As a sahm I sometimes find it hard to keep these little darlings entertained all the time,esp when dh gets home real late.Here are some things I do,feel free to add cause I need more ideas

trips to the library for story time
play at the park
make kool-aid play-doh
water fights in the back yard
nature hunts
play softball
board games when it rains

I would like to start getting out of the house more and doing fun things,we have a zoo in atlanta but I wouldn't ever go there by myself(not a safe area)there is a miniature golf place that dd loves that occasionaly i will take her,also about every 3 mo or so we go to chucky cheese'sBut other than that we are home bodies.
Need great creative ways to keep these kids entertained

LOL...I was just discussing this with my mother....it seems that the boys and I just PLAY all summer...and yet ....it wears me out!!
My mother reminded me that when SHE was a little girl (and one of 10 children...) they were sent outside and left to their own devices every morning after breakfast...and not allowed back in the house unless someone was bleeding until suppertime!!

me and the boys.....
go to the pool.....
go to the local natural history museum....
go to the park for picnic lunches and playground time...
library for story time.....
the tent is always good to set up in the backyard and let them play in....keeps em occupied for a day or two

and especially for the little'uns...I keep gallons and gallons of bubble mix and a bunch of individual no-spill bubble cups ...we take those things EVERYWHERE!!!!!!

This will be a little more challenging this year with the baby. I usually take older DD's to the library alot. They could spend hours there! Our library has comfy chairs and couches to lounge in and read.

They like to go roller skating, so I try to take them once or twice. DD2 usually gets a free pass from her school, and they take their own rollerblades. I feel okay with dropping them off and picking them up later. The place we go is very strict and they stay together.

My mom's church has its own pool, so that's free, but it's 20 minutes away. We can stay there all day if we want. It's usually not very crowded. Some days we have it all to ourselves.

I go with my SIL to a mall. She has a DD6 and DS3, so we meet with all of our coupons at a local mall and just hang out. We have lunch with our coupons and do some clearance shopping. We try to do a different mall every couple of weeks. The kids just love it!

Philadelphia is just 15 minutes away and full of museums. I would like to try to go to a couple of them this summer. I can use my AAA card to get a discount. My mom usually helps me with the cost by paying half. The Franklin Institute, the Phila Zoo, etc. DD2 said she would like to go to the Art Museum. I know they have free admission on Sundays, so this is something we could do. DH has no interest in this stuff, so we go without him.

AC Moore has kids make and take crafts on Tuesdays and Thursdays and it's free. Amanda, your DD is old enough for this and she would probably love it. My kids do and they are older.

Of course, my older DD's are beginning to have a social life, so they will probably spend some time with their friends over the summer.

This is a great thread. Any other ideas would be great!

Well with a 24 month old it is hard to keep her entertained!!
We blow bubbles!!
We read stories!!
We watch movies!!
We take walks !!
We pick flowers!!
We play with Puzzles!!
We play pretend!!
We draw !!
We color!!
We Sing!!
That is pretty much it for us!!

A friend of mine who is a teacher continues the theme weeks that she does at school all year during the summer with her kids. The week before a trip to the shore they spend the week reading stories and watching videos about the beach, shells, lighthouses etc One week is bug week, catching fireflies, checking bug books out of the library, bug themed crafts. One week is fruit and veggie week-they plant a tomatoe and other plants, try new exotic fruits, again a craft to go along with. Another week is farm week-they research farm animals then visit a local farm. She has been really succesful with this.

Jerseygirl that is a great idea.My sister works in a daycare and they do something similar.I think I am going to try this.

Name some rainy day activities to do with the children.
We're almost at a good age/stage to do baking now. :D

Sara

Here are some good ideas for rainy days:

http://wawa.essortment.com/rainydayactivi_rgif.htm
http://tn.essortment.com/rainydayactivi_prm.htm
http://mimi.essortment.com/childrenactivit_opw.htm
http://nh.essortment.com/kidsactivities_rrxl.htm

You get the idea. ;) You can find more ideas here:

http://www.essortment.com/in/Children.Parties.Activities/

Here are a couple of ideas:

Bake cupcakes or cookies
Have an indoor treasure hunt
Play "tent" with a sheet and some chairs
Make sock puppets and put on a show
Play board games like CandyLand or Chutes & Ladders

Our granddaughters love to have tea parties when it rains. We use a real teapot from my collection and we try different herbal teas. I buy fancy cups, when I see them at the thrift shop or at yard sales. No problems if someone drops a cup!:coffee:

We like to dig for treasure. I hide small objects (a pretty stone, costume jewelry, tiny toys) in a pile of homemade playdough and let the kids play archeologist with forks and spoons and dig them out.

We also like shaving cream baths. I strip the kids and put them in the dry tub with lots of shaving cream to play in. (Careful though it can get slippery) When they are done I just run water and wash them off. Of course then they smell like daddy from the shaving cream fragrance. They really love doing this.

This isn't a rainy day activity, but when it is too cold to play outside during winter I put a bucketful of snow in the kitchen sink and let them stand on a chair and play in it with their toys.

What a great thread! You can never have too many rainy day ideas. :smball:

i really like the shaving cream idea. i used to work at a daycare a long time ago and the kids always loved playing in shaving cream. i think i'm gonna try it with our kids in the tub too. (and shaving cream is pretty inexpensive) just think they can write or draw pictures on the shower walls! how fun!!:D

Have fun teaming up in the kitchen with your kids!


Spending time in the kitchen with your children can be creative and delicious! Cooking with parents allows children to learn valuable culinary skills that will last them a lifetime, develop good nutritional habits, channel their creative energies, improve coordination and dexterity through chopping and stirring, and gain a well-earned sense of pride (just watch them beam when they say, "I made it myself!").

Bear in mind that dinner will take longer to prepare with your kids' help. Indeed, the first few cooking sessions together, especially with young children, may involve more effort (and more mess!), so you'll need to add an extra dash of patience and a splash of humor to your cooking experience. Here are some activities to try with your kids as you set off on your great culinary adventure:

1. Post a pyramid. Post a copy of the Food Guide Pyramid on your refrigerator, and invite kids to help plan family meals that include the recommended servings from each of the food groups. This way they'll learn how to make sound nutritional choices and eat a balanced diet.

2. Encourage kids to participate. Every recipe has some type of valuable task a child can do, even if it's simply rinsing lettuce or cracking an egg. Let children do real work like scraping carrots, measuring ingredients, or whatever jobs they can perform safely at their age. Giving children a task shows them that food preparation is important. In addition, those who may be reluctant to eat vegetables or other foods might be less squeamish if they've had a hand in preparing them.

3. Have a cultural food night. Together with your kids, plan and make a meal from another country, such as Mexico, Italy, or Japan. Bring out a globe or look at a picture of the country and its people, and discuss how the geography and climate determine the types of food people eat and the ingredients they use.

4. Talk and read! Toddlers can learn simply by watching and listening. Give them measuring spoons or some plastic utensils to play with while you talk to them about what you're doing. Ask school-age kids to read a simple recipe out loud. This way, everyone knows what the recipe requires, and kids can practice their reading skills. After your child reads through the recipe, decide which tasks each child (and adult) will perform.

5. Divide or double recipes. When you cut a recipe in half or double it, you use essential math skills, such as division and multiplication. Pick simple recipes that are easy to halve or double, like soups and sauces. (Avoid baked goods like cookies and cakes, since they often don't turn out well when ingredients are altered.)

6. Shop with kids. Instead of simply dragging children along to the market, involve them in the shopping process. Ask children to weigh produce, so they can learn about weights and measures. Let kids practice math skills by counting out the money at the register. When kids help pick out foods to cook, they tend to eat them more readily. Let them choose a new healthy food to try each week, such as a fruit, vegetable, cheese, or bread (not a new cookie or candy!).

7. Be inventive. Think of creative ways to use your kitchen as a classroom. For instance, play the spice cabinet ABCs (A is for allspice, B is for basil, C is for curry, etc.). Explain how to set the table using a clock drawn on a paper plate (glasses go at the 2:00 position, forks are placed at 9:00, and so on). In one family I know, parents pick the main course and offer their kids a menu of side dishes (usually leftovers). The kids order from the menu and pay for the meal with play money. Not only do the kids think this is oodles of fun, but they also eagerly eat their meal while their parents find a welcome audience for leftovers!

Great ideas!

Thanks for the ideas...... Cooking with the kids is fun.......

I love cooking and baking with my kids. Thanks for the ideas :)

http://www.theantidrug.com/news/news_101ways.html

101 Ways To Keep Kids Busy This Summer

Sports/Games/Activities

Encourage them to play on a baseball or softball team
Make one day a week "Adventure Day" and explore someplace you haven't been
Have them join a soccer team
Register them for a scuba class
Arrange for a game of "Capture the Flag"
Organize a water balloon fight
Enroll them in a street hockey league Coordinate a scavenger hunt
Take them to the driving range to hit golf balls and improve their swing
Install a basketball hoop in your driveway, and then play with them
Participate in nature walks together
Have them join the swim team
Urge them to take lifeguard training
Take them horseback riding
Hold a monthly swimming and pizza day
Visit state parks and take guided hikes
Get season passes to the local minor league baseball team
Take them camping, even if it is only in the backyard
Establish an annual family mini-golf tournament
Get a season pass to a nearby amusement park
Help them build a soap-box car and then hold a derby
Sign them up to be officials in kiddie sports leagues
Organize a neighborhood Olympics
Play flashlight tag on a warm night
Build a skateboard park for kids
Teach your kids to fish
Take them bowling
Schedule family game night
Send them to cheerleading camp
Help them set up an obstacle course
Take them canoeing down a nearby river


Volunteerism

Enroll them in Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts
Clean up the neighborhood
Urge them to help an older neighbor by taking out trash, grocery shopping, etc.
Urge them to set-up or reorganize the library at your local place of worship
Volunteer with them at a soup kitchen
Encourage them to volunteer at a hospital
Encourage them to read to patients at a local nursing home
Help them to set up a recycling program in your neighborhood
Help them coordinate a "School Clean-Up"
Sign up the family to build houses with Habitat for Humanity
Have them care for animals at the local SPCA
Encourage them to write a letter to their Member of Congress
Paint old school buildings together
Organize a toy drive for your local children's hospital


Entrepreneurship

Have them volunteer their babysitting services to friends and relatives
Encourage them to become the neighborhood dog walker
Employ them around the house - give them fix-it or clean up projects
Help them start a neighborhood newspaper reporting on the latest!
Give them weekly errands like shopping or getting the mail Encourage them to hold a "fun fair" for younger kids
Give them a list of daily chores
Hold a multi-family garage sale
If possible, bring them to your office a few days a week to help out
Help them start a pet sitting service while people are on vacation
Have them research a major family purchase
Help them start a business teaching older people how to use the computer


Education/Classes

Teach them astronomy and star gaze together
Give them space for a garden and teach them how to grow flowers
Send them to church sponsored activities
Help them start a global email club
Enroll them in fun classes (lego-building, etc.) at the local university
Urge them to conduct a family history search on the Internet or at the library
Enroll them in a CPR training class
Start a book club with your kids
Take them to zoos and museums
Take a cooking class together
Tell them to do a land survey of the 10-square blocks around your house
Give them the camcorder, and let them make their own home movie
Conduct science experiments
Help them create their own web site
Encourage them to "play" the stock market and monitor their investments Help them start a collection (shells, coins, stamps, etc.)
Inspire them to design their dream house
Help them find a pen pal
Learn a foreign language together
Try a new food dish every week
Help them produce a neighborhood play
Help them start a band and let them practice in your garage


Crafts

Start a neighborhood art group
Encourage them to paint a mural
Teach them to do bark rubbings
Build, and maintain, a birdfeeder
Give them the supplies to create their own personalized stationery
Have them take pictures of their favorite summer moments and make a scrap book
Teach them to knit
Set up a craft room for tye-dying tee shirts
Show them how to create their own postcards
Encourage them to write a song, and then let them record it
Build a treehouse together
Have them decorate pots and planting seedlings as gifts for the elderly


Other Ideas

Send them to their grandparents for a change of scenery
Take them strawberry picking at a local farm and then feast on the fruit
Make homemade ice cream together
Organize a pet show
Coordinate a weekly Family Film Festival
Organize a neighborhood block party
Create, and tend to, an ant farm together
Create an "award" for summer achievements
Arrange a behind the scenes tour of a fire station/pizza parlor/donut shop
Organize a chili cook-off party

here are 200 ;)
Since we don't use the phrase "I'm bored!" in our home, we don't hear our kids complaining about being bored during those long days at home during the summer months. But ... I have to admit that we're still an incredibly normal family. Even without the "b-word" in their vocabulary, there are still those times when my three children (ages 14, 10 and 6) just seem to be at a total loss for something constructive to do.

On one of those "I-can't-think-of-anything-to-do" days, I had my children sit down and make a list of everything they could do completely on their own without parental help. After they brain-stormed about it for over an hour (which was a good anti-boredom activity itself!), the kids had a list of about fifty activities. Surprisingly, they even included a few household chores like dusting and weeding. I asked for input from some other moms, and now my children have a list of over two hundred ideas to beat summertime boredom. And the list just seems to keep growing!

Thanks to the suggestion of one mom, we've put each item on this list onto individual pieces of paper, placed the papers into a container, and when the children need inspiration for an activity, they choose two or three papers and then decide which idea they want to do, either as a group or individually. The mom who suggested pulling ideas out of a container told me she found this method more helpful than giving the kids a huge list of possibilities. By narrowing the choices down to just two or three, it was easier for the kids to pick out the one that sounded the best to them.


