Summer time is here in all its blazing glory! And with long days to accompany it, one just has to have a plan. Being a thrifty mum I have been searching for free activities for our kids this summer. There is enough to keep them, and especially me, very busy.
Green Shack program
Some friends introduced us to the Green Shack program last year. This is a free city-wide program at playgrounds. This year our program runs from 10:30am to 1:30pm, whereas last year it occupied the 2:30pm to 5:30pm slot. With this program all our mornings are fully booked, from Monday through Friday, until August 22nd.
My kids thoroughly enjoy the experience. There are crafts, games, and a great opportunity to make friends. We were treated to some story-telling from the Arts Council this year. One of the stories was an enactment of how spider tricked other animals in the forest, stealing their food. With a drum beat and masks to accompany the story-telling, both the kids and adults were enchanted.
Playgrounds
The playground nearest our place is convenient because it’s just a 2-minute walk away. Variety is always good. There are quite a couple different options from this site we are going to try out weekly. Some are sandy, some have rubber bases. Just that change in texture is enough to have young kids excited.
Splash!
Spray parks are one of the free activities for our kids this summer. I like that there are playgrounds connected, along with some picnic benches to relax while the kids frolic about.
Swimming is everyone’s favorite hobby and a great way to cool off AND exercise. With the outdoor pool near us now open, the experience has been amazing for us. And boy, has it been hot!
These pools are actually not free, only a nominal fee is attached. As members of the Leisure Access Program this is a benefit we enjoy for free though. And that’s how we enjoy our indoor pool swimming. In fact, we have unlimited access to any recreation center and facility throughout the City. Our newcomer status expires soon, so we are taking full advantage of these benefits!
Cycling
We love cycling! Although I have been threatening to start learning, I haven’t made good on that yet, and I see I am missing out a lot. Everyday the kids go cycling around our block. It helps them keep fit and active.
The struggle to get the bikes down is one that we have gladly transferred to them. Safe to say, it doesn’t dampen their excitement one bit. Reminds me of an idiom in my language – kure kwegava ndokusina mutsubvu– which means that a person will go to any length to get what they like best.
Nature walks
We don’t take nature walks everyday but we slot one at least once a week, especially after church. It takes the mind off TV, and is very refreshing. But however much we have done this, I am sad to say it hasn’t helped our toddler get over his fear of even the littlest bugs, never mind dogs!
We enjoyed Family Nature nights program in 2023 and are looking forward to it again this year. There is so much that our children, with their different learning styles, get from these practical experiences. We also benefit as we learn along with them. The great news is that this is one of the free activities for our kids in summer.
Vacation Bible School
This is definitely one of our kids’ summer highlights- a bible-themed week-long adventure! It’s full of fun activities like crafts and games and character-building activities. They sing and run around with friends and enjoy themselves, for free!
Library programs
The library has so many activities lined up for kids of different ages; from sign and singing programs for the little ones to science programs for the older ones. We are definitely popping for special programs quite a lot this summer.
Eventbrite
I missed a free Lego-building fun program offered by one of these big retailers, it filled up quickly at a shop near us. However, I am keeping my eye on this site for more fun and free stuff. In 2023 we enjoyed some face painting and playing with playdough. To top it up was a special breakfast discount for participants!
Summer is a great time to take a break and have some fun in the sun. This year we are definitely spending most of our days outdoors. There is so much for the kids to do at playgrounds, spray parks, church, the library and other locations. So many free activities for our kids this summer.
