It’s summer time, and many of us will hear, “Mom, I’m bored” many, many times. Give your children some things to do this summer.

Keep them active. Here are some things that you can do with your children.

At the zoo

If you or your children love animals this is a great way to spend the day. It does not need to cost a lot of money either. Pack a cooler with drinks, snacks and sandwiches so that you don’t have to buy expensive food. All you have to do is pay for parking (if you have a vehicle) and the entrance fee.

Picnic in the park

This is another cheap thing to do with your children. Pack some snacks, salad, sandwiches and some waters in a bag. Take along a blanket, chalk and jump ropes and go to a picnic spot nearby.

Library

Take your kids on the best journey of all. Spend an afternoon at the library. Many libraries have areas set up for children (away from adults who need quiet time) where they can relax and read.

Cooking

While you may not even think about something like this, most kids love to cook or would love to help you cook. There are kid friendly cook books. It makes chi-ldren feel really good when they can say they have helped cook dinner or desert. — Brandi Thornsberry