200+ IDEAS FOR SUMMERTIME (or anytime!) ACTIVITIES
In no particular order, here's our current (but continually growing!) list of activities:

1) ride bikes
2) roller skate
3) play basketball / shoot baskets
4) play board games
5) make a tent out of blankets
6) squirt with hoses
7) run through the sprinkler
8) jump rope
9) read books
10) blow bubbles
11) make homemade play dough
12) play with play dough
13) press flowers
14) do crafts with pressed flowers
15) write a letter to a relative, friend or pen pal
16) clean bedroom
17) vacuum livingroom
18) clean bathroom
19) make a craft
20) draw
21) color
22) paint
23) pull weeds
24) watch a movie
25) write stories
26) use binoculars
27) use magnifying glass
28) use microscope
29) bird watching
30) write a play
31) act out a play
32) invent circus acts
33) perform a circus
34) play card games
35) make art on the front walkway with sidewalk chalk
36) play catch
37) play baseball
38) collect rocks
39) collect leaves
40) collect feathers
41) play Frisbee
42) make Frisbee's out of old plastic lids; decorate with markers
43) dust the house
44) brush the pet
45) write "thank you" cards
46) read a magazine
47) play dress-up
48) play Cowboys
49) pick vegetables
50) play outside with the pet
51) build a fort in your rooms
52) build a fort in the backyard
53) do a jigsaw puzzle
54) play on the Geosafari
55) play on the computer
56) listen to a story or book on tape
57) do extra schoolwork to get ahead
58) do brain teasers (ie: crosswords, word searches, hidden pictures, mazes, etc.)
59) cook
60) prepare lunch
61) surprise a neighbor with a good deed
62) play store
63) prepare a "restaurant" lunch with menus
64) hold a tea party
65) have a Teddy bear picnic
66) play with toy cars
67) play dolls
68) play house
69) chase butterflies
70) collect caterpillars and bugs
71) plant a garden patch or a pot of flowers
72) collect seeds
73) hunt for four-leaf clovers
74) learn magic tricks
75) put on a magic show
76) plant a container garden
77) sprout seeds or beans
78) make sock puppets
79) put on a puppet show
80) make Christmas presents
81) make homemade wrapping paper
82) make homemade gift cards
83) make picture frames from twigs glued onto sturdy cardboard
84) crochet or knit
85) make doll clothes
86) sew buttons in designs onto old shirts
87) run relay races
88) make bookmarks
89) take a quiet rest time
90) take a shower or bath
91) bathe a pet
92) feed the birds or squirrels
93) watch the clouds
94) organize a dresser drawer
95) clean under the bed
96) empty the dishwasher
97) vacuum under the couch cushions; keep any change found
98) write these ideas onto pieces of paper; pick out one or two to do
99) whittle
100) whittle bars of soap
101) practice musical instruments
102) perform a family concert
103) teach yourself to play a musical instrument (recorder, harmonica, guitar)
104) fold laundry
105) sweep kitchen or bathroom floors
106) sweep front walkway
107) sweep or spray back patio
108) sweep or spray driveway
109) wash car
110) vacuum car
111) vacuum or dust window blinds
112) clean bathroom mirrors
113) clean sliding glass doors
114) clean inside of car windows
115) wash bicycles
116) clean garage
117) play in the sandbox
118) build a sandcastle
119) work with clay
120) copy your favorite book illustration
121) design your own game
122) build with blocks or Legos
123) create a Design Box for craft supplies (copper wire, string, odds-and-ends of things destined for the garbage, pom-poms, thread, yarn, etc.)
124) plan a neighborhood or family Olympics
125) have a marble tournament
126) paint a picture with lemon juice on white paper and hang it in a sunny window and see what happens in a few days
127) finger paint with pudding
128) make dessert
129) make dinner
130) give your pet a party
131) paint the sidewalk with water
132) start a journal of summer fun
133) start a nature diary
134) have a read-a-thon with a friend or sibling
135) have a neighborhood bike wash
136) play flashlight tag
137) play Kick the Can
138) check out a science book and try some experiments
139) make up a story
140) arrange photo albums
141) find bugs and start a collection
142) do some stargazing
143) decorate bikes or wagons and have a neighborhood parade
144) catch butterflies and then let them go
145) play hide-and-seek
146) create a symphony with bottles and pans and rubber bands
147) listen to the birds sing
148) try to imitate bird calls
149) read a story to a younger child
150) find shapes in the clouds
151) string dry noodles or O-shaped cereals into a necklace
152) glue noodles into a design on paper
153) play hopscotch
154) play jacks
155) make up a song
156) make a teepee out of blankets
157) write in your journal
158) find an ant colony and spill some food and watch what happens
159) play charades
160) make up a story by drawing pictures
161) draw a cartoon strip
162) make a map of your bedroom, house or neighborhood
163) call a friend
164) cut pictures from old magazines and write a story
165) make a collage using pictures cut from old magazines
166) do a secret service for a neighbor
167) plan a treasure hunt
168) make a treasure map
169) make up a "Bored List" of things to do
170) plan a special activity for your family
171) search your house for items made in other countries and then learn about those countries from the encyclopedia or online
172) plan an imaginary trip to the moon
173) plan an imaginary trip around the world; decide where you would want to go
174) write a science-fiction story
175) find a new pen pal
176) make up a play using old clothes as costumes
177) make up a game for practicing math facts
178) have a Spelling Bee
179) make up a game for practicing spelling
180) surprise an elderly neighbor or relative by weeding his/her garden
181) fingerpaint with shaving cream
182) collect sticks and mud and build a bird's nest
183) write newspaper articles for a pretend newspaper
184) put together a family newsletter
185) write reviews of movies or plays or tv shows or concerts you see during the summer
186) bake a cake
187) bake a batch of cookies
188) decorate a shoe box to hold your summer treasures
189) make a hideout or clubhouse
190) make paper airplanes
191) have paper airplane races
192) learn origami
193) make an obstacle course in your backyard
194) make friendship bracelets for your friends
195) make a wind chime out of things headed for the garbage
196) paint your face
197) braid hair
198) play tag
199) make a sundial
200) make food sculptures (from pretzels, gumdrops, string licorice, raisins, cream cheese, peanuts, peanut butter, etc.) and then eat it
201) make a terrarium
202) start a club
203) take a nap outside on your lawn
204) produce a talent show
205) memorize a poem
206) recite a memorized poem for your family
207) read the newspaper
208) write a Letter to the Editor about an article or issue in the newspaper

Water-gun Target Shooting
Stand plastic bottles up on a wall, fence, box, or table, with ping pong balls or empty film vials set on top of each one. From behind a firing line 3 - 4 paces back, shoot water at targets.

Scoop Ball
Make ball scoops by cutting two or more 1 litre (or 1 quart) plastic milk jugs in half horizontally. Toss a small ball back and forth to a partner, using only the scoop to catch and throw the ball.



Torn Tissue Design

You'll Need:
Tissue paper
White glue
Paintbrush
White poster board
Acrylic polymer (optional)
Synthetic paintbrush (optional)

Have your child tear various colors of tissue paper into large pieces. Brush white glue thinned with water onto the back of each piece and arrange them on a piece of poster board. Show your child how to create new colors by overlapping two pieces of different tissue paper; yellow over red makes orange, light blue over pink makes purple, and so on. To give a nice sheen to the finished product, coat it with an acrylic polymer using a synthetic paintbrush or contac paper it.

I was looking to make a list of some fun family activities for summer. :)

We go to the beach and the nature center a lot. Parks we go to all the time. I'm hoping to head to visit a lighthouse again this year too.

What types of things do you during the summer with your family?

I'm looking forward to doing some serious fishing this year! When DH was home this past weekend, I made sure that we picked up our lic.'s and DNR Fishing rules book for the year. I'm really looking forward to fresh fish!

I'm also hoping to see some of my Michigan relatives this year.

Susie in MN

In the summer we usually do alot of fishing with the kids. We go camping a couple of times. We also go to New hampshire and Maine for a couple of weeks to visit all the cool places - like story land, whales tales, and etc.

We hit the beaches, parks and the kids go to camp for a week.

We also have alot of cookouts and it's great because we get to see all our friends who were in hibernation for the winter lol

We only have one trip planned so far. It's only across town but it's at a top 10 rated RV park. It has trees and grass and a 7 acre man made lake. We love it there and we love being able to leave but be close enough that we can come home and check on the dogs.

-At present, our RV is not running. We didn't get to use it last year and now this year it won't start. Money is tight so we are trying to barter for the work but when you do that, you have to wait for the person to get his paying customers out of the way.

Man I hope we get to go.

We go fishing, camping, to the lake and/or ocean. We like going to story land and those places too! lol They're only about half an hour to an hour or so from us. We have a lot of cookouts.

I still have to "work" so, if I get my stuff done early enough, then we head out to do something. When we go camping, though, it's for a week at a time.

we usually go up into the park and DH will ride his bicycle while I read and get some sun. Then we will go hiking on some trails or to some waterfalls and overlooks.

We spend time at our community pool, going on picnics, visiting my parents in Montana, camping and going to outdoor concerts in the park after church. We'll pack a picnic lunch, go listen to the music and the kids can play basketball or go swimming in the lake. Jeff and the kids also try to get some tennis or basketball in. Oh, and we BBQ a lot!!!

I almost forgot. We pitch a tent on our yard and the kids and their friends sleep out there. They think it's great fun and I'm not tripping over teenagers all the time.;)

:bump:

It's almost that time, ya know!!

Ugh! Don't remind me. I am really dreading summer because I know Baylie is going to be bored all the time.

I think I'll try some of these ideas.

I have Ryan signed up for 3 separate weeks of classes at our local art center. She's taking a cooking class, a dance class and an art class there. She'll go from 9 -12 and I hope it will break up the boredom some. We also go to the pool some afternoons and some on the weekends. I'll take her skating and to as many museums as I can (she loves that). We have several within 2 hours of where we live. Other than that, she'll be helping Mel around the farm and complaining that there is never anything to do. I'll take her to the movies some (so expensive) and we'll rent plenty of movies for the rainy days. Her Girl Scout Troop has tons of stuff planned as well including several weekend camping trips. It may not keep her from being bored but I'm sure it will run me to death.

We do a lot of outdoor things. Playing in the sandbox, sprinkler, squirt toys, bubbles. Zachary is in charge of watering some plants.

We have the swingset for them to play on. We play soccer, tball, and basketball. I just got the kids a lawn toss game. We like to do beanbag tosses too.

We go to the park a lot. Outdoor painting and chalk drawing. The library has great story times, bowling is great because there aren't any summer leagues so we can get in there.

I'm trying to get themed activities together too. I try to pack in a lot of fun learning. I have a list of things I want to work on with Zachary this summer.

We go to the nature center and do daytrips to someplace new and different. The kids love the petting farm.

We hit the beach as often as we can. We go to the bike trail and ride bikes or just go around the block.

I'd love to see if Zachary will skate, but not sure he's ready yet.

We have the play tent and I set it up outside. They like when I set the door at the bottom of their slide and they can slide into the play tent. lol

Sometimes, we just go to a huge parking lot and bounce super balls. The kids love it.

Zachary loves collecting rocks. lol Alexandra loves anywhere that has birds.

We do a lot of music time over here. The kids either dance to the music on their electronic keyboard or we put on preschool music and just jump and dance around.

We try to go fishing at least once.

We fly kites. Try to get to at least one festival or carnival.

Washing the car is always fun too. Picnics, fruit markets.

Yikes, I could go on and on. We're pretty active with the kids (more than I thought) lol.

Gabe has been eye-balling tents. He really wants to go camping. ugh I would rather go rent a rowboat. I'm not a camper. :(

WE like camping, although haven't done it since the ds was born! Maybe that would be fun. We are going to be tending a garden, and having visits from mom and grandmother this summer. We will go to libraries and parks, movies and just in our own yards as well. :D

http://www.makegizmos.com/projects.htm

Lots of ideas here.

Looking for something fun to do with the kids this summer? Why not teach them to cook! It's a great way to have fun without spending a lot of money!

Sure, sometimes there's a little more to clean up when the children have "helped" but it's worth it for the happy time spent together. Who knows, maybe you're raising the next Julia Child!

There are lots of things even very young children can do in the kitchen. When they have had a part in the preparation of a meal,
children are much more inclined to eat it!

Your toddler can pick out which potatoes to peel and place them in a bowl of water after you have peeled them; almost any age child can stir batter or hold the mixer - maybe with a little help!

It's a good idea to keep a sturdy step-stool handy for little ones. Also, a couple of child-sized aprons are fun for kids to use! A pattern for making an apron for your little helper can be found at:
http://www.cynroberts.com/mywebpage/Article18.html

Children love to get their hands into whatever you're doing. How about letting them help knead the biscuit dough tonight?

Are you making banana bread or cake? Let your son or daughter mash the bananas. And then they can stir it into the batter.

One of my sons didn't think I could even make peanut butter cookies if he wasn't here to put the criss-crosses on!

Here are a few fun recipes, some don't really require much actual cooking, but they are fun recipes for kids!

Some of these recipes may contain ingredients that are not suitable for very young children.

* ANTS ON A LOG *

Celery
Peanut butter
Raisins

Clean celery and fill stalks with peanut butter; top with raisins.
Cut in approximately 2 inch pieces. Chill and serve.


* BIRD SEED (Trail Mix) *

4 cups Cheerios
2 cups M&M's
2 cups raisins
2 cups nuts

Mix well. Place in individual zipper bags for each child.


* COCA-COLA PORK CHOPS *

8 pork chops
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup catsup
1 cup Coca-Cola
Brown sugar

Place the pork chops in a baking pan. Season with salt and pepper. Mix the catsup and cola and pour over the pork chops.
Sprinkle with brown sugar.

Bake uncovered in a 350 degree oven for 1 hour or until the pork chops are tender. Serves 8.


* PAINTED TOAST *

White bread
Milk
Food colors
Small clean brushes
Paper cups
Toaster

Divide small amounts of milk into paper cups and add a different color to each.

Using the clean brushes, let the children paint on their bread. Teach them to paint gently so they don't tear the bread. And don't let them get the bread too wet.

Let them drop into toaster and see what you have when it pops up!


When the kitchen is all cleaned up and you're through for the day, here is one last recipe:

PERFECT HUG

2 people
4 arms
2 hearts
A touch of love
1 pinch of humor
1 sprinkle of glee

Extend arms and wrap them around each other. Clear your minds, take a look at each other, then pull yourselves together and mix well.

Serves 2.

Cyndi Roberts is the editor of the "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another"
bi-weekly newsletter and founder of the website of the same name. Visit http://www.cynroberts.com to find creative tips, articles, and a free e-cooking book. Subscribe to the newsletter and receive the free e-course "Taming the Monster Grocery Bill".

Very cute. I think Zachary would love the rubberband buzzer. :D

Crafts for kids from the Living it Up with the Ali and Jack Show.

These can also be found at www.kidconcoctions.com

Project 1 - Shake & Make Ice Cream

What you will need:
· 2 tbs, sugar
· 1 cup half-and-half
· ½ tsp. Vanilla extract
· 6 tbs. Rock salt
· 1 pint-size plastic zip lock bag
· 1 gallon-size zip lock bag
· Crushed ice

How to concoct it:
· Combine the sugar, half-and-half and vanilla in pint-size zip lock bag and seal
· Fill the gallon-size zip lock bag one-half full with crushed ice. Add the rock salt.
· Place the sealed, pint-size zip lock bag into the gallon-size zip lock bag and seal.
· Shake the gallon-size bag for 5-7 minutes or until the ice cream hardens.
· Open the small sip lock bag and enjoy!


http://aliandjack.com/images/1159_kidconcoctions/grassyhead.jpg
Project 2 – Grass Head Guy

What you will need:
· Nylon stocking
· 6 tbs. Potting soil
· 2 tbs. Grass seed
· Plastic yogurt container
· 2 google eyes
· Glue
· Waterproof markers
· Water

How to concoct it:
· Cut a 4-inch long piece of nylon stocking, including the toe. Spoon grass seed into the stocking.
· Pour potting soil into the stocking until you have a ball of soil that is about 2 inches in diameter.
· Tie a knot in the stocking so that the soil will hold its ball shape. (do not cut the tail off the stocking.)
· Glue a set of google eyes on your grass head guy and then draw a nose and mouth using waterproof markers.
· Pour 1 to 2 inches of water into the bottom of the yogurt container.
· Place your grass head guy in the yogurt container, making sure the nylon tail sits in the water.
· Check the water in the plastic yogurt container daily.

They have a lot of neat ideas and recipes on there show. I watch it some in the mornings.

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/thriftyliving/tl-activities.html

Super Summer Snacks 'n Fun


FROSTY FRUIT

Wash, dry, and freeze berries, cherries, or seedless grapes in a sealed
container. Enjoy on a hot day.

DRIPLESS POPSICLES

Dissolve one 85 g package of Jell-o powder in 1 C. boiling water. Stir in 1
1/4 C. juice. Pour into moulds and freeze.

SENSATIONAL SLUSH

Fill a small yoghurt container 2/3 full with juice or pop. Cap with lid and
place in freezer for 1 1/2 hours. Then, mix with fork every 1/2 hour or so
until to desired consistency.

WATER-GUN TARGET SHOOTING

Stand plastic bottles up on a wall, fence, box, or table, with ping pong
balls or empty film vials set on top of each one. From behind a firing line
3 - 4 paces back, shoot water at targets.

