Keeping my kids busy without tanking my budget can be a struggle. So I’ve been busy scouring the internet for kid freebies that will keep them entertained. It may have taken a while, but it proved to be time well spent because I cannot believe all of the kid freebies I found.
From $60 worth of free trials on popular children’s apps to affordable restaurants where kids eat free, this list of kid freebies will keep your family — and your wallet — happy all year long. Just wait until you surprise your kids with their free subscription to , no strings attached. And who needs day camp, where the average weekly cost is $199 – $800 when you can bring them to Home Depot and Michael’s for free DIY and craft classes? Plus, check out our tips on kids’ free bowling, free roller skating, and so much more.
For more deals and money-saving tips, download The Krazy Coupon Lady app or text DEALS to 57299.
1. Take advantage of a 14-day free trial at CodeSpark Academy.
This free 14-day trial to CodeSpark Academy is a great way for kids to learn code by sparking their interest in computer science. This STEM program walks them through problem-solving all while giving them the confidence to master skills through games. They can choose from over 1,000 activities for their entertainment, and they won’t even need adult help. It’s great for children ages 4 to 10.
Once you have used up your free 14-day trial you will be charged $15 per month unless you’d like to cancel your subscription. To cancel, simply head over to manage your subscriptions in your CodeSpark account.
2. Kids ages 6 – 12 can score a 7-day trial to Night Zookeeper.
Night Zookeeper is an online platform for children between the ages of 6 – 12 to inspire their creativity and writing skills by allowing them to create their own zoo and write stories about their animals. Night Zookeeper includes a variety of features and tools such as interactive story-making, art and design tools, educational games, and a parental dashboard to monitor children’s progress.
Plus, right now you can try the program free for seven days. Once your 7 days are up, you will be charged for your subscription and be given the option to pay for the program on a monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis. The most cost-effective option is to pay for a full year in advance for $118.99 (or $9.92 per month) which is a 24% savings from the monthly cost.
If you wish to cancel, simply head over to your account where you can select “Settings,” then “Subscriptions” and proceed to cancel your subscription.
3. Kids ages 2-13 can enjoy a free 30-day trial at ABCmouse and Adventure Academy.
ABCmouse is a website that helps kids aged 2 – 8 learn about a variety of subjects like reading, math, science, social studies, and art. It’s like an online classroom that has games, videos, books, and songs for kids to interact with. Adventure Academy is a similar website but for kids aged 8 – 13. Children can learn about different subjects like math, science, social studies, and more through a range of interactive content.
For a limited time, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial at ABCmouse and/or Adventure Academy. If you decide to continue your subscription after your trial then you’ll pay just $12.99 per month until cancellation. To cancel both ABCmouse and Adventure Academy you’ll simply need to log in to your account and go to the Parents Section.
4. Check out these kids-eat-free restaurants.
There are so many restaurants where kids can eat free based on the day of the week, or based on the purchase of one adult meal, that I can’t even list all the kid freebies at restaurants all right here.
Some of my favorites from the list are:
Luby’s Cafeteria
Denny’s
Fricker's
Cody's Original Roadhouse
5. Snag a free Lego Life Magazine subscription.
Have a Lego fan in your household? Be sure to get them signed up for this free Lego Life Magazine subscription. There are no strings attached and the magazines arrive in your kiddo’s name! Trust me, kids love getting mail with their name on it and these magazines are filled with fun reading columns and activities for your little ones. Note that these magazines are best for ages 5 to 9 years old.
6. Free reading program rewards make reading even more fun.
Book-It Pizza Hut
The Pizza Hut Book-It program offers stickers to kids that read for a certain amount of hours over the course of six months. At the end of six months, if they’ve read enough, they get a free personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut.
Local Public Library
Most libraries offer prizes like a free book or a chance to win a gift card when kids participate and complete summer reading programs. Our library offers a free book once kids complete five activities like reading books, writing stories, or drawing pictures. Any further activities they complete get them one entry per activity into a grand prize drawing for a gift card to many popular places.
7. Did you know Apple offers free tech classes?
Today at Apple
Kids ages 8-12 can take lessons to learn how to do things like design, coding, and moviemaking using Apple technologies at an Apple store. Check with your local Apple store to browse offerings. Note that Today at Apple spots are limited and fill up quickly.
8. Sign up for free DIY and craft classes at Home Depot and Michaels
Home Depot
Home Depot offers free children’s classes on select Saturdays. Kids make a free project and, while working on it, learn skills and tool safety concepts. Check your local Home Depot for an upcoming workshop schedule.
Michaels
Kids can participate in a Michaels free craft classes where they do an easy crafty project like decorating a T-shirt.
9. Fourth graders can get a free National Park Pass.
The Every Kid Outdoors program offers kids a free entrance for the whole family into any National Park from the summer before fourth grade through the summer after. The pass is good that entire year.
Related: National Parks Discount Tips You Need Before You Hit the Trails
10. Enroll in these free activities during the summer
You can check out all free summer activities for kids, but here are a few of our favorites:
Free Bowling
When you register your kids for Kids Bowl Free, they get two free bowling games every day the program runs during the summer.
Free Roller Skating
Sign up for the Kids Skate Free program and your kids can skate for free on certain days at participating roller rinks.
11. Visit museums for free.
Check out museum programs like the Culture Pass program (at your local library), Museums for All program, or free admission days at your local musuem to visit museums for free.
12. Register for a free Cedar Point Pass for pre-K kids with your adult pass purchase.
Cedar Point in Ohio is offering a Free Pre-K Pass for the entire 2024 season. This pass is valid for kiddos between three and five years old and comes with unlimited Cedar Point visits! This pass also includes admission to the popular Cedar Point Shores waterpark making it a great option to cool off in summer.
To score this free pass simply buy a season pass for yourself and then register for your child’s pass online. You will have the option of buying a Gold Pass, Platinum Pass, Prestige Pass, or Prestige+ Pass and each season pass has slightly different perks. You will have the option to receive up to two free Pre-K passes for whichever pass you choose.
Note: You cannot register your child’s pass at the gate so make sure to register online beforehand. And, you will need to provide proof of age.
13. There’s no shortage of free online activities.
This category is huge, so check out all the best free online activities for kids. A lot of these serve as good alternatives to video games because kids still get to use a device, but the programs are more educational. Sometimes I think my kids just want to tap an iPad and they don’t care if they’re learning French or playing Minion Rush.
If you have readers, they can learn a language using Duolingo. Also, be sure to look into the free coding classes Code.org offers.
14. Planning a first birthday party? Grab a free smash cake for your baby.
You can pick up a free “smash cake” for your 1-year-old at stores like Albertsons and Fred Meyer. These are the small cakes that babies get all to themselves. Note that almost all of the bakeries we found require a purchase in order to get the free cake.
15. Take advantage of free childcare at Ikea.
Need to get some furniture shopping done? You can leave your children in Smaland, a designated play place inside Ikea stores, for one hour so you can shop. Little ones will be supervised by a trained employee.
Related: Learn about more IKEA perks and ways to save.
16. Grab free “1st visit” pins at Disney.
Snatch up a free “1st visit” pin at both Disney locations when you visit for the first time with your kids. You can find them at guest relations or at many of the stores inside Disneyland or Disney World.
Related: Learn all the secrets to saving money when you visit Disney.
17. Find free games and entertainment for your kids on American Airlines.
Speaking of travel freebies, most American Airline flights offer HOMER, an online platform where kids can explore subjects like reading, music, science, and more for free.
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