examples:
Baseball: Most MLB teams invite fans 12 and under onto the field after most Sunday day games to run the same bases. Most MLB teams also have free or low cost fan clubs for kids. Check out your local team for other community events and programs.
WNBA: If you’re in the Indianapolis area July 18-19, the WNBA is hosting WNBA Live. WNBA Live is a two-day fan festival celebrating the intersection of basketball, fashion, music, and culture. It’s part of the AT&T WNBA All-Star weekend and offers interactive events like meet-and-greets with WNBA players, trivia, youth basketball clinics, and more.
Kids Bowl Free: “Register your kids to bowl two free games every day at over 1,300 locations in the US, Canada and US military bases. Kids Bowl Free offers family passes for the summer that allows adult family and caregivers to bowl two games (*there’s often a discount code). A 2-person pass is $44.95 and a 4-person pass is $49.95.
Planet Fitness is offering a High School Summer Pass for teens ages 14-19 for a “totally free” membership now-August 31.
Have a Day Out
Museums and zoos often offer some kind of family-friendly pricing options, whether it’s a free day once a month or weekly for the entire family, kids of a certain age enter free, or buy and adult pass and get a children’s pass free. And check with your local library to see if they have free or discount passes you can check out with your library card.
· The Met in NYC has the 81st Street Studio, a free science and art play space for children ages 3 to 11.
· The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in LA offers free admission for those 17 and under.
· The Rock & Roll Museum in Cleveland offers free admission for kids 5 and under.
Crafting and Activities
Crayola offers free downloadable activities, (like coloring pages) monthly live events and creative learning videos
PBS KIDS offers educational games and videos from Curious George, Wild Kratts and other PBS KIDS shows! And listen together with your kids to the PBS KIDS podcasts – titles include The Arthur Podcast, Jamming on the Job, Lyla's Loopcast, Molly of Denali, Odd Squad: Odd Squadcast!, Pinkalicious & Peterrific, and Work It Out Wombats!
Lego offers free in-store building events and offers ideas and
· Online Creativity Workshops
· Stores are having daily events like free building activities, scavenger hunts, and giveaways. Check your local store for details.
· Sign up for the free Lego magazine here.
Lowes hosts DIY-U Kids’ Workshops, monthly in-store workshops where children ages 4 and older are invited to build memories and basic DIY skills with their families
Upcoming events:
· 8/16: Pet Station
· 9/20 Football Spirit Board
Home Depot hosts Kids Workshops, a free monthly in-store, hands-on learning experience that encourages skill-building and creativity in children 5-12. And check out videos for crafting projects to do on your time.
Upcoming Events:
· 8/2: Space Odyssey
· 9/6: Crop Duster
The Michael’s Kids Club offers online crafting ideas and tutorials with monthly challenges, engaging classes and fun DIYs created especially for kids.
JCPenny Kids Zone is a free craft activity held the second Saturday of each month
Upcoming Events:
· 8/9: Decorate a back-to-school pencil pouch
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