One of the best things you can do for your kids is to expose them to new things. Give them different experiences. As a former teacher and now learning consultant, I can tell you that the most successful students are usually the ones who have been exposed to the most. And it doesn’t have to cost any money! Here are some FREE ways you can expose your child to all different kinds of things without spending a penny (except for the gas to drive there)!

Check out the zoos and museums in your area. A lot of them either have a free day or a donation day where you give whatever you can.

If you have very small children (let’s say toddlers), the good thing is that everything is new to them! Public parks are the way to go with this one. Let them swing, climb, and explore! Some parks even have a free petting zoo.

Splash parks are another fun way to spend the day with your little ones. Do a Google search to see where the closest one to your area is. I had no idea that we have two really great free ones not too far from where we live. Joey wasn’t too sure about it at first, but he gave it a try!

Go to your townships website and see what programs your town has to offer. Check neighboring towns as well. A lot of towns do a free concert series, movies in the park, fireworks, ect. Bring your own snacks and drinks and enjoy a free night under the stars!

See what your local library has to offer. Besides borrowing books, some do story times, crafts, and activities with the kids for free.

Check your local Barnes & Noble for activities they run. Like the library, they also run free story times and activities for kids.

Visit your local firehouse and police stations. See if they will arrange a tour for your kids. If not, ask them if they have an open house or run any special events for kids such as fire prevention week.

Take them to a local train station to watch the trains come and go. Tell them about the different parts of a train, what a conductor does, and why you would use a train as opposed to a car or bus. If you live near an airport, take them to a nearby parking lot and watch the planes land and take off. Like with the trains, explain to them the different parts of a plane, what a pilot does, why you would take a plane, ect.

This one is my favorite. If you are the parent of a fourth grader, your family can visit all the national parks for free! President Obama started the Every Kid In A Park program during his term in office as an initiative to get all fourth graders and their families out to see all our nation has to offer. By signing up for a pass here, your child and the rest of the family will get a free pass for the entire year. For FREE!

The more you expose them to, the more their brains will grow. This will help them become well rounded individuals which will help them do better in school. The more experiences they have, the better their reading comprehension will be because they will have prior knowledge about what they are reading. Remember, the more you know, the more you grow!