Just because it's summer doesn't mean that we don't still have to stick to our family budget. I know. It sucks. I wish that Summer Vacation meant a break from bills and obligation but for us grown ups, it just doesn't work that way. Not everyone can afford a pool membership to take their kiddos to the pool every day. And then what do you do on the occasional rainy day like today? Even though I have to continue with some level of responsible normality, it doesn't mean that I don't want my kiddo to have tons of summer fun.
So I am on a mission: A mission to find fun summer things to do that won't break my budget.
I plan to blog every few days with my findings in the hopes that more parents will realize that summer can be fun as well as inexpensive.
Here are a few things I have found so far either from my friends or just checking around on my own.
www.kidsbowlfree.com Yep. Kids bowl FREE. Perfect for days like today when it's rainy or a a day like yesterday when it was just too hot to go outside. You sign up on line and they send you a coupon for your sweet kiddo to bowl two free games every week. All you have to pay for is shoe rental. At our local bowling joint, shoe rental is $2. It's good exercise, a load of fun, and basically FREE.
Movies In The Park. FREE! A lot of communities will have summer movies that are shown outside that are completely free. In LR, the movies are shown on Wednesday evenings at sundown at the Rivermarket Amphitheater. Here is the schedule for Little Rock
June 6 Transformers
June 13 Steel Magnolias
June 20 Puss N Boots
June 27 Moneyball
July 11 Jaws
July 18 Twighlight Eclipse
July 25 Caddyshack
Aug 1 Annie
Remember that not all movies shown are family friendly. Be sure to check locally and see what's playing before heading down with your kiddos. In our area, families are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs, food and beverages (just no glass containers, please). For more info on movies in the park in LR, www.moviesintheparklr.net
Our day yesterday included a trip to the newly opened War Memorial Park. It is LOVELY. It has a spray pad, tons of stuff for the kids to play on, and new picnic tables with umbrellas. It has clean new bathrooms and is centrally located in Little Rock. There is also a small walking track around the perimeter of the playground area so parents can get their cardio in while keeping an eye on their munchkins.
We also went to a dollar movie in North Little Rock. If you go before noon, the movies really are just a dollar. The theater is older so please don't go there expecting fancy Chenal movie theater seats. IT'S A DOLLAR!!
Coming Up... Little Rock Climbing Center, War Memorial Swimming Pool, Central Arkansas Library, Sherwood Recreation Center, and much more.
There are people who surf the schedules of local Vacation Bible Schools and enroll their kids in every one so they have free part time babysitting for the summer. While I'm not an advocate of VBS for summer day care, I am an advocate of having kids in a positive environment with loads of fun. VBS is a great way for kids to learn about Christ and spend some time making new friends. 
