Free Summer Activities for Children!

Do you have children? Then you know what a terrible time summer is for parents! The kids are home from school and it is often a hassle to find appropriate activities that will occupy their time in a positive way.

A number of working parents simply have no choice but signing their children up for summer school.

But how much is that going to cost?

Well the cost of the programme depends on the age of the child and where you want to your child to attend the summer school.  Most of the summer programmes offer a wide range of activities and some of them include lunch especially for the younger kids.

The cost for these programmes in Kingston can range from $6,000 – $15,000 per week.

The older children usually are offered more academic work to help prepare them for the new school year. Students who are entering high school for the first time are usually encouraged to attend these programmes in order to familiarize them with the syllabus before the start of the new year.

This can cost between $8,000 and $20,000 a week and runs for three weeks in July.

Alternatives

Those costs can certainly add up depending on the number of children you have and will certainly strain the budget. Remember that school restarts in September so money has to be budgeted to meet the back to school needs.

What can parents do to engage their children this summer without breaking the bank?

Have you visited your local branch library? Many of them have summer programmes that are suited for both younger and older children. There is usually no cost for the programme although they will not provide refreshments.

Some museums and cultural institutions, have a minimal entrance fee or are free.

Grab a calendar and map out what days you can accommodate a special ‘trip’ .  While you’re at it, check their calendars for special summer activities — many offer classes, concerts and tours just for kids.

Whether they’re petting animals or picking fruit, children love farms. Check with farms in your area to see if they offer tours, activities or are open to a few hours of help with real farm chores from your pint-size volunteers.

Children don’t need expensive programmes in order to have fun this summer!

At this time of financial struggles if you can’t afford the entire duration of the summer programmes why not try some free activities!

What’s your take? Let me hear from you!

Teri Ann Renee Paisley

Gleaner online