WONDERFUL WET-PRINTS

Pour water into a cake or bread pan. Dip your bare feet or hands into water
and make wet-prints on the sidewalk.

SPLASHY SIDEWALK PAINTING

Use a large paint brush (or plant mister) to create pictures on the sidewalk
using water mixed with a little paint powder, food coloring, or Kool-Aid
powder.

BUBBLEMANIA

Mix together 2 C. warm water, 1/4 C. good quality dish soap (Ie. - Dawn), a
little food coloring or paint/Kool-Aid powder, and 2 Tbsp. glycerine or corn
syrup. Use straws, funnels, whisks, small cookie cutters, etc. to make
bubbles and more bubbles.

SANDCAST FOOTPRINT

Dampen, pat down, and smoothen a small area of sand. Make a footprint in
sand about 1/2" deep. Mix together 1 C. water and 2 1/4 C. plaster of Paris
to thickness of a milkshake. Pour mixture to fill in footprint. Leave to dry
for at least an hour Record date and name on back.


SCOOP BALL

Make ball scoops by cutting two or more 1 litre (or 1 quart) plastic milk
jugs in half horizontally. Toss a small ball back and forth to a partner,
using only the scoop to catch and throw the ball.

:bump:

Those are great ideas:smball:

We do this list yearly, but for many school is out or about to be let out for summer. Let's list some beat the heat and frugal activities for summer. :)

One of our favorite activities is going to the beach. We pack up some sand toys and head out with a picnic lunch.

Well, #1 on our list is the neigborhood pool which is right behind our house.

We will go to a Family Reunion in KY and then to my Moms. The girls think it is great fun to be at Grandmas and it is cheap.

Other things include the Spencer Shops, which is a free train museum, the Reed Gold Mine which is also free.

Then there are the local parks, bike riding in the neighborhood, free movies once a week at the local theater, and we LOVE going to the flea market!

We participate in the summer reading program at the library which gives children free coupons weekly for ice cream, bowling, movies, etc.

The shcool also gives out free bowling passes every year to use during the summer. The pass lets you bowl one free game a day. We have 3 of them.

We also:
~camp at the lake where we can also swim and fish
~picnic at the lake
~visit museums that have free admission
~visit the zoo on special promotion days
~attend little league baseball games (fun and free)

We pack a lunch and go fishing at the state pond 1 mile from home.
Its free.

Another one from me - taking the kids to the library and letting them use the computers for free.

Another one that the boys love it watching a movie outdoors at night under the stars. Also building a bonfire and roasting weiners and marshmallows.

Also, there is a drive in picture show about 40 minutes from us. You can get in for $10 a car/truck load in the summer time. We pack a cooler with drinks, snacks, etc. We also take our own food. They show a double feature too!! So that is really cheap to see 2 newly released movies for a family of five for $10!

Our neighborhood association is having a FunFest this weekend. There are games planned, the pool is open. THere will be a cook out - we only have to bring a dessert or side dish everything else is supplies. Then. they are hanging a sheet on the tennis court and having a movie when it gets dark. All for free!

we mostly hang out at our own pool and cook out on the grill...our grandson loves it!!!...dh and I also like to go watch the sailboats on the lake...we used to go for a picnic in the park with the girls when they were little, I miss those days:)

We go to the nature center often, sprayground, and parks too.

In our own yard we do sandbox fun, painting and chalk outside, swingset, basketball, soccer, baseball, and frisbee.

Rollerblading and bike riding too.

Our summer daytrips are usually to go see lighthouses in Michigan, but we sometimes just go for a nice drive to the lakes and sometimes go fishing.

We're giving tent camping a whirl this yr. :toothy:

A cute thing was when Zachary said he just wanted to watch clouds. It made me think about not overscheduling the kids with activities and that there are times they just want to hang around and slurp popsicles, eat watermelon, and watch clouds. :)

I'm always looking for fun activities though and think back to my own childhood. I spent most of mine doing much of the same things and it was just a tons of fun being with my family.

Can't forget kite flying and bubbles. :)

Gabe made awesome paper airplanes with the kids a couple of weeks ago. They had so much fun. Who knew he could fold a killer airplane? lol

101 things to do with preschoolers
http://www-personal.engin.umich.edu/~ajdrake/toddler/list.htm

Catching fireflies at night is always fun!!

DH and I spend as much time outdoors as possible!

We camp almost every weekend, in the Summer.

When it's really hot in July and August we love to swim at the many beautiful and secluded swimming holes. It's so peaceful and relaxing as well!

We have friends come over for barbarque and good times.

I love the library, as always, but more so in the Summer.

Hiking is one of my most favorite activities in the Summer and early Fall.

Walking and Biking on the bike paths.

Canoeing and Canoe camping.

Visiting family in NY.

Going to the beach (we have many beaches to choose from)

We are within walking distance to the public library, the park & zoo, a science 'museum' of sorts, a local history museum, the YMCA, as well as the Farmer's Market (on Wednesdays).

Our city also has free t-ball for children of residents and free swim lessons for children of residents. There are also multiple free festivals & parades all through the summer that we go to. We just buy the local paper and everything is listed there.

Aside from that, we picnic in our back yard. They have a wading pool, and lots of outside toys to play with.

oh man u guys have sooooooooo much to do..i have to start looking for fun free or cheap stuff for my friends and myself..

plays in the park 4 or 5 dollars...bring own chair
swim at friends house :D
may go to sandy hook but i hate sunbathing so may not

We love the free Pops concerts in the park. We go to my grandpa's for swimming. Church camp is big. Dh & I go free as counselors and Isabel gets to hang out with the big kids. Dh is going to take Isabel fishing when we visit family in KY in July. She really wants too and dh's grandpa has a boat so, that should be interesting.

We have this thread every so often. For the new members, I thought we'd start a new one.

List some free family activities or very inexpensive activities.

Well our current favorite free thing to do is the community pool. We usually take lunch and snacks and make a day of it.

Some less expensive things we like to do are the local AA baseball team. It costs us $3 a ticket to get in. And, we plan to go when they are having fireworks after the game. The kids love it.

And the best is the once in a while treat to get an ice cream cone. There are 2 different places we go - one has benches around a fountain and another has a playground and gazebo.

Of course there is making ice cream at home too!

For free fun, I usually turn to the internet to see what free activities are going on (I see a lot of great links have been posted here, too). I usually look online on my local newspapers' websites, and on the local park websites as well. They have a lot of free programs.

I will also take him to a park playground, or let him play in the sprinkler in the backyard if we aren't going too far from home that day.

Now that the weather is getting warmer (for some of us I realize ;)
what ideas do you have for summertime fun that's cheap?

We visit lots of local parks and gardens. Most in our area are free and we can lose a whole day just walking trails and playing on the play grounds. We pack picnic lunch and fill the cooler. One thing I do is save condoment packages in large plastic pnut butter jars. One holds catsup, mustard another mayo and salad dressings. These live in the bottom drawer of our refrig and get easily tossed into the cooler. Also I keep a ziplock with frozen wash clothes in the freezer. These too go into the cooler and get used for wiping off during the day. We also look for you pick spots for a day of family fun. Kids think its great fun I look at the extra stuff for our table and the fun we have picking together.

Laurie in Bradenton

Homemade popcycles come to mind....my kids used to love them made with leftover pick juice (not good for them I know....but they'd drink the juice when I wasn't looking anyway ;) ). We used to spend days at the public pool, with our own drinks and snacks packed in a cooler, take the kids to the park in the evenings, go to the free kid baseball games (with aforementioned drinks and snacks in tow). We loved going to the lake too. That was always fun and we did everything we could to make it less expensive. Recently my dd left me a journal when she went on an extended trip. In it she wrote, I can still taste the sand in our sandwiches at the lake.....:lol:

Take a day trip to a historical place nearby that you've never visited. That's always fun.

Next....

concerts in the park

swimming in the lake

various festivals (check the area newspapers for what's available)

homemade slushies and milkshakes made of crushed ice and powdered milk and favourite item or flavour.(blender)
biggest bubble blowing contests
bbq on backyard (friends and family)- potluck
homemade water slide- use long pices of tarp(used for camping) make sure ground is flat as possible(if too bumpy-kids find it too hard on their stomachs) or slopes id great, make sure its really wet and hose runs all the time.
On hot days- kids pick favourite movie and we wold have slushies and popcorn or veggie and dip.Also box of jello pudding mix in blender with crushed ice and milk.

Kid fun: bubbles, lots of 'em, sidewalk chalk, swimming (even a cheap kiddie pool is fun,) gardening, definitely making "juicy bars" (popsicles made from DD's leftover fruit and yogurt,) picnics anywhere, going to the air-conditioned library on really hot days, playing in te sand box (again, cheap kiddie pool works great for this)

Adult fun: free concerts, yard sales to get a shopping-spree fix on the cheap, gardening, swimming, the beach (only cheap if you live near one and take your own food)

When the kids were small we took trips to our local park with p and j sandwiches for picnic lunches, spent lazy afternoons with our feet in the kiddie pool, ate mountains of watermellon and popsicles, the beach, the lake, hikes, parades, walked to the summer reading programs at the library, went swimming in my brothers pool, camped out in the backyard, as a matter of fact we camped out in the livingroom, it was the only room back then with an airconditioner. We cooked on the grill, toasted marshmallows, watched the stars, played catch, frisbee, baseball with the cousins, we went to drive in movies with a couple of lawn chairs and sleeping bags in the back of our truck, fireworks that we watched for free from the top of a hill, that our local amusement park displayed on a weekly basis. We too went to the local concerts in the park with our picnic supper in tow. Special treats of dairy queen icecream and trips to our local hot dog place to eat on their picnic tables. A membership to a aquarium gave us countless hours watching the seals at play.

Growing up we had no pool and when I was little I remember my mother filling the tub with a couple of inches of cool water, she then let us put on our bathing suits and let us "wash the tub". She also would pop a ton of popcorn and let us sit on the back steps after dark like "grownups" while we ate it.

While it's not free actually, we can swim at the Y with our family membership.
The park is a big one that we take advantage of. We also have a nice yard so we invite lots of folks over to play and hang out and just chill. To avoid feeding all these folks, sometimes we invite them over for "after dinner drinks." The adults have a few drinks (that everyone provides) and the kids run around and play until the bugs come out. We also have a chiminea which is a lovely way to spend an evening in the summer watching an outdoor fire and roasting marshmallows.
I love to take walks with the kids and go for bike rides. A small kiddie pool out back is also nice. I loved the idea about an old tarp and hose to slip around on! How clever... A museum membership (if you have children's museum nearby) is a very economical way to get out of the heat and into AC year round! We spent 100 bucks on a children's museum membership which admits 6. We have one such museum 5 miles away and another about 25 miles away. We visit them almost weekly so it really pays off. Of course the library is great and free.

We enjoy taking hikes in the woods behind our house and taking a pic-nic. Playing all sorts of out door games, volley ball, basket ball, or just kicking a ball around. Walking in the creek, with old shoes on. Riding bikes. Toasting hot dogs over a small fire in the yard. Catching butterflies, lightning bugs. We spread out a large blanket in the yard and read stories together. If its really hot we have water gun fights, or use old spray bottles. And sometimes we just stay inside and play board games and avoid the heat.

When the kids were small we went to alot of outdoor events at the fairgrounds. Dog shows, flea markets, the beach and the park. Used to take our own drinks and snacks to save.
My dh and I go to sons to fish and cookout. We also go camping. Since we both love softball (stepdaughter) used to play. We go to all the games at the park and watch. We know alot of the families and some of their grandkids.

PLAYGROUNDS! Us moms get together and bring all the kids, with lunches. THe kids play ALL DAY, the moms get some socializing time with each other, and the kids are TIRED when its time for bed!
Also, cheap dollar movies when it is too hot outside, (We used to do this once every 2 weeks when I was growing up, we thought we were so cool going to the "show") and playing badmitten was one of my all time favorites. We would get flower seeds and plant them in the spring, then watch them grow all summer...... funny, those were the only flower beds that we ever weeded, the ones that we planted..... ride bikes, go to yard sales with 2 dollars in our pockets....(we were always so excitied about getting to "shop") making sugar water (yeah yeah, maybe no so great for the teeth... but we only got to do it on Fridays) go fishing at the lake (of course, I dont remember us ever having bait.... lol, we were so young, we thought it was just cool to have a snoopy pole.... when we got a bit older we started getting bait) walks around the neighborhood, the trampoline (yes, start up cost can be a couple hundred, but the thing got used EVERYDAY..... FOR YEARS!) making kool aid pops...... kiddie pools...... oh, the joys of summer!

Well what DH and I both remember doing with our families growing up that was fun and still is, going for a Saturday or Sunday drive, visit a neighborhood you have never been to, see where that new road they just built goes to........I even remember sometimes we would just go for the short drive to the local ice cream shop for a cone......

Unfortunately the driving part is no longer frugal unless you keep within a very small area!

leezza

The library! Take advantage of any programs. Also, schedule at least one trip there weekly. Other than going on vacation, I think going to the library each week was my favorite summer time activity.

Churches will be running VBS programs all summer. If you're into church stuff, don't hesitate to send the kids to various VBS programs. Churches always welcome visitors, and your kids will have a blast. Just make sure they're not all running the same program. (Southern Baptist churches, for example, tend to all use the same curriculum.)

What a fun post! Leeza, you could do that trip around the neighborhood with your bicycle :)

Bubbles and sidewalk chalk outside, we also go to my moms house - she just put in a pool. My kids love the beach too, but over here we have to be careful esp now when the waves get too rough. I definitely need to teach the 2yr old how to swim this summer!

PINKDUCKY....everyday is like summer for you....you live in one of the most wonderful places on earth.....I'm envious. I live in Washington State and we have a cabin up in the mountains (base of Mt. Rainier) so hiking is the activity of choice.

I haven't read the entire thread, so forgive the repeated ideas (time constriction right now)

-parades & festivals. I like to get our local paper or check on our city's website & their calendar online to see when their parades & free festivals are. This month there is an Armed Forces parade, then free admittance for military families into the local zoo. Next month there is a Dairy parade then free ice cream afterward at the Dairy Festival.

-the library. Almost all of our libraries offer summer reading programs. Kids read books and get rewards based on either the number of books or number of pages read (or read to them for the younger non-readers).

-the park/playground. We live close to three city parks (not including the parks at the schools). Our city offers another summer program that on the weekdays from 9am to noon they have youth volunteers stationed at the playground to organise games, coloring, other activities. Out in the more rural areas, they have something called "Recreation" and once a week they take all the kids who sign up (free) on a field trip to the beach (lake).

-camping in the backyard. My boys are actually camping in their bedrooms tonight :laugh: they're too excited to wait until warmer weather.

-sidewalk chalk, bubbles, water balloons

-picnics outside, either in the backyard or at one of the parks.

-our city also offers free t-ball and free swimming lessons to city residents. City residents also get free or reduced (can't remember what they decided this year) admission to the city pools.

My biggest tip would be to explore your city/town and what it offers. You may be surprised at just how much there is that is free :)

All of the above + watermelon spitting contests. :toothy:

The library! Take advantage of any programs. Also, schedule at least one trip there weekly. Other than going on vacation, I think going to the library each week was my favorite summer time activity.

Churches will be running VBS programs all summer. If you're into church stuff, don't hesitate to send the kids to various VBS programs. Churches always welcome visitors, and your kids will have a blast. Just make sure they're not all running the same program. (Southern Baptist churches, for example, tend to all use the same curriculum.)

