It’s that time of year: School’s almost out and summer is quickly approaching! But while my kids are beyond excited to be home from school, I’ve been busy scouring the internet looking for ways I can keep them entertained all summer long without dipping into my savings. 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 for summer 2023.
From $60 worth of free trials on popular children’s apps to affordable restaurants where kids eat free, this list of kid freebies or 2023 will keep your family — and your budget — happy all summer long. Just wait until you surprise your kids with their free subscription to LEGO Life Magazine, 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, kids free bowling, free roller skating, and so much more — it’s going to be a summer of deals! Don’t forget that AMC Stubs members also get double points every Wednesday this summer, which started May 3.
For more deals and money-saving tips, download The Krazy Coupon Lady app or text DEALS to 57299.
1. Kids can score a personalized book from Beans & Sparks for just $1
For a limited time, your child can be the star of their own book for just $1, plus your order comes with free stickers when you try Beans & Sparks. This custom book subscription service is perfect for kids aged 0 – 9. You’ll get a new personalized book each month with your child as the main character.
If you want to continue with the subscription, you’ll then be charged $21.99 each month. However, if you wish to cancel, simply log into “My Account” and follow prompts to cancel your subscription.
2. Kids can get a Noggin 30-Day Free Trial.
With this free Noggin 30-day trial, you’ll gain access to this educational website for kids and parents to play games, read, and etc. together which allows your kiddos to have fun while learning.
The day after your 30-day free trial ends, you’ll be charged $3.99 each month for the following three months. If you choose to keep your account after the initial three months are over then you’ll pay just $7.99 per month.
To cancel, simply go to the Noggin website and log in to your account. Then, click on “Manage Subscriptions” in the center of the page and click on “Cancel Subscription” where you then follow the prompts to confirm the cancellation.
3. Kid freebies alert: Kids can get a 7-day free trial to CodeSpark Academy.
This free 7-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.
Plus, when it’s time to put the screen away, you can also break out the colored pencils and print these free coloring pages that are fun for both kids and adults.
Once you have used up your free 7-day trial you will be charged just $12.99 per month unless you’d like to cancel your subscription. To cancel, simply head over to manage your subscriptions in your account.
4. Kids ages 5-12 can score a 7-day trial to Night Zookeeper.
Night Zookeeper is an online platform for children between the ages of 5 – 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 $59.99 (or $5 per month) which is a 50% 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.
5. Kids ages 2-13 can enjoy a free 30-day trial to 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 to 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.
6. Kid freebies we love: Score a 30-day trial for Hooked on Phonics for just $1
Join Hooked on Phonics, one of America’s leading learn-to-read programs, and get your first month for only $1. This will give you your first learn to read packet and access to 30 days of the app to allow your child to begin their journey to reading.
Hooked on Phonics is a subscription service. If you wish to keep the subscription, you’ll be billed $15.98 every month. This includes $6.99 for the App plus $8.99 ($6 + $2.99 shipping and handling) for the Practice Pack shipped to your home. Your subscription will continue every four weeks for the same price. If you wish to cancel, you can do so at any time without further obligation. To cancel, go to “Manage Subscriptions,” then select App and/or Practice Pack Subscriptions in your Account Dashboard and follow the prompts to confirm cancelation.
7. Join the Disney Movie Club for just $1 and score 4 Disney Movies for free
Disney Movie Club is an online program that offers exclusive discounts and deals on Disney movies and merchandise. As a new member, you’ll receive a special offer of four movies for just $1, which includes shipping. You can choose from a selection of top Disney films, such as Luca and Encanto.
By joining the club, you agree to purchase an additional five titles at full price within two years ($19.95 for DVD and $29.95 for Blu-ray). You can keep track of your progress toward meeting this requirement by checking your account. Additionally, you’ll receive monthly deal emails, so it’s important to read them carefully. Some deals may automatically charge your credit card unless you click “skip this deal.”
If you don’t wish to continue this subscription then you will need to cancel. However, you must purchase the five additional movies when you choose to cancel early or you’ll automatically be charged for the four initial movies at full price.
8. 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
- Perkins
- Salsarita’s Mexican Grill
9. Free LEGO Life Magazine Subscription
Have a LEGO fan in your household? Be sure to get them signed up for a this free LEGO Life Magazine subscription. There’s no strings attached and the magazines arrive in your kiddo’s name! Trust me, kids love getting mail with their name on it and it 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.
10. Free reading program rewards
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 a prize 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 gets them one entry per activity into a grand prize drawing for a gift card to many popular places.
11. Kid freebies for 2023: Free classes at Apple
Today at Apple
Kids ages 8-12 can take lessons to learn how to do things like design, coding, and moviemaking with using Apple technologies at a local Apple store. Check with your local Apple store to browse offerings. Note that Today at Apple spots are limited and fill up quickly.
12. 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 “Makebreak” where they do an easy crafty project like decorating a T-shirt.
13. Free National Park Pass for fourth graders
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
14. 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.
15. Free museum pass one weekend per month
If you have a bank account with Bank of America or Merrill Lynch, you can join the Museums on Us program where kids can get a free pass one weekend a month to visit participating museums.
16. Free Cedar Point Pass for Pre-K Kids
Through August 1st, Cedar Point in Ohio is offering a Free Pre-K Pass for the entire 2023 season. This Cedar Point pass is valid for kiddos between 3 and 5 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 this summer
To score this free pass simply head over here to 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 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.
17. Free online activities
This category is really 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 free coding classes Code.org offers.
18. Free cakes at the grocery store for 1-year-olds
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. Be sure to head over here find the long list of stores that offer these smash cakes.
19. Free childcare at Ikea
You can leave your children to play with a trained employee at Ikea for one hour so you can shop. They temporarily closed all of the Smalands due to the pandemic, and only recently started reopening them, so you should call Ikea customer service (888) 888-4532 (stores do not have direct phone lines) to check if your local Ikea children’s area is open.
20. 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.
21. 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.
Related: Free (or nearly free) apps for kids.
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