Free and Easy Saturdays

April 19, 2011

Written by Contributing Writer, Sarah Farthing

Do your children come bounding in your room Saturday morning five minutes (or more!) earlier than they ever do during the week? I thought so and I feel your pain. There’s no way I can make your kids sleep in but I can give you five free and easy suggestions to answering that pressing weekend question “What are we doing today?!”

1. Kids Workshops are at every single Home Depot store from 9-noon on the first Saturday of every month. It is an entirely FREE, full-service, how-to clinic aimed at kids ages 5-12. (Although our twins are 4 and love it!) Each child receives a kid-sized orange apron with a spot for their name, just like The Home Depot employees, and every project comes with a pin children can add to their apron to commemorate all the projects they complete!

2. Lowe’s offers the same type of “you built it” Saturday clinics for kids, also FREE! Lowe’s Build and Grow kid’s clinics are a great way to help build confidence. Each participant receives a free apron, goggles, a project themed patch, and a certification of merit upon completion of their project. What a great way to help your kids learn some very basic, essential building skills.

3. If you have a Lakeshore Learning Store near you, you can head there between 11 am and 3pm on Saturdays for free crafts! You can check their website and find out ahead of time which projects will be featured when.

4. Do you have pet store nearby? Call and find out what time they feed some of the animals or when they let children visit for the express purpose of holding some guinea pigs or learning about snakes. My guess is they’ll tell you any time!

5. Go to your library. Can your child write his or her name? Sign them up for their first library card! If there isn’t a story time or a program, craft or activity, find out when they happen and then load up on books about something your child is fascinated with.

Okay, it’s your turn! Give me your great ideas for free and easy family time.

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Category: Activities
Tags: Free Saturday kid activities, Home Depot Kids Workshop, library, Lowe's Build and Grow, pet store time |

5 Comments »

Yaya Kelley
on April 19, 2011 9:36 am
Most Malls have wonderful play yards – so on those rainy days when the parks aren’t available…head to the mall. Michaels has Saturday activities for kids too!
Cathy
on April 19, 2011 10:28 am
This week all National Parks have free admission, as well as other days during the year too. Our state has free admission to all state parks and state historic sites – I know a lot of states you have to pay admission or get an annual pass, but worth checking on.
Heidi Farmer
on April 19, 2011 10:35 am
Yaya – that is another great idea, thanks! And Michaels is another…
Cathy, Thanks so much for the National Park info… that is great!
christy treffer
on April 19, 2011 10:48 am
We live in a rural area in the middle of the United States where we raise registered Angus cattle, Quarter and Paint horses. We never have days when we are “looking” for something to do. Usually have to decided which activities to choose. Guess we’re lucky that way.
Mama Nolte
on April 19, 2011 7:39 pm
Near us we have the Littleton Historical Museum with indoor and outdoor areas to wander. It is always free and there are activities in this 1890’s farmhouse and grounds.

The Denver area also boasts of many trails for bicycles, scooters or just walking. Nice views, good exercise and free.