I agree. Our local library has a tremendous amount of events all year round. We have one free new movie per month,one for kids and one for adults. Book reads and clubs for little ones and adults are held at the same time so mom can leave the children for a bit. The kids hear great stories and mom can discuss books with adults.

I always check the "what's going on" section in our paper. Lots of good freebie happenings. Really good stuff at the library, if you join your library's online list or free e-mails list you get a heads-up to be one of the first sign up for an event.

The park is always good for an improptu picnic. We pick up chicken, stop by the store for Krimpets or chocolate donuts for deseart; juice and maybe some chips (water is always in the house) and are good to go. If you keep a blanket and things like ropes, balls, frizbees (sp??) games, etc in the car or in a special place at home you are good to go.

Here in the summer we have weekly afternoon jazz in the musuem courtyard and weekly after 5p music at our arts center all free. Kids love this-they don't come to listen they like playing with the other kids.

Here's some fun activities for kids.
http://familyfun.go.com/parties/holiday/feature/summer_main_ms/

I just made the cheapo popsicles with my kids and they LOVE them. Use the popsicle molds (like Tupperware) and get an empty jam or jelly jar and with just the little bit of jelly you couldn't use and fill it with warm water and shake to get the bits up. Pour the water with jam bits into a mold and freeze. You can get molds at the dollar store (or try Freecylce.org.)

It's such a hot day here today that we need some good indoor activities.

Just stumbled on this cute web site. I'll be bookmarking it. :D

http://www.thisisdanielcook.com/

With Winter fast approaching, I'm compiling a list of things to do with kids that are inexpensive or free. Let me know what you do outside of the usual--make snowpeople, visit the library, etc.

Winter is usually my least favorite time of year because we don't get outside as much, but this year I'm trying to overcome my dislike of the cold and get out there and do stuff.
Thanks!!

Visit a nursing home-- the senior citizens love to see young people. Mine grew up with 99 grandma's and grandpa's!

Board games-- lots of fun with these

popcorn scultures-- pop a huge batch of popcorn, place on the table, and let them make things with it.

We also go to as many church, school, community Christmas or winter concerts as our schedule will allow. Free fun.

I just recently found a local county aquatic center - indoor heated pool - not free, but it only costs $2 per child :)

library - my youngest really enjoys going, but his big brother isn't so fond of it -

local animal shelter -- for sooooo many reasons! My boys will love on kitties for hours while I clean cages, feed/water, do laundry, etc.

eat lunch at home, then go to McD's just to play on the playground! :)

crafts...let them decorate the house for christmas with paper chains and snowflakes. have them help you bake cookies.

For really cold days go to the library, the mall and window shop, play card or board games, make popcorn strings, snowflakes, play with playdough, they paint xmas paper, all cuddle up and watch a xmas movie, or bake cookies.

For outside we build snowmen, build snowforts, collect pinecones for bird feeders, collect branches for crafts(pine for wreaths and leaveless branches we put in a pot and decorate with lights and paper snowflakes), I also fill spray bottles with coloured water and they paint on the snow.

I can't think of anything else right now.

Wow these are all realy great ideas I am going to use some of them myself!!!!

With school almost out for both of my kids, I'm looking for some ideas for summer boredom busters. I'm looking for indoor and outdoor activities at home.

I know this is typical, but since it's warm out we go to the park or bike riding, stuff like that. In the summer I take my DD to the pool to pass away some time. I am sure that they will even have some ideas of their own. Good Luck :) and let me know if you have any good ideas, school will be out in like 2 weeks here so it wouldnt hurt to be prepared.

Indoor:
origami
board games
baking
dress up
cleaning
painting/coloring/drawing
playdoh
circus at home
learn a new language as a family

outdoor:
tag
ride bikes
go to the library
go to the park
hike
picnic
outdoor games
mini olympics w/ homemade medals

In general, hide a few of their toys now and pull them out when things get boring. They'll be like new toys again! HTH! :)

we do the typical things...
indoor: board games, reading, cleaning dance fest(we turn the radio up really loud and clean and dance at the same time), movies, we have never owned video games and limit tv so most of the time we are outside
outdoor: softball/baseball (both kids play on summer leagues plus we like to watch the games of the older teams), the park of course, library, walking (we live out of city limits so sometimes we go into town and park the car and just wander around town), frisbee is our latest love funny how a simple object can occupy for hours, my kids also plant their own veggies and flowers so they take care of those, play in the sprinkler, water balloon fights(my favorite), washing the car(kids will do anything to get wet lol), silly string battles and water gun battles, and they still love sidewalk chalk and so do I lol!

I watch kids, well it seems like everyday, every hour, every season, and forever and ever.. Sorry. I am always doing quickie crafts, we are going to do a baking project once a week. I am also making a friend quilt with all of them. Giving them a square to decorate. I break down the days of the week. One is game day, movie day, etc. Gosh, when I finish planning some of our stuff, I will write a little more.

I like the mini olympics...sorta like relay races. That would work well here.

We opted to not have the kids do day camp and there isn't a kid in sight in our neighborhood. The parks are often empty because most kids are in day camps.

We go to the sprayground a lot, but that isn't something I want to do daily.

My kids love squirt toys and the sprinkler and slip and slide, but again, that only offers so much mileage before they are bored.

Here are some outdoor game activities:
http://www.familyeducation.com/whatworks/item/nogroup-index/0,3002,1-16406,00.html

I'm thinking of a scavenger hunt with some of their toys they haven't noticed in ages. lol We could do a thrift store treasure hunt too.

It's a lot of weeks to fill. lol

I think my kids would love rock painting. I try to save more fun things for weekends when we all can be together, so things like fishing, berry picking, picnics, etc are out for during the week.

Last summer on clearance, I bought a sno-cone maker. :eek: That should be fun too.

My kids are out of school next Wednesday so I've been making a list of ideas in my daybook...here's what I've come up with
*walks with scooter or bike
*zoo (we have a membership)
*school playground
*daily chore
*library and summer book club
*crafts
*dollar movies
*swim lessons
*bake a treat
*plan and cook dinner together (one child at a time)
*paint rocks (this has been a consistant favorite for the last 3 summers - I have lots of craft paints and we all make them - Lin Wellford has several books with neat ideas including one book for children)
*sew a small project
*teach older daughter to crochet
*dressup
*treasure map hunt (hide something small and then make a simple map for them to find it - sending them on several wild goose chases first)
*Memory races (I tell them 5-10 things to do and then they have to remember where to go in the right order - for example Run around the oak tree 5 times, touch the mailbox,do a somersault on the small lawn etc etc)
*board games and cards
*Visit friends and family (list all the possibilities)

I've also put down local free or cheap attractions that I either thought of or looked up on line as if I was a visitor to the area.

Last summer I wrote a lot of my ideas on small pieces of paper and put them in a jar and the kids would pick one when bored (a word of advice - only put the options that you can do with them any day - I put a few in the jar which were hard to do unless I had made plans and the kids were diappointed when we didn't do them )

HTH :)

The local zoo is pitiful. We do have a nature center membership though. We typically do that on weekends though, so that's out.

Thanks for the ideas. I'm sure I'll think of more that we've done here.

We do a lot of chalk, bubbles, and sandbox stuff.

If there are local kids their age... you could host a tornament after lunch. The prep work of invitations to participate can be made by the kids. Thats one afternoon of crafting for them. They can participate in making simple and frugal refreshments the day before (you could even give them a budget to work with). And then let them have the fun of setting up the area needed.

Find/borrow several copies of the same game. Checkers, battleship, bean bag toss, jump rope, what ever you can find the most of. And have their friends enter into the tournament. The final winner gets a ribbon and a frugal prize which could be anything from a game to school supplies.

Your kids might enjoy the whole process of something like that and be asking when they can do it again! LOL

I'm wondering what everyone does during the summer for fun and frugal activities with the kiddos. This is usually a tough time of year to stick to my budget.:weeping:

When my DS was small we had picnics in the back yard. ( Kool-aid and peanutbutter sandwiches, homemade cookies or some chips )
We are went to the park to play.

there is a classic local snack in this area called a "lemon stick" it is literally half a lemon with a peppermint stick (the shorter stubby kind), it is great!

this is sort of frugal, we split the cost family memberships to different local places like zoo and science centers with another family. also find out who already has a membership they often have guest passes and offer to treat them to lunch in exchange. (u can bring it from home)

i saved up DS birthday gift cards and bought some inexpensive backyard toys. and supplement the fun with dollar store foam airplanes and sand toys

we go to free indoor mall playgrounds there are a few nice ones around. we go to regular playgrounds to early before the heat kicks in.

DS is 3 so bubbles, a ball and sidewalk chalk are still the best thing around.

plant a simple garden with the cheapo flowers that are on sale at the hardware store. or paint flower pots.

bought a hula hoop, that is hours of fun for all! (plan on getting a skip-it some may know it as a lemon twist).

oh one more thing that solar paper that you lay things on leave it in the sun and it makes sun prints......i need to buy some of that


and frozen fruit juice in popsicle molds or old yogurt containters with a popsicle stick

Museums & Zoos
In our area, the museums have a free and/or discount day each week. Call your local museums to see if they have the same thing. At the library in my area you get a free pass for up to 6 people. You have to go check it out like a book.

The Public Library and Book Stores
What a treasure the public library is! Not only can you borrow books all summer long, they have extra activities scheduled for many age ranges over the summer months. They have reading clubs that offer prize incentives to get kids to read more.

Don’t Be Afraid to Schedule
Be purposeful about your time with your kids. Don’t be afraid to have a plan of activities & stick with it. Do certain things on certain days:
Monday is Museum Day
Tuesday is Pool Day
Wednesday is No Electronics Day, where you read, play games, go to the library.

Outdoor Entertainment
There are always a ton of free outdoor entertainment in the parks. Plays, bands, and movies. Just check online or in the paper.

Katy

I also sometimes look at this website http://twincities.parentzone.com/parentresources.asp?prid=647 It has free as well not free things to do. I have saved the twin cities but on the left hand side you can pull up your city.

Katy

I scope out our town for free activities. They have A LOT!!
Here are all the stuff available for free to city residents:
~t-ball, the boys go twice a week in the evenings
~swimming lessons, one week in the middle of the summer
~playground activities, at all the playgrounds across the city they offer games, activities, arts & crafts, field trips, snacks, etc.
~Story time at Borders Bookstore
~Story time at our city library
~Story time at the library on post
~all the libraries also have summer reading programs
~we have a large park two blocks from our house that often offers free concerts, fireworks, etc.
~walk to the Farmer's Market (2 blocks from our house) every Wednesday
~there are also quite a few parades & festivals throughout the summer

We also do quite a few cheap activities:
~go to the drive in, $5 per adult $2.50 per kid & we can bring our own food
~go to the lake, $7 per car, bring our own food

Why not let each child do a "My Summer" scrapbook. Buy each child a disposable camera and let them take pictures of summer activities, family and friends and pets. You can find small scrapbooks, scrapbook paper, stickers, etc. at most dollar stores. Just make sure everything is acid free. Make sure to add journaling and dates to each page with acid free pens and markers. You can make small pockets with the scrapbook paper and attach to the pages to hold journaling, tickets stubs, etc.. I'm helping 14 yr. old DD and 5 year old grandson with their summer scrapbooks, and they are having a blast choosing their pictures from our vacation in Gatlinburg and the smokies last week. I saved all of the ticket stubs from each attraction they went to. Years from now, they will have great memories to look back on.

We live in a small city so our parks department has plenty to do. Baseball, tennis, swimming, arts and crafts just to name a few.
We also joined the reading program at our local library.
I have always read to my kids even when the were older like 10 and 11. We would read books from the library together and then we would rent the movie when the book was finished.
We would make special snacks for this book party. If they were old enough I would let them pour through cook books picking out our snacks and then let them make them.
I would do the same for a family game night. Actually we had neighborhood game days with all the neighborhood kids and my daycare kids. We would have p+j sandwiches with popscicles for lunch.
We baked cookies on rainy days.
For those bored with nothing to do right now. We would play button button or I see something.
Sprinklers, pools, slip and slides, and I let them wash the car on hot days.
I would go out doors with them and play catch after dinner or frisbee.
For the little ones buy a velcro catch game they are just thrilled when they can actually catch the ball.
We would do small crafts like those plastic laces, making enough key chains to last for years.
I live a 1/2 a block from the park so swimming and playgrounds were almost daily.
We would walk to McDonalds for ice cream.
Campouts in the back yard.
Concerts at the park.
We also have an amusement park and we could see the weekly fireworks show from an industrial park. We would pack up juice and popcorn sit in the bed of truck with lawn chairs and watch the show.
Drive in.
Cook outs at the lake on weekends and a membership to an Aquairum would keep us busy all summer.
Speaking of memberships it was one of the best things I discovered. For Christmas or Birthdays I bought memberships for our whole family. The aquairum and zoos at first and as they grew older amusement parks. Well worth the splurge.
Your local library may have discount tickets or even free tickets for local museums and places of intrest.

We often "played" school at home, making up quizzes and homework for each other. kept us in practice reading, writing, and doing 'rithmetic at least, and kept us out of my mom's hair. I don't know how this got started, because I was the youngest, but it was pretty much our favorite game.

101 Fun Things to Do with Kids
By: Amber Price

1. Go on a nature walk and collect different things. Make a collage with those things.
2. Make cookies together.
3. Draw a family picture.
4. Play charades.
5. Finger paint with shaving cream on paper.
6. Make homemade playdough and sculpt with it.
7. Go to a park and swing on the swings.
8. Go to the zoo.
9. Visit a fire station and take a tour (call ahead.)
10. Fly a kite together.
11. Go to a pond and feed the ducks.
12. Plant a garden.
13. Go to story time at the library.
14. Make instruments out of items around the house.
15. Decorate picture frames or outlet covers.
16. Paint with watercolors.
17. Make paper dolls that look like each child.
18. Work on a scrapbook together.
19. Make homemade ice cream.
20. Make a piñata with Paper-Mache.
21. Go on a picnic.
22. Go for a walk.
23. Sing songs together.
24. Make a gingerbread house out of graham crackers.
25. Find a local farm and take a tour.
26. Go play at an indoor playground (at a mall, restaurant, etc.)
27. Play a sport together.
28. Look through magazines, cut out pictures and make a collage.
29. Visit a children’s museum.
30. Make pudding and finger paint with it.
31. Trace the child’s silhouette on paper and let him color it in.
32. Make a card for someone.
33. Let the child help you make dinner.
34. Make a paper cup telephone.
35. Go to a movie
36. Learn more about your state’s history. Draw the state flag, learn about the state animals, etc.
37. Make crafts with Popsicle sticks.
38. Go for a walk after it rains and stomp in the puddles.
39. Ride bikes together.
40. Rent a video, make popcorn and have a movie night.
41. Plan a family vacation together.
42. Go rollerblading together.
43. Write a story.
44. Read a book together.
45. Make a birdhouse or pine cone bird feeder.
46. Make holiday decorations.
47. Have a tea party.
48. Write a poem.
49. Have a backyard BBQ.
50. Play a family board game.
51. Sleep in backyard.
52. Go to a professional sporting event
53. Go bowling.
54. Play hide and seek.
55. Decorate a T-shirt with paints or markers.
56. Make a homemade journal.
57. Decorate a brown paper bag and play dress up in it.
58. Put on a puppet show.
59. Go to a children’s theater.
60. Make a cereal necklace.
61. Play catch.
62. Take silly pictures and print them or get them developed.
63. Blow bubbles.
64. Play group games like mother may I; red light, green light; and duck, duck, goose.
65. Go to a lake and play on the beach or ride in a boat.
66. Go sledding or skiing.
67. Build a snowman.
68. Roast marshmallows over the stove and make S’mores.
69. Play Frisbee or Frisbee golf.
70. Do science experiments together.
71. Go mini-golfing.
72. Make “oobleck”.
73. Go to a museum.
74. Exercise together.
75. Go hiking.
76. Put on music and dance.
77. Have a paper airplane flying contest.
78. Teach child to sew and make a blanket or a pillow.
79. Go swimming.
80. Make a paper plate mask.
81. Build a crystal radio.
82. Play 20 questions.
83. Spend time learning about another culture.
84. Do the child’s handprints.
85. Start a collection together (i.e. Stamps, coins, stickers, etc.)
86. Paint clay pots and plant flowers in them.
87. Draw with sidewalk chalk.
88. Go out for lunch or dinner.
89. Go camping.
90. Tell jokes.
91. Make a meal that you can eat with just your fingers.
92. Make smoothies.
93. Draw pictures with your toes.
94. Go to the mall and eat in the food court.
95. Play with a pet.
96. Color pictures in a coloring book or print out coloring pages from the internet.
97. Make a noodle picture-paint uncooked noodles and glue them to paper.
98. Write letters to family or friends.
99. Have a tickle war.
100. Do a crossword puzzle or word search together.
101. Give them a big hug and tell them you love them!

