Free & Inexpensive Things for Kids to Try in Springfield, Missouri
Events
If you want to watch your kids dance their little hearts out, attempt some hilarious moves and get completely tired out in 30 minutes, then this, my friend, is your next event. Zumba Kids Jr. is a great way to introduce your kids to dance, exercise and other fun people their age. It’s held at Itty Bitty City, but you …
Events
Some of the hardest activities for me to do with my kids at home are science lessons because, even though I absolutely love teaching them about how things work, it seems like I never have all of the items simultaneously on-hand to perform the experiment that Pinterest promises will be “super easy and fun.” So, when I found out about …
Events, Seasonal
The Harvest Fest at Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park is adorable and full of all things FALL! However, I wasn’t even going to include it as a post because, although admission to the festival is free (yay!), almost every activity requires a ticket (1 ticket = $1). If you have kids who would see all of the activities and would need to …
Events
Not much is cuter than little heads bent over tables filled with endless opportunity for creativity. I love giving my kids the chance to make projects, but doing so requires a lot of planning, prepping and cleanup, which can get overwhelming and expensive. If you have a budding little artist, the Pre-K Open Studio is the perfect way to allow them …
Events, Seasonal
Before summer ended, we decided to take the girls to a Springfield Cardinals game at Hammons Field. Since we have three kids four-years-old-and-under, it made the most sense to purchase the General Admission Lawn tickets, which are only $7 and a low-risk, high-fun scenari0 (you don’t have to feel badly leaving the game early if needed, and your kids don’t …
Events
My four-year-old was a bit confused when I told her that we were going to Story Time with Ms. Ladybug because she pointed out – rightly so – that ladybugs can’t read. True. But I’ve never seen a woman look so much like a ladybug as Joyce Tolliver, a former kindergarten teacher who takes a half hour every month to interact …
Events, Seasonal
When summer rolls around, I’m already checking the internet for the dates of the nearest county or state fair. There’s something both weird and magical about being outside with thousands of other people who you’ve probably never met, but who live right where you do, the mingled smells of fried dough and hotdogs, and the brightest colors on the strangest …
Events
The Springfield-Greene County libraries host a summer reading program every year, and since my girls love to read and be read to, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to let them be rewarded for their time spent with their books. In 2018 (maybe every year?) the program was called Libraries Rock! Each year I’m sure the dates change a little, but …
Events, Seasonal
I took the girls to see the hour-long production of Oh My Gosh Josh and, oh my gosh, it was so fun! We saw him perform at the library, but he had several other performance locations throughout the Springfield area this summer. Apparently, he’s nationally recognized and does shows all over the country for all kinds of audiences. As his …
Events, Seasonal
A perfect mash-up of a library Racing to Read Storytime and an outdoor activity to get your kids moving, Storywalk at the Springfield Botanical Gardens was such a cute idea and very well implemented. One of the best library story-tellers was there, and she engaged the kids in cute songs and books about birds. Another girl, a college-aged bird lover, …