Nebka's Nook: Summertime Fun!

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Author: Nebka Galyn, June 2018


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School is out for summer here in Utah. The last day for our local school was May 25th. When do your kids get out? I actually home-school my kids but I know that for those who don't, summer can be a challenge. Trying to come up with ways to keep your kids entertained--or at the very least not bored--is a struggle for many people. So I'm here to help with some ideas to have a little fun with your kids while they are out of school!

Things to do in your community
  1. Thank Local Heroes: Call your local police or fire station and arrange an appointment to tour the station. Bake (or buy) some cookies and take your kids to meet the people that are there to help us in emergencies.
  2. Play Hometown Tourists: You don't have to leave town to go on a vacation: Get to know the town you live in. Look into local landmarks, call the local historical society for some fun hometown trivia, and ask a neighbor for her favorite restaurant recommendation to try somewhere new.
  3. Free Bowling: Hundreds of alleys across the country participate in the summerlong Kids Bowl Free program, which allows children to play two games a day on the house. To register for a pass, roll on over to KidsBowlFree
  4. Outdoor Family Films: Every Friday and Saturday at twilight, parks across the country sponsor free outdoor family film nights. Visit your parks department Website to find screenings near you.
  5. Cheap Family Films:
  • Select Regal theaters offer Summer Movie Express tickets for $1 movies each summer, screening PG and G-rated movies at 10 a.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday. Go to Regal Theaters for a schedule.
  • AMC runs a similar program, Summer Movie Camp, on Wednesdays at 10 a.m., with $4 tickets. Every ticket comes with an AMC KidsPack with a popcorn, drink and fruit snacks; check out AMC Theaters for more details.
  • Cinemark also has Summer Movie Clubhouse, $1 per show or $5 for all ten movies. check out Cinemark for more details.


Things to do at home:

  1. Camp in. Put sleeping bags on the floor and have a family slumber party.
  2. Invite friends over for a game night. Have a kids' games table and an adult one too.
  3. Have a puzzle race. Use 100-piece puzzles and see who finishes first.
  4. Play a card game. Maybe crazy eights, spoons or poker. Take your pick.
  5. Play a board game. Candy-land, Chess or Monopoly, depending on age and attention span.
  6. Pack a picnic. And plop down to eat it just about anywhere, at a free concert, in a state park or in your own backyard.
  7. Host the kids' friends for a sleepover. And then maybe your kids will be invited next—giving you a free evening.


These are just a few of the ideas that you can find online. I found a bunch of these on the site VeryWellFamily.

I hope that these ideas help you and your kids survive the summer break!! I also want to recommend that you check with your local school district and see if they offer a free lunch program during the summer. This can be helpful as a way to get out of the house. Here in Utah, they are at some of the elementary schools and some of the local parks.