Article by:
Amber Price is the mother of two boys and also the owner of My Sweetdreams Baby (www.mysweetdreamsbaby.com) online store for babies, children and mom.



:grwave:

Any creative ideas for fun & entertainment (especially things for couples or families) that are free or super cheap? I'm really looking for ideas beyond the usual suggestions of movies from the library, go to the park, etc. Thanks in advance!

As the weather gets better, towns in our area start having different festivals/celebrations. There is usually lots to do. Some towns have Chamber of Commerce web sites or their own sites that have calendar of events.

How about having a picnic at a state park near you. Ours have playgrounds and even some have beaches.

Check your state's web site. Ours lists what's going in the state.

We go to alot of citywide garage sales and usually make a day of it. See any historical sites in the town, eat at a local park. I've even been known to stop in the grocery stores and pick up any bargains I see.

Dh loves tractors so I keep a list of tractor shows we can attend if the mood hits him.

I was also going to mention the tourism websites - there are so many thing right at your back door that you may not even know about.

We love to go to the beach in the summer - we take a picnic and just make a whole day of it. We like to go for nature walks. We enjoy going to yardsales. (my kids are great little hagglers.) We enjoy the local concerts festivals and fairs that our community offers.

we live close to several state parks and love to go hiking.
we also go camping.
we get a membership to the zoo each year. provides lots of fun. it also gives us discounts on several other places that we like to go.
try your art museum.
look for small towns with lots of shops. we have several close by. go window shopping. then have a picnic.
go for bike rides. ohio has trails all over the state and they are great. we walk them also.
we like to go watch some of the summer sports going on. it's a great way to let the kids stay in touch and also, if one of their friends is playing, it's good for that kid also. to have someone other than family rooting them on.
if your kids are not allergic, even if you don't have a dog, go to the local dog park. it's a way to get your kids used to other animals, and with kids to play with, it helps the dog owners, if they don't mind. lol
ohio has a lot of places like serpent mound, old man caves, ohio caverns, things like that. we love to go and explore. so check out what sort of things your state has.

we hike
check out local museums for free or half price day
swimming or biking in summer
we invite families over for cards and games
check out local colleges for free programs
ditto park departments-going to a free soccer party next week
ethnic or community festivals
the library in the next town has kid party's with themes
free outdoor concerts in summer
4-H fairs

I live in a really small town so have searched in the surrounding communities and amazingly have found lots to do. Go to the library and look through their newspapers to see what is going on. Also the website of the town.

www.letterboxing.org

We love doing this!!

Oh my, there are so many things. Of course some of it depends on your location. I live in a city so there are lots of things available here.

Anytime there is a free day at the zoo, museums etc. we are there. Of course you do have to fight really large crowds on free days. There are also many museums, art galleries etc. that are free all the time.

Most of the employers around here also provide reduced cost zoo, nature park, theatre, symphony, etc. memberships to their employees.

Of course as someone already mentioned there are many free festivals and celebrations of all kinds. If the festival is free we try to take a little food money -- especially if it is an ethnic festival.

We also keep our eyes and ears peeled for anyone who is giving away tickets for pretty much anything. One of our local tv stations gives away tickets to moving screeings. A local Christian radio station also does this. Both of these give passes for 4 people. Bob was driving home from work one day listening to the radio when they said to drop by the station to pick up tickets for a concert by a Broadway star. Bob was close to the station and drove straight there and was able to get two tickets. Sometimes radio stations will give tickets to the 5th caller or whatever, but I'm not usually able to get in on those. Sometimes there are also free passes or reduced tickets to events available at our local grocery stores. The noon news also makes announcements about local events here.

Once Bob sent in photos he took at the local RenFaire and received two free tickets for the next year.

When we pay to go to a movie (not often) we go to a "Dollar Theatre" -- they aren't a dollar anymore around here but are still much less than a first run move.

I also watch for posters in store windows and I am a big bulletin board reader. Anytime I'm in a building with a bulletin board I check it out.

We also like to go to concerts, classes, plays, etc. at churches -- not always of our faith. Many churches now charge for these things but there are still a few available free or a free will offering is taken.

One thing we do is buy a state parks pass. It is only $25 a year here and is a window sticker for the vehicle -- so anyone in your vehicle gets in on your pass. We live right in the middle of 4 state parks and others are within driving distance. We are big time hikers and birdwatchers so we really use our park's pass. One of our parks also has a lot of activities that are free but you do need a parks pass to get into the park.

You can find a lot of free entertainment if you can be flexible. Often I find out about free entertainment on the morning of the event.

We ride our bikes as soon as the weather permits. On Saturdays (starting in late March) we go to the farmers market, get coffee and roam around and buy a few veggies for the week. We go to open houses to get ideas for house projects and colors, etc. We also spend a lot of time at the nurseries checking out new plants and landscaping ideas.....and we work in the yard a LOT, which is recreation for us.
Any chance we get, we take off on the motorcycle.

I hate to spend money on the weekends to entertain my daughters. We have taken to family skating...we all bought skates from target and we go outside and skate for an hour or so. We have so much fun and laugh the whole time. It's great exercise, too!

I spend a lot of time exploring the internet, though that's not entirely healthy, I know. I also read a lot. Studying takes up a lot of my time, and spend time cuddling with my kitties.

I watch television/movies on joox.net, and other such sites, listen to the radio or CDs, play board games or cribbage (my favorite game!), call my brother or friends (costly, I know) or write them letters (cheaper, I know). I've also started cross-stitching again, which can be cheap if you don't have to use the exact same colors. I spend a lot of time praying. Going to Church/spiritual gathering is free, and usually they put on free or cheap events. Check out your local universities for events and fun stuffs. :)

Draw house plans, complete with furniture much of the time, and if I REALLY have time on my hands, I build them out of cardboard boxes.

This one may sound weird but a local cemetary around here has a very large pond and every year Candian Geese come there for the summer. We go at least once a week to visit them and it is really fun to watch them lay eggs and sit on their nests. Then a while will go by and those eggs will hatch and then we get to watch the babies grow.
I always save leftover bread and such so the kids can feed them.
Just this past week my daughter who is 6 told me she is excited for the geese to return.

Andrea

We have a membership at the Y. For 58 dollars a month, you get access to weights, dance/excercise classes, the pool, basket ball courts, etc etc. It's actually pretty inexpensive if you really use it.
Also, we have about ten board games that the kids love. We often times spend a few hours playing Uno, Cadoo, Monopoly, Sorry, Chess, Checkers, tic tac toe, etc.
They sell videos at the Salvation Army for 50 cents, so I try to buy one a week for a movie night on the weekends. If they don't like the movie, it's cheaper than renting, if they do like it, they can watch it again.
We have playdates. I'll e-mail a bunch of moms and invite them over for two hours. Everyone brings something to eat or drink and the kids play while we chat. Sometimes we meet at the park. I mall walk without the kids. If you have little ones, you can mall walk with a stroller.

Great thread with great ideas!

As our annual summer vacation has been cancelled this year due to finances, I can really use these ideas. We also are still taking a week off, but plan to be tourists in our own town. We have a spray park that the kids have not been to yet, so that will be our fun! And I will get a charge out of how little it will cost!

DH and I hike a lot - we're members of a local hiking club, but we also like to hikes just the two of us. Also, we have a cheap 2nd run movie theatre at hand where the tickets are $1.50. We live near a university campus, so there are always free and interesting things to do there - lectures, exhibits, etc. We also like going to our neighborhood coffee house to hang out, read, people watch, meet friends, and get a beverage too! A lot of bars, I've found, have trivia nights - free to participate and fun to get a team of friends together.

Really like the suggestions. If your town has adult evening school you might want to look into it. I just signed up for water exercise at $30 for 8 classes. Plus it is right down the street. They also have cooking classes, yoga, art, dancing, etc.

In the summer our town has movies in the park which is free to the public. People bring a picnic to eat before the movie.

I also liked to play old fashioned games with my son when he was growing up. Things like Jacks, Hopscotch, Pick-up-stiks, etc. Then when he was in HS we'd go out and throw a football - that left a wonderful lasting impression on him, and a couple of years later he commented that he did not know ANYONE else who's MOM would do that!

Winter has been hard on us. We usually just stay in and play video games, which has also hit our budget pretty hard ($60 a month alone on games!!). The summer is so much better!!! We splurged last year and bought bikes. On a day off we spend the day, bike for an hour and a half to go to the beach, spend the day at the beach and bike home, its so awesome. We usually go fishing or swimming, play frisbee etc. If we're working, then we just ride around on our bikes, buy $1 milkshakes, chill out at the park. There is always free concerts going on in one park on the weekends so we'll go there too. Summer is always so frugal, winter, not so much.

Winter has been hard on us, not much free things to do so......now don't think this is strange. (ok it is strange) Some luxury condos opened near us and we went to the open house. We had more fun........lol. We toured the place met alot of people (who were probably being nosey just like us......lol) and spent 2 hours just relaxing and walking in a nice warm condo building.

Here's the situation:

You want to plan a fun time for the family. Maybe it's a birthday party or family gathering. Maybe it's just something to beat the day by day grind.

But...... you have NO, absolutely NO money to spend. You want this to be a memory maker for the family, but you can't spend a cent. What do you do? Or what have you done?

I'll share some things our family has done, and perhaps you could share your experiences or ideas.

I firmly believe that families can have fun and not have to spend anything. Of course, we are a little off the wall, and not a bit sophisticated, so I guess that helps!

1. Easter Bonnet Dinner
One year for Easter, the whole extended family made Easter bonnets out of stuff at hand. We all wore our bonnets during dinner. Each person had written a poem about his/her bonnet and we read the poems after dinner. We spent so much time laughing that we could hardly eat. Grandma had a birdbath on her head, Dad wore a part from the farm's cream separator, Great Grandpa made a paper hat, some of the children made bread dough hats and baked them, Brother wore a lamp shade. They were all decorated with bits of ribbon, lace, flowers, etc. The family still talks about this unique dinner!

2. Sock Paths
Gather the socks! Lay them out on the floor to make a path thru the house, and then try to walk the path without falling off.

3. Picnic on the Floor
Eat dinner on a blanket spread out on the floor. Use paper plates and napkins and eat picnic style food.

4. Write songs together, with each person contributing a line. Stories are good, too.

5. Choreograph Dr. Suess books, and perform it, trying to keep the rhythm strong. ( We loved "Hands, Hands, Fingers, Thumbs")

6. Make silly faces and take digital pix of them. If you have a computer photo program, make the pictures even sillier.

7. Scavenger hunt. Make lists of things to find inside or outside.

8. Everybody Cook!
Everybody makes something for supper out of what is on hand. Might just be bread and peanut butter served with apples. Whatever. Even toddlers can do this with some help. Then have each person name his dish with a super-fancy menu-type name, and serve it in a fancy way. "And for your dining pleasure tonight, Madammoiselle, we have PBJ ala bread." (think of the ad of the little girl offering to grind pepper at the table....)

9. At Christmas, sit in front of your tree, in front of a ball shaped ornament and look at your reflection. Watch yourself smile, frown, wink, and see how your face stretches out in the ball shape.

10. Make coupons for gifts. The coupons would be for acts of service or charity, such as "I'll do the dishes for a week", or "You can play with my ___ for 2 days."

11. Talent show!
Can you sing, dance, play drums, stand on your head, whistle...... Let someone be the MC and announce each act. Maybe American Idol style??
:curtain:

Your turn!

We had very little "expenisve" fun while I was growing up, and some of my best memories were:

1. Picnics at a public park where there was a small beach to play on and a big jungle gym to climb on.

2. Raspberry or strawberry picking in the woods at my grandparent's house.

3. Pot luck barbeque with family and friends.

4. Family board game night. We had a few of these each summer by candle light when storms caused the electricity to go out :).

5. Family Movie Night, we would watch a movie on tv each Sunday night and my dad would pop popcorn and we would have our own small bowls to eat out of.

6. My sister and I were always outside in nice weather: we road our bikes, played with the neighbor kids, caught butterflies, made "houses" out of big cardboard boxes, strolled our dolls around the yard, ran through the sprinklers, made a fort using the picnic table and a blanket.

My family used to have game nights. Cooking, we had kids in the kitchen cookbooks and they would spend hours looking at recipes to make. The books were great learning tools for, planning, shopping and cooking.
Picnics, camp outs in the backyard, crafts, once we went to the library and borrowed a book on kite making and made them.
Concerts in the park, kiddie pools, hikes, back yard bbq's, in the winter camp outs and picnic's in the living room next to the fireplace. Now that I think of it, in the summers before central air we would camp out in the living room next to the air conditioner. On the weekends DH would drag our mattress out from the bed room for us and the girls would sleep on the sofa like bookends. My grown children just love the memories of us doing this.

When we were down right bored to death we would play I see something or we would jump up and do the hokey pokey, a hula or the YMCA. I almost forgot the macarena and chicken dance.

We would play catch after dinner in the summers, candy making for the holidays.
We would borrow books from the library, take turns reading at night. When we were finished reading the book we would watch the movie. We must have read and watched Peter Pan a million times it was dd's favorite.

DD's played the piano, clarinet and flute. They hated it then and still do not play today. They did do dance shows. They dressed up as wild as they could, used moms make up and there they were.

When they were really little on hot days I would let them put on their bathing suits and "clean" the bathtub with washcloths and water. I would let them wash their play dishes on a porch with a bucket of water. Apartment living can be the mother of invention.
So much more but those are a few of our favorites.

I loved the Easter Bonnet story. Sounded really fun. I think my husband would roll his eyes and declare me insane, dd would love it.


Our free or cheap forms of entertainment are:

1-during warm weather, we have lots of bbq's and always play some sort of outdoor activity-softball, kick ball, badmitten, volleyball.

