Not Made Of Money

Finding activities to keep the kids busy is an important part of my family’s summer plans. The last thing I want is to have the kids starting at me saying, “Mom, I’m bored.” Boredom doesn’t lead to a fun summer for anyone.

Before summer gets underway, I’ve learned to identify different activities that the kids can take part in that won’t break the bank. My hope is always that if I have a list of ideas prepared, I won’t get caught scrambling to find something fun for the kids to do. What kinds of activities make the list? These are some of my favorites:

Story Time at the Library – I work hard to foster a love of books in all of my kids, so it’s not a big surprise that we go to the library a lot. Little kids love story hour at the library. If your kids are older, though, don’t overlook summer reading programs that allow your kids to earn books as a reward for reading.

Michael’s Craft Projects – Michael’s craft stores offer children’s craft programs once a month or so. For little or no cost, you can take your kids into the store and let them make something new. This month, the project was a Father’s Day gift idea. Joann’s craft centers have programs like these sometimes, too, so don’t forget to check out their website.

Trips to the Zoo – Does your area’s zoo have a “free” day? If it does, why not take advantage of it? We go to the zoo three or four times during the summer months. We don’t try to see everything in one day, so we don’t experience as many cranky moments as some other families. We pack lunches too, to save on food costs.

Sidewalk Art – Once or twice a summer, we have a sidewalk art fair. Granted, this idea isn’t captivating enough to pass the entire summer, but used sparingly it can provide enough entertainment to pass an afternoon. We buy sidewalk chalk at our local dollar store. Then, when it’s sidewalk art day, we spend the afternoon drawing designs all over the sidewalk leading up to our front door. The kids get so excited as they imagine how impressed my husband will be when he gets home from work and sees their designs. Sometimes, we even write notes for him in the artwork.

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