Family Fun Activities

Free Family Film Fun This Summer!

Showcase Cinemas- Enjoy Free movies and great prizes while promoting reading in the summer. Wednesdays at 10:00 am your child can bring in a book report and get in for free! Starting June 29 and ending August 17. To find participating locations and times click here.

Regal Cinemas - Find a location near you for free G & PG Rated films on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10 AM for the summer.

Lowes Cineplex has something similar click here to find out when and where.

For Parents with Babies

Reel Moms, brought to you by Loews Cineplex Entertainment, offers the opportunity for moms to bring their babies to the movies. Look for special events and giveaways and today's hottest movies.

Tickets to all Reel Moms events are NOT limited in number, and go on-sale at the box office the day of the show. Reel Moms is open to parents and their babies. Stroller check is available; admission for grown-ups is regular ticket price, babies are free.

Reel Moms is a program exclusively for mothers and fathers with infants. These shows are tailored to meet their needs and includes dimmed lights (not extinguished lights) and reduced sound levels so you can hear your infants every sound during the presentation (enjoytheshow.com). Click to learn more. 

Summer Reading Programs

Check out your local library - Take part in your local libraries summer reading program. Most libraries have them and most give away prizes to entice your children to read. Go to your local library or go to their website for more information.

Reading is Fundamental's (RIF) website offers a lot of fun activities your child can be involved with this summer. They have kids join together online and build a story, free interactive online stories, and lots of reading challenges and contests. Click here for more information.

There are some reading programs you can buy and complete at home. Here are a few.

Scholastic has Free Shipping on Summer Books

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Click here for Reading Solutions for Kids

Watch Movies At Home

Stay at home and watch a movie without taking a trip to video store. You just make a list of dvd's you ant to see and a company of your choice will send you up to 3 dvd's at a time. There are a few benefits of these services. 1. You can keep the movies as long as you want (you know, for your kids that like to watch the movies over and over again!) with no late fees, and then return them in the postage paid envelope and then they will send you another selection on your list. 2. You don't go back and forth to the video store. 3. The programs are cost effective (if you rent more than 4 movies a month), ranging from $14.99 to $19.99 depending on the program you choose. I have tried BlockBuster's program and love it. I had one problem with a cracked dvd, but I reported it, sent it back and they sent me a new one. No questions asked. BlockBuster also gives you two in-store video rental as well. That 's a free $7.98! If you use your two free in store coupons and send out for just 2 more dvd's that month, you would already have paid for your membership fee for the month. I order a lot more than that so I save money every month on movie rentals. It's a great way to sit with your family and watch fun movies!

Here are the best online rental stores:

Netflix - Only 9.99 a month. Over 40,000 Titles. No Late Fees. Try it for Free

Try BLOCKBUSTER Online Now for only $9.99!

Make A Personalized Shirt, Apron, Bag, Or Anything Else!

This is a great crafty project for those rainy summer days.  Your kids can make a beach bag, an apron for Grandpa or Grandma, or a special shirt for themselves! There are endless possibilities here.  Here's a list of things you need on hand:

A solid colored shirt, apron, canvas bag, or other fabric item.

Fabric paint

Fabric markers

T shirt transfer paper if you’re feeling really creative. Use your computer to make something cool and print it out with your ink jet printer and then iron on to your project.

How to do it:

Wash the fabric in advance so the fabric will shrink and get rid of the excess color. Don't use fabric softener so colors and t shirt transfers will stick.

Cover your table with newspapers and get to work! Have a theme for your children or just let them loose!

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Take A Trip To The Zoo!

To find the nearest zoo near you and to check out other awesome things to do outside like going to aquariums click here! This site also has the opportunity to view animals at different zoos live with their zoo cam. Plus there are games that educate children about animals. Go to "Zoos" in the upper left corner of your screen. Find your nearest or coolest zoo and click to their web site. Sometimes you will find coupons or discounts and they tell you some great tips to make your trip the best ever.

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