Frugal Finds For Summer Fun

Amy Hannold, 247Moms Frugal Living Editor

CurrClick.com:

A super homeschool and home-learning resource.  For summer, they offer several free and almost free resources for all ages.  Most are in e-book format, there are some audio and online products as well.  Once you’ve purchased the items, you can download the product, selecting the pages you wish to use.  Summer activity books and titles include:

“Simple Schooling 4^th of July Freebie”

“Nature Journal Pages”

“An Activity a Day Keeps the Boredom Away Summer Packet”

“Father’s Day Notebooking Pages”

“Fireworks Minibook: We Love the USA!”

“All About My Family Notebook” (one of my favorites!)

“Take Me Home: Fathers Day” (complete with printable coupons for hugs!)

Other topics include animals (our favorite is the “All About Horses Notebooking Pages”), cooking, nature, and more.  You can find these by typing the title into the “search” box. 

DonnaYoung.org

Drawing lessons, home and school planners, crafts, handwriting lessons, story paper (decorated border with handwriting lines), chore list makers, grocery lists, and more await you. 

MacaroniKid:

http://www.national.macaronikid.com/

Find your community at the national Macaroni Kid website.  You’ll be connected to the publisher of the weekly list, sent by email.  Each list usually includes local activities and at-home fun ideas.  If there’s not a local publisher near you, consider being the “one in the know” and sharing your finds with others.  There is also “Macaroni Deals”   http://macaronideals.com/national

(similar to Groupon, etc.) for listed cities or “national” deals. 

Find a Farmer’s Market or Family Farm to Visit:

LocalHarvest.org features a map and contact information for your community.

Grandparents.com:

http://www.grandparents.com/gp/home/index.html

Printable and creative activities for all ages of children – and their grandparents (or family).  Don’t miss the “101 Things to Do in Your City” – ideas for fun across the country.

Best Books with Ideas for Summer Fun:  Find these at your local library, Paperbackswap.com or other bookseller.

“Family Manager Guide to Summer Survival”, by Kathy Peel, is the complete summer handbook for families with kids.  Activities, organization, and boredom busters suitable for a wide range of ages- decrease “screen time” and increase family time!   By the way, you can hear a recording of her visit on Focus on the Family’s “Your Family Live” program (June 8, 2011). 

FREEBIE:  Free printable forms from the Kathy’s book are available!  “Road Trip Planner”, “Ideas for Summer Fun and Learning”, and “Vacation Checklist”:

http://www.familymanager.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=22&Itemid=40

“Super Baby Food Book”, by Ruth Yaron, is more than just for meals.  Included are many recipes for homemade snacks and fun things to do.

“101 Things Every Kid Should Do Growing Up”, by Alecia Devantier

Media Tip:  If you’ve heard from your kids about the “must have” game, music, movie or tv program, get the insight on elements you might be concerned about from http://www.pluggedin.com/.