2-picnics along scenic areas (might not get to much this year with gas prices)

3-camping-primitive and at campsites with electric

4-sidewalk chalks

5-during winter we are lazy couch pototoes, we play board & card games, watch tv and play video games.

ooo great ideas!
1. Treasure Hunt - inside or outside - draw cryptic map depending on age of children - we've done pennies for the treasure and gum - lol
2.We pull out all our craft supplies (or a certain type) and everyone lets their imagination go
3. Hiking, swimming in creek, hunting for cool rocks or other natural objects
4. Family talent competition, charades
5. Baking together
6. Wash cars
7. Library!
8. Parks for play and/or picnic

Some things we've done.
1) At Christmas we've played (piano, trombone and sax) and sang carols
2) Cookie decorating
3) We like to make a fire outside, put on a radio and the kids play soccer or tag.
4) Catch lightning bugs and eat popsicles.
5) We play games and read alot.
6) Hike in the woods and cool off in the creek or play at the park.
7) Go fishing, take a picnic, throw lots of rocks, wade, get really filthy and sunburned, go home and 'shower' in the hose. The time we did this made a great memory and it cost us nothing but some peanut butter and cookie (homemade of course.)

In the summer, all the neighborhood kids from ages 15 down to 5 play flashlight tag while the parents sit on somebody's porch and talk.

Then we cut up a watermelon and share. Sometimes have a contest to see who can spit the seeds the farthest. (What can I say? We live in Arkansas!)

Catch fireflies (we call them lightning bugs) and put them in a jar.

Here's an old favorite: lay out a piece of tarpaulin on a steep slant and have a "redneck" slip 'n slide." Once down the street there were about 20 teenagers doing this. (And they had a pool in the backyard!) The kids loved it!

With summer in full swing for the most of us!! I was just wondering what some of your favorite summer activities are??? I now most of us usually go on vacation, but with the rising gas prices, that may not be an opition for most of us!!
Our family activities usually include going for walks, to the parks, and swimming in our pool!! Our pool is one that we bought about 3 years ago and is still serving us well. It is only 4 foot deep, but it's great for the kids and they love it, so that's all that really matters right??
So, what are your plans for the summer?? Any great adventures planned??

I wish I knew what to do for my DS this year. He is going on a vacation w/ my mom to Hershey Park. He hates being outdoors, BAD phobia of flying insects and bees (to the point of almost hysterics), he's 11, not really into crafts (too girly for him but he'll do some to make me happy LOL), too into video games, and well just at a difficult age I guess.

We are taking him to his first concert next month, Linkin Park. I do plan to go to the library often as he loves to read, and well I am lost beyond that. Of course he's not any help. His answer is video games, renting movies, and that's about it. (He's not too creative, huh?)

So, I am really looking forward to reading everyone's responses. Thanks for posting this thread!

The pool, grilling, camping, running outdoors... Winter lasts too long here in CO so I try hard to be outside as much as I can.

I work way more during the summer so it's hard to squeeze in the fun sometimes. We are planning on trying out two new upick veggie farms that we just found. We'll probably hit the beach a few times and have few cookouts along the way. Pretty low key stuff.

Our little guy is enrolled in a variety of day camps and summer classes.

Right now, he's in book making & science class (he's seven, so he's basically doing fun experiments.)

We take the dog on walks, & he rides his bike or scooter. We also go to the pool, and my parent's house -- they have a lot of neat "stuff."

Oh, and we've been watching the Nickelodeon series "The Avatar: the Last Airbender."

My kids are grown, but we used to use the summer for "life skills" training. . . .

Gardening, canning, dehydrating, etc.

Cooking, sewing, mending, laundry

Change the oil in the car, check the fluids, etc.

Balance the check book, menu plan, etc.

We also do the free concerts in the park.

My kids wrote, directed and video taped their own short videos - then would have a "Premier" night - and show it to their friends, family members, etc.

They built clubhouses and tree houses - sometimes just out of straw bales - and would spend hours building, decorating and "hanging out" in it.

We go camping several times over the summer, but it is inexpensive since we own a camper and the campground we prefer is only an hour away. We also spend lots of time in the pool, working in the gardens, landscaping, going for walks in the woods, etc.

We also did a lot of camping, I'm not sure with gas prices what we will do, maybe more evening fishing at the river, since its now mostly dh & I...of course the grown kids still like to follow us.

We live within walking distance to our community center and park.

Our park and recs department have a morning supervised "indoor playground" at the community center which involves playing games in the gym, playing cards, board games etc. In the afternoon, they have the same thing at the park, which they play outdoor games/crafts with the kids. My youngest keeps busy with these activities during the day. This is all FREE.

Our nights are spent either at the city pool or running for softball.

They are are also doing church camps, 2 week day camp (thank you grandma and grandpa, Vacation Bible School, scout camp, and basketball camp.

No vacations for us....maybe next year?

We'll go home for a couple weeks to visit family, and I will get my annual night off while grandparents babysit (actually two nights this year). The rest of the summer we normally go for a hike every weekend, but we bought a zoo membership this year so we will probably do that a fair bit instead (or in addition). During the week it will mainly just be playing outside or hiding out in the basement when it's too hot. There's a park up the street, but I find it so difficult to keep my eye on both kids when it is busy, and my youngest throws a fit when it is time to leave (screams the entire way home while trying to fling herself out of the stroller), I rarely ever go up there. I'm thinking about day camp one week for my 3 year old.

I have a garden which isn't dead yet - transplants this year, my seed experiments have failed miserably. So hopefully late summer will involve a lot of harvesting and preserving. I have been obsessed with food preservation since childhood, but I don't have a pressure canner and no one here likes jam so I've never been able to make anything useful. I have decided that this is the year that I buy a canner, so I expect that I will have a busy time in the kitchen come August.

Just curious what everyone is doing?

Normally, we hit the pool every day. But this year, we decided to forgo the $115 for pool passes, and save it instead. So, now we have been forced to find other means of free or super low cost entertainment.

We are lucky to have a few things to do.

On Tuesday nights the city has a free concert in the park, which is tons of fun. So we walk down to the park and sit on a blanket and listen. The kids usually find someone they know (or make new friends instantly) and they take some balls and things to play with and we make a night of it.

On Wednesday afternoon, we have picnic in the park with some of the other SAHM's in the area. Kid's get to play, but it is hit or miss. Last week, we had about 30 mom's and TONS of kids. This week there were just 3 mom's, and a few kid's but they still had fun.

On Thursday's we usually bike over to the Farmer's Market. The kid's save their money and get Italian Ice (can't beat it for a buck), and I pick up some produce and other things. Takes us most of the afternoon.

Other than that, we just play it by ear and hang around the house.

Just curious, what everyone else is doing. Anyone have any fun activities to share?

We don't really have a lot that we do, granted my DD is going to be one tomorrow. We usually meet once a week at the park to play with another SAHM and her kids. I am a home body during the day most of the time. Now that gas is crazy high :ache: I hate to drive anywhere until my DH comes home with the car.

For the next month we are jam packed with the kids' activities. DS is on the all-star team for baseball and has practice every night (even Sundays, Father's Day and July 4th)for at least 2 1/2 hours. This could go on until August 9th, depending on how far in the tournaments the team goes. DD has volleyball on Monday and Thursday late afternoons. Then she volunteers at the museum Monday mornings, all day Fridays and one to two Saturdays a month.

I would like to take the family to the Movies in the Park event our city sponsors on Thursday nights. They put up a big screen in the park and show a movie. Everyone brings their chairs, blankets and picnics. We have not been able to attend because of our schedules, yet.

We keep a zoo membership and make stops by there whenever time allows. With the membership visits are free and the zoo is only 7 miles away.

We have had a tough time getting the chemicals in our pool balanced so we really have not been in the pool yet. Normally we start swimming in March, so we are way behind.

We also spend a lot of time at the ball field just fielding some balls, taking extra batting practice, working with DD on her volleyball serve, etc...Basically just the four of us (plus any of our ball field friends who show up) spending time together doing outside activities to keep the kids moving.

DS spends a couple of hours each day working on his school lessons. DD has finished everything for this time around and has decided to take a few weeks off before jumping back in.

my oldest has it all planned out. :laugh

camping
hiking - daytrips out to the mountains
zoo - we get passes every year for dh's birthday from my parents
waterpark - there are lots and they're free
lake

lots of stuff to keep us all busy.

and we're also doing a marathon (the kids too) and I'm taking part in the weekend to end breast cancer - with that there's a kids fundraising walk too.

I don't really know at this point. We go to my fil's a lot to swim, but that gets old pretty fast--especially since he's 35 min away.

Usually we do a lot of just hanging out at the house. We're all homebodies, but I would like to find other stuff for us to do.

same....we like to stay home a lot too...crafts and stuff like that.

plus the rising cost of gas...

I have a list of things I have taken from people on other boards and saved on my computer. Please don't give me credit. All I did was copy, paste, and delete what I liked and didn't like.

Here it is:
Summer fun ideas

*ds: practice cursive
*dd: practice reading ~read, inside during rainy days cuddled up in bed, or outdoors under the maple tree on sunny days
*Reading journal from summer reading program
*Baking day. (muffins, peanut butter cookies, banana bread, apple bread, peanut butter delights, cake)
*movie day (blanket on the couch w/popcorn, soda) Monday is $1 day.
*beauty day for doing each others nails, hair, etc.
*Sidewalk chalk
*picnic lunches
*Arts & crafts, draw, color, paint...this site www.theideabox.com/ , http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/
*free movies
*library
*Bikes
*Camp out in the back yard....roast marshmallows, tell ghost stories, make smores
*go swimming
*buy an ice cream and hang out before returning home
*bowling
*board games as a family
*Look through family pictures.
*Science Projects: goop, a volcano, set up toad homes outside, clay and paper mache
*Flashlight tag
*skate/roller blade
*play basketball
*jump rope
*press flowers
*write a letter to a relative, friend or pen pal
*write stories
*write a play
*act out a play
*play card games
*collect rocks
*play Frisbee
*do a jigsaw puzzle
*play on the PS3
*play on the computer
*listen to a story or book on tape
*do brain teasers (i.e.: crosswords, word searches, hidden pictures, mazes, etc.)
*surprise a neighbor with a good deed
*hunt for four-leaf clovers
*make Christmas presents
*make homemade gift cards
*run relay races
*take a quiet rest time
*take a shower or bath
*watch the clouds
*copy your favorite book illustration
*make dessert
*make dinner
*paint the sidewalk with water
*start a journal of summer fun
*start a nature diary
*do some stargazing
*play hide-and-seek
*listen to the birds sing
*string dry noodles or O-shaped cereals into a necklace
*glue noodles into a design on paper
*make up a song
*find an ant colony and spill some food and watch what happens
play charades
*make up a story by drawing pictures
*draw a cartoon strip
*call a friend
*cut pictures from old magazines and write a story
*make a collage using pictures cut from old magazines
*plan a treasure hunt
*make a treasure map
*search your house for items made in other countries and then learn about those countries from the encyclopedia or online
*plan an imaginary trip around the world, where would you want to go
*write newspaper articles for a pretend newspaper
*write reviews of movies or plays or TV shows or concerts you see during the summer
*make a hideout or clubhouse
*make an obstacle course in your backyard
*make friendship bracelets for your friends
*play tag
*take a nap outside on your lawn
*memorize a poem
*recite a memorized poem for your family

Luckily our city offers a lot of free/cheap activities for kids. My youngest is doing t-ball on Tuesdays/Thursdays.

One of the local bowling alleys has a new thing this summer, they are offering kids 1 free bowling game every Tues/Thurs and if they go 12 times over the summer they get a brand new bowling ball free.

We also have 4 city pools that are free for city residents (and only $1 for non-residents). They also offer free swimming lessons to city residents.

The library & farmers market are both within walking distance, as is the local zoo and big city park. There are also two smaller parks within walking distance.

We also spend a lot of time at home, they have a swingset, sandbox, small wading pool, bikes, scooters, skateboards, roller blades, and a bajillion outdoor toys to play with.

Once a month or so we drive to the lake for the day, it's a 40 minute drive and $9 admission (NY State Park) so I'm thinking we may go to the local pond instead. It's clean, only 10 minutes from home, and manned w/ lifeguards. There's also the pool on our military base that we use too. It's recently been remodeled and we haven't checked that out yet either.

We already went deep sea fishing and pond fishing
we'll do more pond fishing
DD has to read 10 books & do 2 reports before school starts
the library has free crafts every Tuesday & the summer reader program
$1 movies on Wednesdays
we will go camping at least once
cleaning & organizing DD's room to get her uniforms ready (she's actually looking forward to it...)
we have a pool here and my ex's
we may go to the lake/beach around the corner

We have made several trips to the library. We usually take the bus downtown and then walk over there. Afterwards, we usually walk around downtown. I haven't been to the pool, but I do plan to take my children at some point.

I already posted this list on the stay-at-home moms boards, but I will post it here too. This is a list I made from different ideas on other boards. Please DON'T give me credit for them.

Summer fun ideas

*ds: practice cursive
*dd: practice reading ~read, inside during rainy days cuddled up in bed, or outdoors under the maple tree on sunny days
*Reading journal from summer reading program
*Baking day. (muffins, peanut butter cookies, banana bread, apple bread, peanut butter delights, cake)
*movie day (blanket on the couch w/popcorn, soda) Monday is $1 day.
*beauty day for doing each others nails, hair, etc.
*Sidewalk chalk
*picnic lunches
*Arts & crafts, draw, color, paint...this site www.theideabox.com/ , http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/
*free movies
*library
*Bikes
*Camp out in the back yard....roast marshmallows, tell ghost stories, make smores
*go swimming
*buy an ice cream and hang out before returning home
*bowling
*board games as a family
*Look through family pictures.
*Science Projects: goop, a volcano, set up toad homes outside, clay and paper mache
*Flashlight tag
*skate/roller blade
*play basketball
*jump rope
*press flowers
*write a letter to a relative, friend or pen pal
*write stories
*write a play
*act out a play
*play card games
*collect rocks
*play Frisbee
*do a jigsaw puzzle
*play on the PS3
*play on the computer
*listen to a story or book on tape
*do brain teasers (i.e.: crosswords, word searches, hidden pictures, mazes, etc.)
*surprise a neighbor with a good deed
*hunt for four-leaf clovers
*make Christmas presents
*make homemade gift cards
*run relay races
*take a quiet rest time
*take a shower or bath
*watch the clouds
*copy your favorite book illustration
*make dessert
*make dinner
*paint the sidewalk with water
*start a journal of summer fun
*start a nature diary
*do some stargazing
*play hide-and-seek
*listen to the birds sing
*string dry noodles or O-shaped cereals into a necklace
*glue noodles into a design on paper
*make up a song
*find an ant colony and spill some food and watch what happens
play charades
*make up a story by drawing pictures
*draw a cartoon strip
*call a friend
*cut pictures from old magazines and write a story
*make a collage using pictures cut from old magazines
*plan a treasure hunt
*make a treasure map
*search your house for items made in other countries and then learn about those countries from the encyclopedia or online
*plan an imaginary trip around the world, where would you want to go
*write newspaper articles for a pretend newspaper
*write reviews of movies or plays or TV shows or concerts you see during the summer
*make a hideout or clubhouse
*make an obstacle course in your backyard
*make friendship bracelets for your friends
*play tag
*take a nap outside on your lawn
*memorize a poem
*recite a memorized poem for your family

We don't get out and do too much because I don't know any other moms around here.

We do visit the pool in the apartment complex when it gets too hot inside.

On weekends we go to the beach or if it's a Sunday we can go to Disneyland (our passes are black-out on Saturdays!)

We mostly just hang around the house and paint/color, read, play with toys or watch DS's favorite show, Caillou. He is obsessed!!

