Even though I was raised in a time and place where the diversions were few, I could always find a way to stay busy during the summer. However, since that was many years ago, my recollections are probably being filtered through a rose-colored lens. In other words, my days away from school were probably as boring as anyone else’s.

After all, how can three months of free time be chock full of stimulation? If your kids have just gotten out of school, you are probably thinking about the same problem and wondering how your kids can fill their time without emptying your wallet. Here are some thoughts:

• Summer Movies: Although outdoor activities will abound in the next three months, there will be times when the heat will make you want to stay inside an air-conditioned box. When that happens, consider the Premiere Cinemas Summer Kids Series that offers free movies for kids throughout the summer. Find out more here: https://bit.ly/3NNEScN. In addition, the Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse is showing eight movies from June through August with kids in mind. At the box office, tickets run for $1.50. For more savings, you can also take advantage of discounted snacks during these films. For more information, go to www.cinemark.com/series-events-info-pages/summer-movie-clubhouse. The Alamo Kids Club offers family movies for $5. The films and times can be found here: (drafthouse.com/lubbock/movies/alamo-kids-camp)

• Texas Tech Museum: While you might think a university is primarily geared toward young adults, Texas Tech has a lot to offer kids. For example, the Museum of Texas Tech (www.depts.ttu.edu/museumttu) has many exhibits of interest including dinosaurs. In addition, the National Ranching Heritage Center (www.depts.ttu.edu/nrhc) offers an up-close experience with Panhandle history that entices young and old alike. Lubbock Lake Landmark (www.depts.ttu.edu/museumttu/lll/) has outdoor and indoor archaeological exhibits. All are interesting, high quality, and charge no admission fee. In addition, Tech runs a planetarium (www.depts.ttu.edu/museumttu/visit/planetarium.php) with a children’s fee of $4 and FREE for 3 and younger.

• Texas Tech Recreation Center: On top of diversions for the mind, Texas Tech offers opportunities for physical recreation as well. Programs open to the community include the Summer Youth Sports Camp (www.depts.ttu.edu/recsports/specialevents/summercamp.php) and a “Learn to Swim” series (www.depts.ttu.edu/recsports/events/youthswimlessons.php).

• Library: From kid-friendly events to story times (ci.lubbock.tx.us/departments/library/storytimes) and summer reading programs (ci.lubbock.tx.us/departments/library), our library has quite a few excellent programs for children. When my daughters were younger, we took full advantage of these resources. Since I consider my kids to be upstanding citizens, I like to think the library played some role in this. For more details about what is possible, go here: ci.lubbock.tx.us/departments/library.

• United Way Kids Programs: In addition to reading programs, other kids activities like summer camps and artistic activities are also coordinated by the local United Way (www.liveunitedlubbock.org/summerreading).

• Lubbock Arboretum (www.lubbockarboretum.org/): For a pleasant and free outdoor experience, the Lubbock Arboretum at Clapp Park (4111 University Ave.) is just the place. With several gardens and a nature trail available daily between 5 a.m. and midnight. For more information, call (806) 797-4520.

• City of Lubbock: There are so many activities, courses, and summer camps being offered by Lubbock that highlighting one would be an injustice to all the others. The odds are you will find something inexpensive to match your child’s interests. For information, go to ci.lubbock.tx.us/departments/parks-recreation/recreation/class-registration.

• Make your own fun: When my kids were little and the boredom was too great, my wife and I kept a jar with slips of paper. On each piece was a simple but fun activity for kids. It might involve making sock puppets and creating a puppet show, staging a water balloon fight, or making your own board game. In addition to kids liking simple pleasures more than we can appreciate, the element of surprise takes it to another level. There are a ton of possibilities and you are only limited by your imagination

• For additional avenues: In addition to the ideas in this article, there are many more possibilities you can find out about online. There is a website specifically geared toward young people called “Lubbock for Kids” (www.lubbockforkids.com/). In addition to providing excellent coverage of Lubbock’s grown-up diversions, Lubbock in the Loop (www.lubbockintheloop.com/) offers extensive guidance on summer children’s activities as well.

Hopefully, you can use the resources in this article to help your kids have a summer that’s as much fun as the last day of school. If you have ideas on this to share, please visit and share your ideas on our Facebook site (Click www.facebook.com/LubbockSavvyShopper or log on to Facebook and enter “Lubbock Savvy Shopper” in the search tool) or write us at SavvyShopperLubbock@gmail.com and let us know your thoughts.  Also, to stay abreast of developments, follow us on Twitter to get updates: twitter.com/LbbSavvyShopper. Don’t miss out!

SEAN FIELDS is the A-J’s Savvy Shopper. Read his columns Sundays and Wednesdays. Email him at SavvyShopperLubbock@gmail.com, like his Facebook page at Facebook.com/LubbockSavvyShopper, or see previous columns and deals at lubbockonline.com/savvy-shopper.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Savvy Shopper: Some ideas to help cure summer 'boredom'