![\"GettyImages-803732134\"](\"https:\/\/cdn2.hubspot.net\/hubfs\/3295812\/GettyImages-803732134.jpg\")
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\u201cMom, I\u2019m bored.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The 3 words we all dread. Mainly because it\u2019s usually said in a super whiny voice (my oldest just said this to me not 5 minutes ago \u2013 whiny voice and all), and because you wonder how your child could possibly be bored so early into summer vacation. Most of us automatically feel like we need to do something to entertain them \u2013 just to make the whining stop. Then, we end up planning something fun and expensive to make them smile, right? Wrong! At least, you don\u2019t have to.<\/p>\n
Our family is all about what I like to call the 3 F\u2019s of Summer: Free. Family. Fun. Just because my kids are home doesn\u2019t mean we have to spend a fortune to keep them entertained. There are so many things you can do together that are fun and FREE! <\/span><\/p>\n Want ideas? I\u2019ve got \u2018em!<\/p>\n Backyard Fun<\/strong> \u2013 Your backyard is absolutely free. Invest a little time and money into your outdoor space and you’ll get hours of entertainment back throughout the season. Our kids have a sandbox, slides, a badminton net, a holey board game, a trampoline, enough room to play a mini game of baseball, a sprinkler, etc. We could easily spend hours back there having a blast and we do! Almost daily!<\/p>\n Geocaching<\/strong> \u2013 We just started getting into Geocaching a couple months ago and the boys love it! It\u2019s like a giant treasure hunt. All you need is the app on your phone and away you go! We plan to hit a couple trails down the road from our house that are covered in geocaches.<\/p>\n Parks & <\/strong>Splash pads<\/strong> \u2013 Our area has some really great parks and splash pads nearby and they\u2019re all free! We pack some snacks and the boys spend the afternoon cooling off in the splash pad, playing tag with other kids, scootering around the skate park and having fun!<\/p>\n Free Community Events<\/strong> \u2013 Almost every area offers fun, free events throughout the summer. Ours has wildlife events, family swims, festivals, craft days at the local library and more. Check your local websites and Facebook pages and you\u2019re sure to find all kinds of activities.<\/p>\n Day Trips<\/strong> \u2013 Day trips don\u2019t have a cost a fortune to be fun. We have a really great zoo about an hour away that costs nothing! So, we often pack a picnic and hop in the SUV for an awesome family day trip. The zoo also has a park area and splash pad, plus a train you can ride!<\/p>\n Walks & Bike Rides \u2013 <\/strong>I\u2019m a big fan of family walks, and the boys love riding their bikes. So, we do a little of both throughout the summer. We also have an awesome trail in town that the hubby and I like to walk along. On weekend mornings, we pack the kids scooters and they zoom around while we walk!<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n As you can see, there are plenty of ways to keep the entire family entertained without draining your bank account this summer. I hope this gives you some ideas, and I hope your family enjoys their free fun as much as we do!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cMom, I\u2019m bored.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-631","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-seasonal"},"yoast_head":"\n