I'm looking forward to the free movies at Regal Cinemas. I hope DS is ready to sit through a movie, though. It would not be fun to go and have to leave early. :/ I think he would really enjoy Elmo in Grouchland though. Too bad there isn't a Caillou movie...

We are heading to the beach next week for about 4 days. The remainder of our summer will be hanging around the house, playing in the pool and tending to our garden.

We're driving up to Sacramento on Friday morning for a wedding Friday night. We only booked one night at the motel. We haven't decided if we're going to stay and hang around the family (I'm not very close to that side) or maybe wander over to Tahoe or something.

Dd has been doing multiplication and division worksheets and flashcards daily.
Reading books.
We are moving to out house we are buying in two weeks, so that's fun!
Watching the baby birds in our birdhouse. The babies are gone, and more eggs are there.

We go to the library once or twice a week.

We hit the park.

Lots of crafts at home.

One day a week we learn to bake something new and cook something new another day.

We don't live close to a lot of things and witht he gas prices, we stay close to home.

I work as the supervisor at an educational camp from June 30-August 8. Dd comes with me. We're there until 5:00 each day, so our days are pretty accounted for. The boys are at daycare camp. However, when we get home, in the summer we always go for walks after dinner that end at the park at the end of our street. On the weekends, we hit the library, go to the pool, play with the slip-n-slide and sprinkler, go for more walks, do some hiking, and spend as much time outdoors and together as possible. Then, for a week in August, we go to the Jersey Shore with my father-in-law.

I know that our city has a summer guide that has a ton of free stuff to do in it.. Our local (within walking distance) pool has several free swim days... Not to mention that the rec center, that is located on a large city park, has free lunches to kids, and from 10am to 5pm they have FREE activities for kids of all ages (this is where my oldest will be volunteering all summer).. So between the city guide, the park, going swimming at the lake, and the kids having camp one week each this year, we are plenty busy... DS1 has church camp, and diabetes camp one week apart, DS2 has church camp the same time as DS1 has diabetes camp... All three of the younger kids will be at VBS all next week. My June and July months are booked almost solid. August is when I am needing to find the things to do.


Not to mention that my kids will be at the beach for three weeks this summer.. VBS and church camp are at my MIL and she lives on the coast... We may plan a trip to the zoo or aquarium, but I am not sure of when. I wouldn't mind a trip east to the desert for a day or two also... Need to keep some money back for those though.

My activities are not all planned yet but: we go for walks alot, we ride our bikes to the lakefront (about an hour bike ride on the trails to lake ontario, its a good time!), have picnics, go fishing at the lake, hike on the conservation area trails, play cribbage on our balconey at night, take pictures of the sunset from our balconey, planting a balconey garden. We'll also try to head up north towards the parents to go camping.

kcsmom, wow your kids are so lucky! Those are some great activities!! I bet they'll have tons of great memories!!

We are looking forward to roasting marshmellows and going out in our boat during the week when it isn't so busy.

I'm looking forward to scrapbooking during the day!
:)

With prices going up we have been trying to save money in every area possible. What kinds of things do you do for fun that is cheap and/or free? We go fishing, started riding bikes, grill out, walk the dogs at the park, rollerblading, we have even just sat on our back deck doing nothing but relaxing.

Bike riding (recently as of tonight, we just bought them), swimming (recently) as of two weeks ago when it warmed up enough to go. Game nights with friends (BYO snacks and drinks), reading, watching our movies in the evening through the mail.

I'm a huge fan of the Redbox lately. I have been watching a lot of $1 movies the past few weeks. They have all the new releases too...

Cheap/Free Activities?

In my case I have been spending time at home with tunes going trying to declutter and organize myself. After I reward myself with computer time or tv time. (I record movies from the movie channel on the PVR to watch at a later date so there's always a movie I have not seen ready waiting for me)

With company - we go for walks, watch tv (movies), sit in the backyard/deck, learn to BBQ (trying to be creative and get over my fear of starting the BBQ), we read, go to the library to borrow books & dvd's. I'd love to start riding my bike but I'm still a putz LOL We window shop when we start feeling the cabin fever. I exercise using my machines at home but we swim (but pay a monthly fee of $14.95 for unlimited use of the pool - adult length and fun swims etc.) Day dream....research and plan potential mini-breaks. :) And lastly, plan a potluck get together (recently it was Fathers Day bbq at someone's house) and then we have a picnic to plan :)

Mostly its just homebody stuff right now and trying to continue my purging/decluttering. I've been trying to be on the computer less and cut down my tv time. The trend I seem to have going the most is if I am not cleaning/purging/decluttering - I'm reading LOL

We like the library...I have the kids enrolled in the summer reading program, and I am too!

We did Vacation Bible School last week (I was a volunteer), and while it cost us $35 for the week for 5 of us (Mikey went into the nursery), it was money well spent for the fun they had.

The Girl Scout nature center in our area (dd #1 will be a Junior Girl Scout in the fall) is holding nature classes every Tuesday morning from 9-12 that are free (but I am making a donation anyway) The classes are for 1st grade to 6th (boys and girls), so the two oldest will be going.

We've discussed getting a pass to the pool, which is just a couple of minutes away by car. In just a handful of visits, we could justify the cost for all of us. There is a park there too, so if the weather isn't too unseemly hot (but remember we live in Arkansas), we will take them there (they have a great little train there and awesome play equipment).

No kids of my own but:

You could go camping in your own backyard. I always liked when people read stories aloud to me, too. Even when I hit my early teens. The kids could build forts or work in the garden (if it was earlier, they could have their own plots to grow their own veggies, herbs, flowers, etc). Even just going to a park you don't usually visit--even if it's the next town over--can be a good break.

I like to take a walk in my neighborhood and stop at a cafe for tea. Total cost $1.95 and I get a free refill.

I also like to make good use of the library.

And our city has free concerts in the park in summer.

I picked up a foot parafin wax spa at Xcess Cargo for $20 one year. I often settle down with my feet wrapped in wax and towels, a nice drink in my hand and some wonderful magazines to go through.

For cheap fun we live close to a shopping district with various kinds of restaurants and ice-cream joints and cafes. DH and I often walk to one to them.

We have churches in the area that often have free or cheap concerts. We take those in.

We have an art gallery not far from us. I often go there and check out what's showing.

Hmmm....can't think of much else, but I'm sure there's more. If I want cheap fun I'm often at the church with friends.

Jean

We go to the beach for a 1/2 day, pack our own food, drinks, and I take the camera along. We live about 20 min from the beach.

Take walks with the kids. We have a local little kids garden we like to visit.

Next week is Vacation Bible School and it's completely free for the kiddos, so we're taking advantage of that.

Doing crafts at home with all the craft supplies we have on hand.

Go to the library a few tiimes per week. We are enrolled in the summer reading program.

I take hikes in several state parks close to where I live, I practice with a slingshot, its cheaper than rifle or pistol ammo. I do a lot of outdoor activities, survivalism stuff like shelter building, snares, fishing, building fires without lighters or matches, ect.

we go camping.
we go hiking.
the library
we rent movies. the one thing that i like about family video, where we rent, lets you get this half price thing for 30 days. so we do that often.
the zoo

We get books & movies (& audio CD's) from the library. We also joined the reading club (DD just got to her 1st milestone & she got TONS of freebie coupons from lots of fast food places!)
I did invest in annual passes to the state parks here (one is 14 miles away) & a local amusement park. They have fairly large act concerts & we pack food & drink to be frugal. :) Our state park membership is paying for one of our family trips this year, as we get not only admittance, but free nights camping & tickets to some of the more expensive attractions!
We took advantage of VBS & are active in all youth activities at our church.

My town has this great kids park that has a bunch of water sprinkler things, like what they have in the kiddie section of a water park. It's completely free. My kids love it, and it's only a few blocks away.

Wow these are all great ideas! I'm trying to make a list of all of the things that we can do that don't cost much. That way we can stay busy and won't lean towards going out to movies, amusement parks, etc

~ Go for walks in the park
~ Walk the dogs
~ Go to the beach
~ Barbeques
~ Cook
~ Bake
~ Visit with family or friends
~ Pool on cheap nights
~ Fantastic little Irish pub that has half-price menus on Sundays between 4 and 7
~ Take odd pictures
~ Go on "scavenger hunts" (each person comes up with a couple of odd things and you have to walk around the city finding them. Things like "a blue door" or "a 10 foot man", etc.)
~ Watch ancient movies like Monty Python, Smokey and the Bandit, etc. in bed
~ Reading to each other

There are a lot of great ideas! Time to get creative!

I am a baseball and reading fanatic. So most of my entertainment is watching baseball on tv and reading, sometimes at the same time. Even though we live in Omaha and the college world series is played here (it's CWS season right now), I watch that on ESPN.

im new at having kids and stuff im a stay at home mom my son jayson is 3 and half and i have a 6 month old boy

i wanted to find some free activities that my son jayson could go to..i wanted to send him to bible school (the lord knows he needs it =0)..but they only do that in the evenings now

where can i look for activities or groups he can join to have fun with other kids he is very socialable!

I'd suggest finding a mommy's group in your area, they usually have playdates, field trips, etc.

The library usually has story times and activities during the week for little ones!

I am trying to find fun stuff to do with the kids this summer, and I came across this article.

http://www.discoverfun.com/freeinfo/500fun/summer.html

This part (under the family fun ideas) had me :crackup:

"Dig for fossils (Sorry not at the cemetery)"

http://www.discoverfun.com/freeinfo/500fun/family.html

Some of the ideas on the site listed above were a bit :screwy:. I like this site better:

http://www.homeschool.com/articles/101ThingsToDoThisSummer/default.asp

I especially like the summer writing prompts for Lauren...she loves to write. :)

And I bet Kathryn would like the HTML for kids tutorials. She loves fiddling on the computer :D

Ok I know you guys are a wealth of knowledge so help me out! My kids are on 2 weeks school holidays and my plan is to not spend a dime. They have 15 days off school, we took them to the royal show on sat for free, my mum will take them to the movies and to stay at her house for one night (cost to me $0). I have them booked in to the library for 2 free shows (1 is birds of prey seeing eagles etc the other is to make a emu marionette puppet - cost to me $0). But i need other ideas what do you guys do in the holidays to make it fun for the kids without spending any money. I dont really want to have playdates for them with their school friends as i think holidays is family time and their school isnt the greatest anyway with some pretty rude and spoilt kids, and my kids need downtime away from them. Obviously some days we can just hang out and relax but any innovative ideas would be much appreciated of things you do to make school hols fun!

What about doing a craft or baking day at home? Have them help you make cookies or something. My son is 16 now but he used to love doing that. We also started a scrap booking project when he was little with just things we had at home and he wanted to save in an album....we added pictures and things special to him. As he got older he lost interest but I kept it going. We decorated a box to put things in as well. Good luck finding some things to do!

Hope this is of help...

I found a site with a bunch of things, crafts, recipes etc.
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/girls_theme.htm

This one has activites to do according to age group and what you want to do (they have a family fun section)
http://www.kidspot.com.au/activity-finder-kidspot.asp

If you are near Sydney at all, these are free activites (you can also change the location, sorry, I forgot where in Australia you lived)
http://www.sydney-australia.biz/kids/

More free things in Sydney area
http://www.australiaforvisitors.com/sydney-family-activities.html

Adalade Area --
two free hours of bike hire use within the Port Adelaide and Semaphore area ($2 if you go over 2 hours)
http://www.southaustralia.com/9006822.aspx

tour of Haigh's, Australia's oldest chocolate making company- free

Botanial garden for picnics & day out - free
http://www.southaustralia.com/9002564.aspx


I confess, I know nothing about Australian Geography... but, I found these as well...

20 Sep 08 to 04 Oct 08 - FREE holiday fun at Westfield
Westfield Queensland is putting on an impressive array of FREE activities these school holidays. At Westfield Garden City, Carindale, North Lakes, Strathpine and Chermside kids can do everything from decorate donuts, do craft at the Caramello Koala Activity Centre, make their own cupcakes, create their own jewellery, listen to stories or dance and sing at the We Rock It Live Show.

So, keep the kids active and entertained these school holidays and head to your local Westfield. Check their website for more details.
URL: www.westfield.com.au (http://www.westfield.com.au/)


22 Sep 08 to 03 Oct 08 - FREE ‘Dashing Dinosaur’ holiday activities in Queensland
With all the FREE activities on offer, Queensland Museum South Bank is bound to become your second home these school holidays. Kids won’t want to leave when they find out they can make dinosaur finger puppets, sing dinosaur rhymes, follow the Dinosaur and Big Things trail and dig for fossils in the Dinosaur Dig-Pit.

Plus, they can watch the ‘Walking with Dinosaurs’ film and sing and dance with the wonderful Jurassic Joe!
URL: www.southbank.qm.qld.gov.au (http://www.southbank.qm.qld.gov.au/)

Wow thanks you guys so much, Lady V i wished i lived in Sydney unfortunately im on the other side of the country in Perth!! we dont tend to get as much over this way but im off to the net to look around, and prftstrnger I definitely like the baking idea as my two little girls love cooking!!

Kings Park and Botanic Garden

With over a thousand acres of parklands and natural bush to explore, visitors can enjoy numerous activities. Hire a bike, take a tram tour, or join a free guided walk. An evening visit proves spectacular with the views of the city alone worth the visit. Meander along “Honour Avenue” lined with towering lemon scented gum trees and enjoy the city lights.
Only minutes walk from central Perth this park offers a idyllic respite from the city.
Phone +61 8 9480 3600

I love kings park they have a great play ground there i may organise a picnic there for family it is an hour from me but if we use dh work car!!! no petrol! thanks for the idea!

have a spa day!
paint nails,toenails, do hair, do makeup, have tea, play dress up.

have play in the mud day, if the weather permits, or it's not too cold.
make a small area for mud and just sit in it and play. i still like to do this with the girls.

do you have a timer?
if you do, then have a silly time each day.
when the kids are cooped up in the winter, we set the timer for 15 minutes. they get to yell, scream, run around, hop or what ever they want to do for that time. it helps get energy out. do it with them. then they can see how it helps you calm down. it will also teach them that sometimes, you really just have to let it all out and then take a cleansing breath and get back to work, cooking, cleaning, or whatever you were doing.

play a game with them.
one we like to play is the ABC game.
we start with a, and everyone has to name something that starts with that letter. but you can't repeat what anyone else has said.
continue through the alphabet. you will be surprised at what they know. plus it helps them to learn new words, and it's fun at the same time. plus you can do it while you are doing other things. so it helps them to learn how to multi task.

look up some free coloring pages. let them pick a bunch out. put them in a binder and let them color away.

that's all that i have for now. but i am pretty sure that i can get some more things thought of. what are the ages of your kids? that would help a lot.

Without knowing their ages this is a toughie but I'll give it a shot:

- my kids (ages 8 & 9) thought it was really fun to help me make laundry soap and loved grating the bar of soap for me

- go to www.stevespangler.com for some really fun science experiments, most of which can be done with everyday household items

- www.familyfun.com has a wealth of craft projects

- make a collage of family photos to display in the house; include some from when you were young and take the opportunity to share some funny stories

- gather up some old magazines and catologs for kids to create "goal collages" don't just include material things but find things to represent ideas such as good grades, getting along with siblings, completing a project

- visit a retirement home, take cookies, books, or puzzles and spend some time visiting with the people who live there

And last but not least, my favorite line for my kids; "There is no such thing as bored, only lack of imagination." I truly believe that boredom leaves room for creativity and I try very hard to include time to be bored several days a week; that means turning off the tv, video games, etc and not offering any ideas or suggestions. They whined in the beginning but now "bored time" is something they look forward to; especially if we've had a busy week.

