What is the best way to keep kids occupied in summer?

It all depends on where you live. Here in Georgia we have some great parks, as well as all of the theaters offer free movie Thursday. Other options are pools, the library and start daily art projects. If you need ideas on those let me know.

I recommend taking them to the park also. You can check your local paper and find community things to do locally. There are park and recreation sports and activities that run through out the year. I plan to take my kids to the libray a lot this summer to rent movies, for free! We also participate in the reading program, they have prizes at the end of summer, great thing to keep them reading! For the younger kids, we have a lapsit time with music. I live in a small town and can find free things to do, check out the paper ;) Have a great summer!

Well some that put a small dent in your wallet but can last a few years if your kids are very respectful for what they get. I recommend that you buy something sporty, a skateboard can run you for $10, but if you buy a bike it can run up to the $200's. Skateboards last anywhere from 1-3 years! Bikes last even longer, so I would think of it as more of an investment. If you have a basketball goal buy some basketballs for it, get some smaller and bigger ones. If you wish to have the SMALLEST dent in your wallet just let them run around in some sprinklers. The cheap sprinklers can cost as little as $5. If your neighbors have a pool try and build a bond with them and after awhile ask if you could perhaps use their pool. If they say no.. be cool about it, don't break down. This way works very well if your neighbors have kids around the same age. If they are not much older it is even better! I do not recommend candy, or video games. I think you should limit time on the computer, video game consoles, and TV. I think this is the #1 cause of obesity. Every kid spends 3 months sitting at a computer, or TV and do not eat anything healthy! Now this is okay every once in a while but for every single day is just unhealthy.