Ideas On Entertaining Children For Free!!!

Your local library likely offers a schedule of free story times, craft times, and other group activities. Many have free DVD rentals and stations with headsets for children to follow along in books. Mine has puzzle stations where children can play with other children as well.

Grab a Baggie of cereal or stale bread and head to your local park to feed the ducks!!!

For free kids movie rentals and educational shows head to a Family Video rental store. They offer free kids movies. (Unlimited and you don't have to rent a full price movie to get this offer)

Head to your local pet store to check out the animals! Most pet stores get new animals frequently so there's usually lots of varieties to see.

4H programs are free to anyone interested in animals and is a great way for kids to learn group projects. You do not have to own animals to join 4H. Meetings are generally monthly.

I have an only child so I seek out ways to find other children for her to play with. Most Giant Eagle grocery stores have an "Eagles nest." It's a free mini daycare set up where your children can play while you grocery shop for an hour. I take a book n read in the concession area while she plays.

Playground crawl!!! Pack a lunch and map out a playground crawl! My daughter really enjoys stopping at multiple playgrounds throughout the day. Great exercise and exciting to kids to keep having a change of scenery. :)

Set up a toy swap with a trusted friend. Have your kids fill a box with different toys to swap off for a weekend with a close trusted friend. They are excited to play with new toys and you didn't have to spend any money! I have a friend that swaps with me a few times a month. Helps on rainy days !!

Check with your local shelter to see if they allow people to stop in a few times a month to play with the animals: Help brush the cats and play with them. Your children will get the joy of playing with new animals and the animals benefit by time outside of their cages and love of humans :)

Does your little one like to meet new people? Tell stories? Read to someone? Visiting elderly at local nursing homes is a great way to teach your child to reach out, make new friends of ANY age, and certainly give companionship to strangers that would no doubt enjoy the company.