My kids love PAJAMA DAY. Seriously. Saturday morning DH and I said "Let's go to the science museum" and the kids said, "can't we just have a pajama day". They just wanted to chill after being on the go with school, friends, and activities.

Family bike rides, hikes, scooters, parks and playgrounds.

Make a dollhouse from a cardboard box. Wallpaper the walls with paper or fabric.
Here's a site for making your own doll furniture - you print it on your computer and fold the paper. If you have cardstock it'll be even better. You can color your own too.

http://www.billybear4kids.com/worksheets/start-paperdolls.html#PaperDollPlayHouse

I found this site, and I thought it was really neat. I bet your girls would love it, and you probably have all the supplies at home!

Make your own shrinky dinks. (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/387996/diy_doityourself_shrinky_dink_paper.html?cat=24)

Thanks guys these are great the girls are 7 and 5.5 yrs old

That doesn't cost a lot of money and besides the park. I feel I have been stuck in this house all winter long and now my son is at a really fun age. I am looking for fun things to do with him this summer.

A kiddie pool and the yard is all that comes to mind at the moment. He is not big enough for a big wheel yet. heh.

well around here they have a place beside mouments where the water shoots out 7 holes on and off plus a little park where the mushroom has water flowing out of it from 11am till 6pm for the little ones.
When mine was small we lived in another town so its just a little pool and go to the beach 1 week with a friend after 4pm because its too hot for asthma and the sun of the kids. Have supper there and stay till it gets cool or tire out the kids. I live on a small island Im surrouded by beaches lol

We do these things to keep our kids busy
-water park
-regular park
-beach
-library
-biking(I usually have 2 in a trailer and 1 in a bike seat)
-picnics
-camping or just the fire
-chalk or water paints on the driveway
-sprinklers
I know there is more we do but I'm drawing a blank right now.

Walk your neighborhood. Let him ride in a wagon or in a bike seat. Teaching a child young about their neighborhood will help them when its time to go to friends houses and to school. If you can go when kids are at the bus stop or getting off the bus it will help to aleve the fear of that first bus ride. You might also be surprised at the intresting things in your own area.
This will also help him become comfortable with his neighborhood.

Laurie in Bradenton

I copied this out of my blog from a couple of years ago...granted, it was winter activities, but some of it could be done in the summer! I'll just delete the outdoor winter activities and add some of the summer things we do! These were more geared toward older kids, but I would think a younger child could do many of them with help. I think I posted this when my youngest was about 3.

Quiet Indoor Activities:

Read a book! ~ Adults love to curl up with a good book on cold days, and so do kids! Hit the library, grab a stack of new books and hunker down and read for an afternoon!
Write & illustrate you own book! ~ Kids love to be creative, so let them write their own story and draw pictures! If needed, you can help them write it out!
Board games ~ These are great activites anytime of year, but especially great in the winter when you can't get outside!
Play Office ~ Give your kids some old office supplies (old checks or deposit tickets, used paper, pens, pencils and a stapler) and let them set up an office!
Grow an indoor garden ~ This one is a lot of fun to watch through the winter. Kids can enjoy the *responsibility* of taking care of their own plant!
Cook something ~ Most kids love to measure and stir, so get them in the kitchen and let them mix up a snack or a batch of cookies!
Indoor Picnic ~ Kids always get a kick out of the non-traditional things. Pack up some sandwiches & snacks, spread a tablecloth on the floor and have an indoor picnic!
Math Treats Game ~ Find a great snack (m&m's work great) and have some fun with your child adding & subtracting. It's fun & TASTY!
Rhyme Time ~ Say a word and have your child find a rhyming word. Kid's love to do this one, even if they are making up words, it will help them learn the concept of rhyming!
ABC Game ~ Pick a category (like food), start with A, naming a food with each letter of the alphabet and see how far you can get!
Movie Night ~ Let the kids usher you to your seats, dim the lights and pop popcorn and put in paper lunch sacks. Make it just like a real night at the movies!

Indoor Active Activities:

Dance Off ~ Put on some music and let the kids take turns dancing. There doesn't have to be a winner, the kids will just have fun dancing!
Exercise videos ~ Sounds silly, but kids love it! And it is a great way to keep them active and let them burn some energy during the winter...my kids particularly like Tae-Bo!
What am I? Game ~ Like charades. Have one child act out an animal or object (my kids like to do cars, too) and the others have to guess what he is!
Scavenger Hunt ~ For older kids, you can write a list of things to find indoors. For non-readers, you can draw or cut pictures from a magazine of items for them to find!
Build a fort or tent ~ Grab some blankets and pillows and help the kids build a fort. Building it is fun, but kids can play in it for hours after it's built!
Hot & Cold ~ Everyone leaves the room, while an object is hidden by one player. Try to find it, while the hider tells you when you are hot (close) or cold (far away).
Hobo Band ~ Make some homemade instruments and start a band! (drums - old coffee can or pots & pans, guitar - kleenex box & rubberbands).
Indoor Olympics ~ Get creative and come up with some silly games to play in the house. Then stage an olympics. Kids have a lot of fun "competing" in this one!
Alphabet Eye Spy ~ The person who is *it*, has to choose an object, then says "I spy something that start with A", and the others have to guess what it is!
Touch a color game ~ Someone shouts out a color, and everyone has to find something to touch that is that color. Last one to find the color, has to call out the next color.
Alphabet hunt ~ Start with the letter A, each child must search and find something that starts with that letter. See how far you can get! X is tough!
Play store! ~ Get out that monopoly money and let the kids open a store. They have a lot of fun with this one and also start to learn how money is really spent at a store!
Block city ~ Get out the blocks or legos and build a city. Kid's don't know which is better...construction or demolition!
Simon Says ~ An old classic that kid's today still love! It is always fun to change the name too! If a child named *Dan* is it...then change it to "Dan says". They get a kick out of that!
What time is it Mr. Fox? ~ A good number game. Much like Mother may I, but the kids ask the fox what time it is, and are allowed to take that number of steps towards the fox!

Indoor Science Activities:


Volcano ~ This one is lots of fun. You just need a jar or small cup, baking soda and vinegar. Place baking soda in cup and add soda. And watch it errupt! You can also add red coloring!
Wave in a bottle ~ Fill a 2 liter bottle halfway with water colored with blue food coloring and fill the rest with oil. It will make a neat wave machine!
Tornado bottle ~ You do need a plastic connector for this, but you can find them at most education stores!
Color experiment ~ Add food coloring to several small glasses of milk. Mix colors to see what happens! Then you can drink your experiment!

Indoor Crafty Activities:

Snowglobe ~ Make an object from clay, place it in the lid of a jar. Fill jar half with water, half with glycerine. Add blue coloring and glitter, put lid on & you have a great globe!
TP roll binoculars ~ Lots of fun. Glue or tape 2 tubes together and let kids paint! They have lots of fun making & playing with after they dry!
Macaroni Necklace ~ Even boys love to paint and make these! Let kids string up left over pasta, then paint it~
Marble painting ~ Get an old 9 x 13 pan. Place a piece of paper in the bottom. Take marbles and coat in tempera paint, then put in pan & shake!
Bubble painting ~ Place drops of food coloring in bubble mix. Blow "colored" bubbles onto a paper. When they pop, they leave a neat colored bubble shape on the paper!
Toe painting ~ Messy, but lots of fun. Basically, it is a twist on finger painting. Try to paint with your toes!
Potato stamping ~ Have the adult cut potatoes in half and carve shapes into the flat side. Dip into tempera paint and stamp with them! Lots of fun to use!
Goo ~ Mix corn starch & water to form a liquid/solid goo. Put in 9x13 pan, give kids some kitchen utensils & cups and let them play!
Homemade playdough ~ Always a classic for kids. Give them kitchen utensils (rolling pin, wooden spoons, etc) and let them play!
Homemade puzzles ~ Either use photos or kid's drawings, glue to cardboard or cardstock (cereal boxes work), and cut into a puzzle shape!
Paper mache ~ Kids can pretty much paper mache anything and have a good time! Let them mache and paint once dry and they will enjoy it!
Outdoor Activities:

Bird feeding/watching ~ This helps the birds and the kids can enjoy seeing the birds in winter. The kids really enjoy filling the feeder on their own! (This is one you could also do in the summer)

Photo tour ~ Kid's love to take photos. If you have a digital camera, hand it over to the kids and take a walk. It's fun to see what they took pictures of when you get home!

Outdoor Activities:
Sidewalk painting ~ DH gets ticked when I do this, but it comes right off. I set the kids loose with washable tempera paint and let them paint the driveway, sidewalk and usually themselves. Then when they are done, it washes right off with the hose.

Nature walks~ These are always fun, even if you have a little one in a stroller. You can let them out and let them pick up "treasures" as they go. Then you can make a craft project when you get back by glueing or painting things you have found!

When my son was two, we had a little pattern to our day. We would wake up, eat breakfast, he would watch PBS for a few minutes, then we would take a walk around the neighborhood. At first, our walks were short because he got tired, but eventually, he could walk blocks. We have a few parks within walking distance, so we would walk to a park. Then he would play for a bit before we would head home and I would get lunch ready. After lunch it was time for his nap. It was great exercise for both of us and as we would walk I would point out all kinds of things. Trees, grass, flowers. He would learn words, colors, numbers, street signs, etc.

Oh, also, I used to let him paint while I washed dishes. He would stand up next to me and paint next to the sink where it was a snap for me to clean up. He could finger paint or use a brush.

Other things to do:
-bubbles in the back yard
-sand box
-let him help you to plant flowers/seeds
-find a hill and roll down it then run up it again

I found two books at the bookstore. One had to do with Family activities to do in NY, the other was Odd or unusual things about NY. Each of them Broke NY down into different sections and they would tell you the price of addmission for the different places. Maybe they have something similar for your state? We did a few of them last year and I plan on doing many more this summer.

Wow, momto2boyz has it all wrapped up there.

The only thing I'd add is I used to take cheap shave cream and squirt some on the kitchen table, and let them play 'finger paint' in it. They get clean hands and you get a clean table. Good for when you're busy and they are bored.



I agree with momto2boyz, also, that you will be doing them SOOO much good if you sneak 'teaching' into play time. Talk to them about EVERYTHING everywhere. Ask them questions. Have fun with it.

In the spirit of being frugal, I thought I'd post this and get everyone thinking about things early... to save a little, plan a lot.

I'm hoping this post will be one that lasts for a while & gives people ideas and inspiration.

Summer "break" is really fast approaching. And many of us with kids will have them all day, every day until school starts again later this year.

I love summer break, though I will be in school and not have much time, we will be doing some cheap camp sites on weekends. Dh & ds will be taking a vacation probably (w/out me). And we usually frequent the local Drive In's as well. My hands-down fave are the local fairs and festivals all summer long. :)

What Frugal Summer Activities do you have planned, have you done in the past (so others can get ideas), or would like to do?

Well I work in a state park and we get to camp, swim and use the boats for free. We try to camp a couple of weekends, we go to the pool alot and we fish alot.

We also have a fire pit in the backyard. We love to build a fire, cook dinner over it and then sit around after dark and just talk.

We also love to take day trips to state parks. We pack a lunch, throw in our swimsuits and fishing gear and head out. Sometimes we hit more than one in a day if they are close together!

We are not really activity people. We like to spend time together just doing things like fishing!

We live within walking distance of several parks, a zoo, a public pool, the library, & the farmer's Market. That and our backyard is usually how we pass our summers. We bought a new pool for the kids on clearance last fall, so I imagine we'll be spending a lot more time in our yard.

We go on picnics, have tea parties in our yard - that started when they were very young and it just stuck...There's a park with a pool near by. Plus we'll pack a lunch and take a walk along the bike path. Visit nature paths, camp. We work in the gardens a lot, work on outside projects, building and such. And we love to just sit around the fire pit in the evenings and just be together. Best investment EVER!

If there is a university or college nearby, it can be fun just to wander around a new place. Many times they will let families into their museums for free and you can see the mascot and stuff like that.

Does your mall have a play area? That's a big hit with Ava.

I noticed that in the first post someone mentioned using kool aid in an activity. If anyone interested in summer savings on Kool-Aid or Crystal Light there are coupons for both on www.KraftFoods.com/SummerSavings (http://www.Kraftfoods.com/summersavings)

:hurray: Bump :hurray:

I absolutely love this thread and don't want it to get lost!

I always see a lot of activities that are best suited for younger kids. What do you do with older kids? Pre-teens and teens? It seems they often prefer to buddy up with their friends even for family activities.

A virtual scavenger hunt is lots of fun. All the kids need are a digital camera or a cell phone which takes pictures. Divide them into groups and give them a list of things to photograph and the first group back with all the items wins.
For example - a carton of oatmeal, fire hydrant, toddler on a swing, a fish etc, etc. This is a pretty popular party game with our local kids.

We used to take our older kids on hikes, bike rides, to the park with a frisbee...anything physical to get them moving. They love BBQs with their friends. So we'd invite another family for BBQs often. Sometimes we'd meet up with people at the beach...or go ourselves.

We had a YMCA membership for awhile for the girls and we'd go play racquetball with them...or basketball. A Y membership costs money, but you get a lot of bang for your buck there.

Sara Noel:

I'm not a mom to tweens, but I remember those years and the neighborhood tweens hang out at our house during the summer. Most of the ideas mentioned earlier can easily be adapted for older kids. When we were teens we loved:
* board games (especially when we gambled over them with our chores or real money)
* artsy craft stuff (as long as mom didn't micromanage),
* Sardines-in-a-can,
* choreographing (sp chk) and making dance videos
* going camping (even in our yard)
* building forts, once when I was 17 my brothers and I built a fort in our yard - out of moving boxes - it was massive (and the talk of the town)
* exploding stuff - like making potato guns, watching marshmallows burst in a fire, experimenting with the rate of combustion with a variety of items... Can you tell we had a burn pit and were responsible for burning our trash?

Hope those got you thinking.

Good luck keeping your tweens active!

My kids enjoy having their friends over. We seem to be the place to be even though nothing much happens. It doesn't cost me anything and keeps them busy so I don't mind. They play games, hang out on the trampoline or walk to the school yard to mess around. I usually serve popcorn and kool-aid and no one complains. If they are here longer I make homemade pizza or homemade milkshakes (spam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typed housewife ones with no milk).
If it's just our family my kids like games/cards, reading, messing around in the yard. They often take themselves off to do things like running,fishing or woods walking, hanging out at the ball park in summer. My teens are 17, 15 and 13.

You know, the other thing our teens liked to do was stargazing or watching eclipses...and going to the park when there was free entertainment in the bandshell...and attend street fairs... They even liked the Farmer's Market! Mostly because Mom and Dad caved and bought them a goodie usually.

Not free, but a once in awhile treat, was a night at the IMAX. We discovered you can buy a museum family pass that is good all across Canada in various museums...and in some museums in the States. It included entrance into Science Centers. We made good use of our pass one year!

I always want to consider nice cheap activities for my kids, and recently I found out that the Ad council did a study which stated that kids spend 50% less time outdoors than they did 20 years ago.

This has me having our kids spending less time at the movies and watching TV and more time discovering wildlife and using their imaginations.

The Forest Service is starting a new campaign entitled "Where the Other You Lives" which is addressing these numbers as well. They have a new set of Ads and a website
(http ://youcastcorp.com/discovertheforestlink), which hope to get parents and children outdoors to discover what it is to be eco-friendly and to experience nature.