Monthly Archives: June 2013

In my last post, I talked about low cost summer fun ideas — things like a membership to The Henry Ford.  We’ve been taking full advantage of ours.   I think our average this year so far is once per week.

We are also planning to visit the last day of the Trenton Mid-Summer Festival today.  Lots of things for the kids to do.  http://wyandotte.patch.com/groups/arts-and-entertainment/p/trenton-mid-summer-festival-is-this-weekend.

Other summer fun ideas include:

Learn a fun new skill – we took up nail painting.  Ok, I took it up but my daughter is thrilled.  Another idea is face-painting.

With all the rain we’ve been having – go stomping in some puddles – or ride the bike through them – that was good for at least an hour this week!

Speaking of bikes, take a bike ride.

Sidewalk chalk.  Need I say more?

Have the kids help with a DIY project – paint the fence, redo the look of the porch.  It doesn’t really have to be perfect, they think it is fun, it builds their skills, is a perfect time for good ol fashioned conversation and you get a project off the list.

Summer reading (or other program) at the local library.

Scavenger hunt anyone?  Great way to teach the little ones about geography and their surroundings.

Came across a site on Pinterest the other day — really simple, fun ideas for science projects for kids — easy too.  Check them out here: http://spoonful.com/family-fun/10-silly-science-experiments-kids.

We are also looking at the local fireworks displays.  Where is your favorite display?

All the fun summer activity has pushed the need for our homemade cold/hot packs to be pushed to the forefront. My little one likes to use them for booboos and mosquito bites.  She is right – the cold stops the itch.

Look for them as a new product soon.  I’m thinking extra small, small and medium sizes.  What do you think?

I’d love to hear your thoughts – use the comments link at the top of the post.

Suzan

PS — Check out the blog party that I’m participating in.  I’ve been following Amy at A Blossoming Life for a little while now — great posts and ideas I think you’ll like.   www.ablossominglife.com

 

 

 

Today’s post will be short.  It is going to be a hot one today and we have some outside things to do before it gets too hot.   The kids are now out of school and I find that us parents are still looking for inexpensive summer fun ideas.  Today I thought I’d compile a few.  Not necessarily free, mind you, but inexpensive over the course of the summer.

We alternate years and get a membership at The Henry Ford (http://www.thehenryford.com/) or the Zoo (either Detroit or Toledo, http://detroitzoo.org/).  Of the two, I personally think The Henry Ford is the better value of the two as the museum is open all year and Greenfield Village is open from April to December.  Tons of activities and learning opportunities for the kids.  I’m not really a winter kind of gal, so the Zoo in the Winter isn’t happening for me.

Going every other year at one place means you get more value out of the membership, as you use that as your main summer entertainment source.  The other advantage is that you can usually end up with a discount offer to join again – up to 15% in my experience.  This also helps me to upgrade my membership to maybe bring guests or ride passes.  To get any real value, you really do need to go more than once, though.

One of the mom’s at school shared another great idea — a state parks pass.  She spends $11 for the year and alternates what parks to visit over the summer.  Pack a picnic, visit the beach, visit the playscapes, take the trails.  Makes for a very inexpensive summer.

Check out your local parks and rec department for free or low cost activities.   You can also check out Metro Parent, http://www.metroparent.com/ – they compile all kinds of lists of things to do in Southeast Michigan, with a good number of them being free.   In part two, I’ll try to focus on free activities.

What kind of free or low cost things do you do over the summer?

Suzan

Check out these links:

http://www.thehenryford.com/

http://detroitzoo.org/

http://www.metroparent.com/  — check out the local stuff link in the navigation.