Are we the only ones going broke trying to entertain the kids this summer?

Save the piggy! Find some deals.

After dropping $40+ for the family to see Despicable Me at a matinee last weekend – ! yes, it was 3D, but still !! – we decided to look a little harder for some bargains.

Here are a few deals we found:

• Rapids Water Park: During the month of July, you can go from 4 p.m. to closing for only $15 a person (down from the weekday all-day price of $32.95). But don’t forget to bring $10 cash for parking; and another $10 for a locker if you don’t want to spend your visit as the towel and flip-flop mule. (You’ll get $2 of the locker fee back when you turn in the key).

• Cheap or free movies: Two opportunities nearby to catch a cheap flick. (Neither in Boca, surprise). The Deerfield Cinema 5 at 2205 W. Hillsboro Blvd. in Deerfield Beach still has Alice in Wonderland and Shrek Forever After on the big screen for $1. In Coral Springs, on Tuesdays this summer, the Regal Cinema at 9645 Westview Dr. has G- and PG-rated movies at 10 a.m. for free. Arrive early to get a seat. (This Tuesday’s showing is Planet 51. Next Tuesday, it’s Alvin and the Chipmunks Squeakquel).

• Lion Country Safari: Its website has a discount coupon, and its Facebook page has a secret code (1882 – shh, you didn’t hear it from us) to get $8 off through Dec. 31.

• Other South Florida attractions: The MomsMiami Summer Fun Pass gets a parent in free with two paid admissions to several spots in Broward and Miami-Dade, including Flamingo Gardens, the Museum of Discovery & Science in Fort Lauderdale, Jungle Island, the Miami Children’s Museum, Miami Seaquarium, Zoo Miami, Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale and Young at Art children’s museum in Davie. Print it here.

It’s a good idea to search online for coupons – and check the Facebook pages – of any place you plan to visit before you head out.

Have you found any good deals? Do tell! Post in the comments.

Find more ideas on what to do on our Summer Fun List (which also includes discounts just for BocaParent readers from Tomasso’s Pizza and New York Ice Cream Cafe) and the Things to Do page.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This  was originally posted on March 14, 2010.

If you want to take advantage of the state’s free voluntary prekindergarten program, now is the time to enroll for summer and fall. It’s a muli-step process to get in. First: Are you eligible? For the summer session, your child must’ve been born between Sept. 2, 2004, and Sept. 1, 2005. For fall, they must’ve been born between Sept. 2, 2005, and Sept. 1, 2006.

To enroll, start at the Family Central website, where you can download the forms and get details on how to proceed. You will also have to go meet face to face with a Family Central counselor. After that, you’ll get a voucher and a list of all the local VPK providers. To enroll, you have to register with the voucher at your selected school.

The Family Central office is in West Palm Beach. But closer to home, you can register on March 20 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Boynton Beach City Library, 208 S. Seacrest Blvd. Check the Family Central website for all the documents you will need to bring.

The list of schools offering VPK in the fall hasn’t been released yet (though we know the Boca Raton Charter School is offering it).

These are the Boca schools offering summer VPK:

• Betty & Marvin Zale Early Childhood Learning Center, at the Adolph and Rose Levis Jewish Community Center, 9801 Donna Klein Blvd. Call 561-852-3200 or visit its website.

• Primary Learning Place, 23080-B Sandalfoot Plaza Dr. Call 561-482-3772 or visit its website.

• Royal Palm Montessori Academy, 12532 Cobblestone Way. Call 561-483-3838.

• Bluebird Academy & Preschool, 2200 NW Fifth Ave. Call 561-368-0605 or visit its website.

• Busy Bees Academy of Learning, 250 NW 20th St. Call 561-620-8383.

• Footprints Academy, 273 NW 15th St. Call 561-395-5044 or visit its website.

• Jewish Learning Center, 19801-6 Hampton Dr. Call 561-883-KIDZ (5439) or visit its website.

• Children’s Learning Center, 6450 W Rogers Cir. Call 561-988-8288.

• Discovery Preschool Center, 10085 Yamato Rd. Call 561-558-8600 or visit its website.

• Ruth and Edward Taubman Early Childhood Center at B’Nai Torah Congregation, 6261 SW 18th St. Call  561-392-8566 or visit its website.

Are we missing any? Have you used any of these programs? Click on Comments and let us know.