Cheap ideas for kids' summer fun

July 4, 2013 (WPVI) -- The first few weeks after school lets out are great, but then, "There are three words that strike fear in the heart of every mom, and they are, 'Mom, I'm bored.'" says Kaley Ehret .

Ehret, the blogger behind ChaChing On a Shoestring, learned the hard way that keeping 7-year-old Griffin and 4-year-old Lincoln (Cade's still a baby) busy can be challenging and expensive.

But this summer, she and the boys are prepared to have fun, without breaking the bank.

"The bottom line is you don't have to spend money to have a fun and rewarding summer with your kids," she says.

Each of the boys has summer activity notebook, including a checklist of things they'd like to do. Griffin wrote his list himself. It includes activities like going to the park and making popsicles. Lincoln got some help from his Mom, including activities like helping wash the car."

And Ehret has an activity list she's sharing on her blog.

"Kids can bowl for free, they can go to museums for free, they can skate for free," she says, adding. "They can go to the movies for one dollar."

She also suggests checking with craft and hardware stores, like Michael's, A-C Moore, Home Depot and Lowe's for weekly kids' craft and build clinics.

And make sure the kids use part of the summer to stay up on their reading. Libraries and retailers including Chuck E. Cheese, Barnes and Noble and Pottery Barn all offer reading rewards clubs.

To read more of Ehret's tips for free and inexpensive Summer Fun with your kids, click here.

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lifestyle, saving with 6abc, amy buckman

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