Children want to have fun; parents want to save money. Before you frown at the lack of free resources for children, check out the activities at your local library and park. These are the best places for free activities for children!

For the past two summers, my children and I enjoyed a wealth of cool, amazing, enriching and diverse activities for no money! We listened to a lively storyteller who completed his student teaching in Japan. He told us a regional folk story and a true one about the "fun" of teaching pre-school children the alphabet, numbers and fruits!

Both of my children displayed a thril for Henna, Shakespeare, crazy photography, book theme parties and other similar fun! At the park, a variety of music and performers offered everything from timeless tunes to cultural based melodies. We have a famous art festival in our area every year and the park is where we end our window shopping and begin a short relaxation while clowns perform and the children play.

Between the years, we witnessed the awe of wild and endangered birds, completed science experiments, made crafts, tasted juicy watermelon, listened to music from some unusual instruments, danced to global music, and watched flamenco dancers perform! We participated in activities at least five days out of the week!

And none of them ever cost us any money!

If your local library or park does not offer free activities, here is what you can do to help your child have a fun summer.

1. Turn off the TV! This can be used in moderation for encouraging learning and maintaining skills.
2. Contact the library or park and suggest a few simple activities. Ask other parents to do the same.
3. Arrange a fun day several times a month in your neighborhood. Get other parents involved and divide up the work and costs.
4. Check to see if other parents want to pitch in for a magician, inflatables or a storyteller and let everyone bring a picnic to enjoy.
5. Have a themed neighborhood party. Try ideas like: guess who is newest in the area; who moved from farthest away to live in the area; who has the most pets; have a cook-off; play games kids normally play and win prizes for adults (adults can have fun too)
6. Host a water fun day and let the kids and adults soak each other! Dry off with a safe and huge marshmallow roasting festival.
7. Organize a book swap!
8. Let the kids decorate the neighborhood in a popular book theme.
9. Have a parade and picnic! See if someone can play music and ask the kids to create art for decorations.
10. Organize a book theme party and sleepover!