• Most libraries offer free story times for children.writing book image by AGphotographer from Fotolia.com
  
  Children's activities can be expensive, but parents can also find free activities for children. These free children's ideas cover many different areas of interest and age groups. Whether a parent needs to plan frugal entertainment or she simply wants to get out of the house during a stressful week, these activities work to keep children engaged.
  
  

Library Story Times

• Most city libraries offer story times and programs for children. These story times are tailored to fit a specific age group. Smaller cities, though, with fewer library staff and resources might have one story time for all ages. During a story time, the librarian or facilitator reads a story---usually the story follows a theme for the day---or two stories, depending on the age group. A baby story time, for instance, might only feature one short board book. After reading, librarians have games or activities that follow the theme. Sometimes a craft allows students to interact with an idea from the book that was read.
  
  

Conservation Department Programs

• Many state Conservation Departments host free children's educational programs. The Missouri Department of Conservation, for instance, provides its local area programs with resources for children's activities. A few times a month, conservation specialists work with local specialists, such as zoo staff, to host animal programs for children. In addition, parents can print out field guides for children and take them on nature walks. These field guides show students animals that they should keep a look out for in their specific area.
  
  Even if a parent's local conservation department doesn't offer free children's programming, she can still create an area-specific field guide for her child to use on a nature walk or a simple walk around the neighborhood. These field guides can include trees, flowers, distinctive neighborhood features, and animals.
  
  

Store Activities

• Many stores offer free children's programming. For instance, Borders, a popular book store chain, offers children's programming that highlights famous children's literature. For instance, when a new children's book comes out, the store sometimes holds parties and activities that follow the books characters and themes. Parents can check the store locator on Borders website to find out about their local store's programming. Pottery Barn Kids also offers a book club for children at their stores. This weekly story time is for children of all ages. The store also periodically hosts themed story times. Pottery Barn Kids offers crafting classes that are geared toward children's interests. The store offers one free craft per event.