How To Find Free Children's Activities in Phoenix

Here's How:

1. Go fishing at Kiwanis Park in Tempe. With 125 acres and a huge recreation center, there's always plenty to do there.
2. Take your kids to the library. All of the area libraries have story times for the younger kids, and programs and events for the older ones.
3. Home Depot has monthly classes for kids that allow them to build something. They get to wear an apron, learn how to use tools, get free materials, and leave with a masterpiece.
4. Got skates or a skateboard? The valley now has several skate parks. Novice skaters can watch the more experienced ones practice.
5. I don't believe a week goes by in this town without some community having a free festival or concert. Check the events calendars. Bring juice boxes, water and snacks.
6. Have you always wanted to climb Piestewa Peak? It's fun, pretty and healthy! Not necessarily a summer activity, though. Bring water and light snacks.
7. Have your kids ever seen petroglyphs? Take a hike at Waterfall Trail in the West Valley.
8. Go to Encanto Park and go on the rides.
9. Take the kids swimming. There are community swimming pools all around the valley. Most charge a very nominal fee. If your kids don't swim yet, many of the area parks now have splash pads or splash playgrounds during the summer.
10. Get out the oven mitts! Get those kids cooking!
11. Put the bikes in the back of the SUV and drive to a beautiful park, like South Mountain, and go for a family bike ride.
12. Are the kids old enough to sit in the car for awhile?  A drive on the Apache Trail is scary and a lot of fun.
13. The City of Phoenix, and other cities and towns in the Greater Phoenix area, often hold free summer sports clinics for kids, like golf and tennis. Sign them up!
14. Both Fiesta Mall in Mesa and Chandler Fashion Center in Chandler have indoor play areas for the little ones. The kids love it! At Superstition Springs Mall in Mesa, there's a carousel that kids (and adults) can ride for a nominal charge.
15. Projects with the kids are entertaining and (shhhh. . .) educational. Make something cool (a kite? a planter?) out of stuff around the house.

Tips:

1. Take your kids to different neighborhoods around town, so they can experience different sights and people.
2. Go to festivals where the kids can be exposed to different cultures, like the Matsuri Festival (Japan), Aloha Festival (Hawaii), or Highland Games (Scotland).
3. Get on mailing lists for nearby libraries, so you can get the events calendars in the mail or by email. These aren't just book discussion programs anymore--the libraries here are very creative.
4. Visit the web sites for the various cities and towns of the area and check out their recreation departments. They all have one!
5. Get a free meal for your kids! Many restaurants in the Valley have a Kids Eat Free program.