Kat’s Money Corner: Frugal summer fun for kids
This summer I want to do more with my kiddos so I’m planning ahead to take them out for a fun activity at least once a week. What’s at the top of that list, you ask? A day at Worlds of Fun and a Sporting Kansas City game – Jack loves soccer! There are a lot of ways to score deals for seasonal fun, so this week let’s talk summer activities 101.
Fun in the Sun
Starting from the top of my summer bucket list, I’m planning to take my boys to Worlds of Fun. We usually spend the day in the park’s Planet Snoopy area, which is great for the littler kids. And just a heads-up, if you’re bringing baby food or bottles, you’ll need to pack these items in a cooler and leave them at Guest Services when you check in to the amusement park. If you’re hoping to make a day or weekend out of your visit, check out the two-part Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun https://www.worldsoffun.com/plan-a-visit/tips-for-kids guest passes online. Either way, don’t forget the sunscreen!
Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead http://www.opkansas.org/things-to-see-and-do/deanna-rose-childrens-farmstead/ is another one of our favorites. My boys can feed baby goats, watch a cow be milked, fish at the pond and take pony rides. In fact, we purchase the “Friends of the Farmstead” membership so even if we just have an hour to spare, we will head that direction.
Under the Stadium Lights
Sporting Kansas City’s season extends all the way through October so we’ll have time to plan ahead for a soccer match. Check out the schedule ahead of time – there are often neat giveaways for fans who arrive early. My family also loves to attend Kansas City T-Bones games http://www.tbonesbaseball.com/. We buy a small package of games online and then we can handpick the games we want to attend. On Saturdays in the summer, there are free fireworks following the games.
Rainy Days
I like to plan ahead as much as anyone, but sometimes there’s just no arguing with the weather. On rainy days, we’ll head to Crown Center http://www.crowncenter.com/. There are often free events and if we are going to spend a little more, we’ll head over to LEGOLAND or the SEA LIFE Aquarium. When the kids get a little older we may invest in a season pass for the family.
On that subject, several friends have added season passes to their Christmas wish lists when family members ask for ideas around the holidays. There are a ton of options depending on your interests – everything from the zoo to Science City. This is definitely a great idea for busy families since it’s something you can use throughout the summer and year-round.
Kat's Money Corner is posted on Dollars & Sense every Tuesday. Kat Hnatyshyn, when not blogging or caring for her little ones, is a manager with CommunityAmerica Credit Union. For more financial chatter, click http://twitter.com/savinmavens.
This story was originally published May 26, 2015 at 9:44 AM with the headline "Kat’s Money Corner: Frugal summer fun for kids."