Looking for things to do with the kids? Different places around our area and those that are NATIONAL have things going on all the time for kids. Let's take a quick Peek!
GIANT EAGLE OR MARKET DISTRICT A trip to either one of these is like a slice of heaven if you have a child under 9! I check mine into Eagle's Nest. It is a GODSEND. I grocery shop, and concentrate, I sometimes grab a coffee, and if I am Market District I stop and grab a bite to eat while my child is being watched! 5 minutes for me before I begin my shopping.
A nice bonus at the Giant Eagle and the Market District are the crafts the children make(we send them to Gramma), and there are often contests going on,coloring or other,and we actually won at the Market District in Pine Township. My son colored a picture and won an Angry Birds Magnet! Wow was he excited!!! Friday nights at the Eagle or Market District often offer a free movie for the kids in Eagle's Nest. Sometimes you need to pre-register which is no big deal, but when this movie night is at the Market District, I hang out and enjoy a glass of wine with my gal pals! The kids are entertained FREE!
Find out what's happening in Chartiers Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
IKEA One of my children's favorite stop is IKEA. We have a Family Rewards Card which serves me a free coffee or tea! In addition weekends and weekdays have great activities in the Restaurant! If you attended the Princess/Prince party you know how great the activities are! With your family rewards card, the Prince/Princess party was FREE to you. Dinner was provided, including pasta, and dessert! The kids had a full meal of mini foods as well as treats to take away and craft. This is the norm on all the activities hosted by IKEA.
Kids have so much fun. The kids also love SMALAND. I don't know what it is, but they LOVE it! I shop peacefully and longer than most as I have the family rewards card at Ikea which gives me additional time for my kids in SMALAND! If you need to feed the kids, the Hot Dogs in the check out area a super cheap and super good! Never heard a complaint yet!!
Find out what's happening in Chartiers Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
BARNES AND NOBLE Barnes and Noble offers great story times for kids. It is plain and simple story time to enjoy a book and as a parent a bit of a break while the kids listen:)
HOME DEPOT MONTHLY I love that my kids are learning how to hammer and nail and glue while creating a project! They love that their aprons are full of PINS from projects completed! Each time I look around the house, I see something we made. That hour we spend together once a month on a Saturday is not definable! We just love it.
LOWES Bi Monthly The same is true at the kids LOWES BUILD N GROW workshop, as I have seen a transformation in my kids abilities to use the hammer and the nails and the glue. I used to have to really work hard to help them,now I just kind of read the directions and stand back. They ask for help, I help, but they are really building and growing through all the projects they have crafted! This is such a nice program, make sure to register on line ahead of time in order to participate.
THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF PITTSBURGH & YOUR LOCAL LIBRARIES I am first and foremost an advocate of educating my children and I love that the libraries provide story times, crafts and many other ways for the children to be entertained.... FREE! A love of a good book is a great start to each child's future. We participate in many activities at the library. We have met Ronald McDonald, built crafts, done summer reading programs, attended story times, WII game times and so much more. I think the kids like it best when we visit the Carnegie Library in Oakland and walk on the OPAQUE floors and look at the Dinosaurs through the upstairs windows into the museum. Free Fun Fabulous.
JOANNS & MICHAEL'S - These are not so much free as they are fabulous and good learning for the kids. If you don't want to craft at home and you want an outing, you can sign up for one of their events at your local store. The events differ store to store as do the hours, but the same FUN is contained in each. The fees are small, we have not paid more than $5 to attend one and the crafts are magnificent! My older 2 like the independence, I like the shopping time I have to browse and purchase! It is a great way to introduce your kids to crafting, frugally. Recreation Departments- Our recreation departments do a lot for the kids from township driven low cost programs to fun fairs. Make sure to check with you boro, recreation department etc because they are your main source of local information!
THE BIG MAC MUSEUM in North Huntingdon I had a lot of fun there. You can learn the history of the BIG MAC, while your kids play in the INDOOR free play area! You can also enjoy your lunch and feed the kids!
SPRAY PARKS This season is up and coming and considering the price, FREE you can't beat this. We pack a lunch and they spend a few hours running in and out of the Spray! Frugal, Fun Free and spread all around our Pittsburgh Area.
THE BIG BLUE SLIDE If you have not been, you have to go. Take a box with you! This is one of our FAVORITE places to go(providing the weather is nice). Kids congregate here from all over and they all have fun. It is OLD SCHOOL playtime with a bunch of kids you may never see again, but you sure will have fun with while you are there!
BRUSTER'S OF INGOMAR Did you know that Bruster's of Ingomar often has a story time? Yes, a story time.- free kiddie cones and doggie sundaes.
FAVORITE SAMPLING LOCATIONS: I am up and down with this. If your child has any kind of allergies, this is not an option for you! If you do not have a membership, this is also not an option, but if you do have a membership and no allergies this is a blast! Saturdays at COSTCO and SAM's it is like SAMPLE HEAVEN! I hate shopping on those days, but because my kids LOVE the samples we go. I load up on what I have to do and they eat their way through the store trying new stuff we will eventually purchase! In addition, the low cost snack bars make lunch a breeze!
KIDGITs - a $5 fee gets you a whole lot. from the SIMON Malls. There are a lot of activities that happen month to month in each different mall, so make sure to join and get those kids active! Small investment = large fun.
CABELLAS - IF you just want to get away, head to Cabellas with the kids. It will serve as a few hours of entertainment from the animal displays to the aquarium. If you get hungry, head over to CHEDDARS and grab a bite! It is a magnificent family day and sure to thrill everyone in your family. The shooting gallery is fun and the deer walk through is great as well. FREE
DISCLAIMER: all activities are subject to change. these are not affiliated with PFM in any way. These are just places we have been, go to or take part in and they make great outings frugally. PFM is not responsible for any of the times, events, things posted on various sites, these are only recommendations.
