How has your summer holiday been so far? We hope you are having the BEST time with your little ones.
At Poole Mumbler we know keeping everyone entertained and happy isn’t always easy, or cheap. If you are wondering what to do with your kids without spending a fortune, you are definitely not alone.
This is why we’ve put together a list of FREE or VERY LOW-COST family-friendly activities in Poole and surrounding areas this summer. We’ve even thrown in special promotions, exclusive for Poole Mumbler readers and money-saving tips!
Please share with your family and friends or anyone who you think would be interested.
***Please note: Is there anything you’d like to add to this blog post? Please get in touch here and we’ll update it.
FREE Events and Activities:
– The summer reading challenge: It’s completely free and a great way to keep little ones engaged and reading during the holidays. Learn how to sign up here.
– Find-A-Book: A lovely parent-led movement which started in Cumbria and has now spread across the country, including Poole! A really exciting game, which not only gets little ones out and about and moving but also interested in reading. Learn all about it here.
– Haskins colouring competition: A colouring competition aimed to encourage children to love gardening. You can read more here.
– Little Finn’s: This lovely toddler group is back at the Dolphin Shopping Centre. Take a look!
– Rockley’s summer spectacular: You still have two more chances to watch the fireworks display. Read more here.
– Bournemouth Air Festival: This magnificent show is back and it’s completely FREE.
– Avon Heath’s Discovery Tuesdays: Join the rangers in exploring some of the wildlife delights of Avon Heath. More information here.
Promotions
– Snowtrax: Snowtrax is currently running a special discount. Get your Poole Mumbler voucher here.
– Dorset Pass: This is the ultimate saving pass if you are planning to visit more than one attraction in Dorset on consecutive days. The more days you buy, the bigger the saving. Read all about it here. AND THERE IS MORE! For a 10% discount enter code MUMBLR10 when purchasing online at www.dorsetpassuk.com.
– Tank museum: A great attraction all year round, including a softplay area, dressing up costumes, tanks in action, and more. The best thing is you can use your pass for an entire year after your first visit.
– Sealife Weymouth: Book your season pass online to save money and visit all year!
Money-saving tips
– Are there any events you’d like to go to this summer. Buying your tickets online ahead of time can save you some pennies.
– Take a packed lunch with you. If you’d like some inspiration we’ve listed a few ideas here.
– Look for alternative transport and/or parking or car share if you can. Kids don’t pay for bus journeys so it often works out cheaper to take the bus with them, rather than paying for parking. For example, you can avoid expensive parking at Alum Chine if you travel by bus. And you’ll get the open-top double-decker bus for added excitement!
– Don’t buy water bottles, refill instead. Buying single-use plastic has a terrible impact on the environment and can also work out very expensive. Don’t be afraid to ask for tap water refills at cafes and restaurants. Most establishments will say yes. And if they are super welcoming and helpful you can give them a shoutout on social media. Please don’t forget to tag @poolemumbler so we can also cheer them.
– Before going on outings get your kids involved in all the planning ahead. Talk about what you all would like to do. Set some boundaries on expenses, so they know what to expect. For example, are you going to the beach? Will you buy ice creams?
– Are you visiting fairs or attractions where you’ll need to pay for everything you do? Give your kids a budget. Or even cash for older kids. They’ll need to spend their money wisely.
– Tax-free childcare. Did you know you can pay for childcare during the holidays tax-free? Read more about it here.
– Send your kids to an epic holiday club for FREE! Land & Wave is running a competition exclusively for Poole Mumbler readers. Learn more about it here.
We hope you find this blog post useful. We’d love to hear from you. Please leave us a comment. 💜
