Raising a child isn't cheap. When you're raising twins, it's twice as expensive. Raising triplets... well you get the idea. Just when you thought you were out of the financial woods when the diaper and formula stages were over, you find the kids actually wanted to start doing things other than tummy time in the living room.
Getting out and exploring the world, or even your own community is always a great adventure, and not necessarily as expensive as one might think. Any way that parents can save a few bucks is always welcome advice.
So, to that end, we’ve researched and come up with a list of fun and free family events and activities for 2020. Check each month out, plan some fun activities, and then make sure you share this article with friends and relatives who have children.
January
On the 2nd Saturday or every month, JC Penny offers its “Kid Zone” in which kids get to make a craft. January 11th, kids can make a “Here we grow again” growth chart. Kids also get an ID badge, a lanyard, collector’s pins per project, and a project master medallion if they do at least 6 projects!
On Martin Luther King, Jr Day (1/20), the National Park system has free admission.
On January 23rd, check a local pie place, many are giving away free pieces of pie for National Pie Day.
February
Home Depot Free Kids Workshop* – Make a Heart String Art project on February 1st.
Home Depot Kids Workshops are on the first Saturday of every month, 9am to 12pm.
On February 8th, hit JC Penny’s Kid Zone again. This time you can make a Valentine’s Day desk box.
National Bagel Day brings offers of free bagels on February 15th.
Later in Feb, National Pancake Day means IHOP is giving away a free stack of pancakes to its customers.
March
Home Depot Free Kids Workshop – Make a pair of wooden binoculars that actually work (for a Spring bird watching theme) on March 7th.
Kids Bowl Free starts on March 1st and runs throughout the summer. (Read more about the free bowling opportunity)
JC Penny Kids Zone – On Marth 14th, make a magical guardian door ornament.
April
Every April, Bass Pro Shop has a roughly 2-week Easter event. During this time, kids get to do crafts, color pictures, do egg hunts, and get a free picture with the Easter Bunny.
Home Depot Free Kids Workshop – Make a recycling truck on April 4th.
JC Penny Kids Zone – TBA craft on April 11th.
National Park entry is once again free on April 18th as part of National Park Week.
Good food can be found during April, as Pretzel Day is the 26th (Check out a nearby Auntie Anne’s for a buy one get one deal on a pretzel) and Ben & Jerry’s has Free Cone Day on the 9th.
EXPLORING THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM IS INCREDIBLE WAY TO LEARN ABOUT THE DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES. THEY OFFER FREE ADMISSION 3 TIMES PER YEAR.
May
Home Depot Free Kids Workshop – Make a mirrored vanity, with heart-shaped mirror on May 2nd.
JC Penny Kids Zone – TBA craft on May 9th.
Not to be outdone by last month’s Ben & Jerry’s offer, Haagen Dazs has its Free Cone Day on May 12th.
June
Home Depot Free Kids Workshop – Create a wooden kids tool bench on June 6th.
Many donut places will be giving away donuts on National Donut Day on June 5th.
JC Penny Kids Zone – TBA craft on June 13th.
In late June every year, Bass Pro Shop does a “Summer Camp” in which kids come to the store to learn about outdoor activities, like hiking, camping, bird watching, water safety, and hunting. The educational workshops are about 20 minutes a piece. Kids get a Bass Pro lanyard that they can put pins for the completed workshops on. While in the store, kids can also participate in fun in-store activities like BB guns, fishing (sometimes with real fish), and archery. Each day also includes a free craft in addition to all the other free activities!
July
Home Depot Free Kids Workshop – Make a small soccer game reminiscent of a Foosball game on July 4th.
Head to 7-11 or other places that sell slurpees for Free Slurpee Day on July 11th.
JC Penny Kids Zone – TBA craft on July 11th.
July 18th brings National Hot Dog Day.
August
Home Depot Free Kids Workshop – Just in time to start preparing to go back to school, create a locker themed box that can hold pencils or anything else the kids may need to keep in their backpacks on August 1st.
JC Penny Kids Zone – TBA craft on August 8th.
The National Park Service’s birthday is August 25th, so enjoy free National Park entry again.
BASS PRO SHOPS MADE OUR LIST OF FAMILY EVENTS MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT 2020. THEY OFFER ACTIVITIES FOR THE KIDS, AND OF COURSE A LOT OF GREAT SHOPPING FOR THE ADULTS.
September
Home Depot Free Kids Workshop – On September 5th, build a crane!
JC Penny Kids Zone – TBA craft on September 12th.
Find participants in National Coffee Day on September 24th for a free cup of coffee.
October
Home Depot Free Kids Workshop – Build a fire truck on October 3rd.
JC Penny Kids Zone – TBA craft on October 10th.
For the couple of weekends leading up to Halloween, Bass Pro Shop brings its kid activities back. This time you get to make Halloween themed crafts and do fun Halloween inspired activities. Plus, kids often get to meet characters from Peanuts and get a free picture with them.
National Chocolate Day on October 28th brings some freebies and some discounts from the likes of Ghiradelli, Hershey’s, Lindt, Russel Stover, and Godiva!
November
Home Depot Free Kids Workshop – Come on November 7th to build a wooden battleship.
Home Depot usually has a 2nd Free Kids Workshop on the weekend of Black Friday as well. So, on November 28th, go again to make an elf picture frame ornament. These work great as decoration or as gifts to the grandparents.
November 11th, Veteran’s Day, brings your last chance of the year for free National Park entry.
JC Penny Kids Zone – TBA craft on November 14th.
Starting mid-November and running through mid-December, Bass Pro brings kids “Santa’s Workshop.” This time, kids get to make Christmas themed crafts, play with toys, color pictures, write their letters to Santa and put them in a mailbox to the North Pole, watch animatronic elves, and get a free picture with the big man himself, Santa!
December
Home Depot Free Kids Workshop – December 5th lets you make a treat tray for Santa’s visit. Create a cute place to put out the milk and cookies that can be used every year as one of your new family traditions.
JC Penny Kids Zone – TBA craft on December 12th.
Naturally, in December, expect sales promotions. So, on the 18th, you can get free shipping on orders for Free Shipping Day.
*These workshops by Home Depot are really fun events. Building something with their own hands helps to teach children that they can accomplish things on their own and have fun while doing it. They get to keep their craft as well as a craft apron (which you’ll want to use because there’s paint involved!), a commemorative pin related to the project, and a certificate of achievement. The Home Depot Free Kids Workshops are the 1st Saturday of every month with a different project each time. Hours for the workshop are always 9am-12pm.
That’s a fun monthly layout of free stuff for the year, but keep in mind there’s still plenty of things that aren’t governed by a calendar that are just as free. Check your local areas for art walks and free festivals that usually have activities for the kids, like bouncy houses. Libraries always have fun and free activities going on. Splash pads are often free and tons of fun for hot kids in the summer. There are always playgrounds too, and unlike splash pads, they’re year round! Lots of towns have free movies and concerts in the summer as well. Also, Kids Skate Free is similar to Kids Bowl Free, but it goes throughout the whole year.
Now, go. Get out there and make some fun memories!
Be sure to check out our other parenting advice.