How do you entertain your kids when you're low on cash?

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Permalink Reply by Kelly Luzod-Jones on July 24, 2009 at 9:54pm

I have a 5 month old and a 3 1/2 year old and I find that my toddler loves to cut/tape/and glue anything that I allow him to! We usually sit down at his little craft table and I collect all sorts of things to glue and paste together. Our favorite was gluing buttons onto empty toilet paper rolls, we've also colored and glued pasta onto newspaper...or use a marker and draw glasses on people in old magazines...the sky's the limit when it comes to crafts at our house!

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Permalink Reply by Nisha: The 9 Month Club on July 25, 2009 at 5:37am

Paints, coloured paper and body parts!! River loves doing hand and feet painting and then we can decorate his room afterwards too!

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Permalink Reply by Dawn Noe Matthews on July 26, 2009 at 3:18pm

I am like Tracey - we go to our local library and receive local passes to the zoo, musuems and even aquarium. Its great that they have the free passes.

We also camp out in our own backyard, and the kids really enjoy this adventure. We set up the tent and get the fire pit going and roast marshmellows.

Tracey Morin said:

I go to the library in town and they have free passes to the aqarium or childrens museums..check your local library out. I also do the beach a lot its free, we pack a lunch and go to the town park for the day they also have a splash pad, The town has free movie night on the beach you bring your own blanket and food. We go to appliance stores and ask for empty boxes and create our own houses by painting and decorating them. We bike ride around town then instead of dairy queen I had bought the huge bag of icepops from walmart( cheaper) and we enjoy them on the front steps then collect lightning bugs. Youth and family always has a fund for those who can't afford summer kids trips they cover my older children to go on a day trip they had planned in the summer and my kids pay back by helping them out at a function, I volunteer to be a chaperone and they tell me to bring my kids..thats always free.Volunteering brings in a lot of opprotunities for my kids to do things for free. Work family day on the green in town and they get free food and can do whatevers offered.
I have three kids ages 17, 13 and 2!!! big age difference and a lot of work to keep them happy during the summer..

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Permalink Reply by LinenKids.com on July 28, 2009 at 10:52pm

Very good topic!

I totally agree with everyone who thinks that kids should not care about the money. To begin with entertainment when you are limited on spending money, I love riding the bicycle with my kids, I am used to find a good book in the library.

I suggest spending time outside, going to parks, playing different games and enjoying the summer!!

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Permalink Reply by Tamara Garcia on July 29, 2009 at 5:44pm

Hi Renegade Mom,

I have three boys 11,8, and 6 and I love the fact that we are home together spending this time that I will never be able to get back. Below are things that I do with my boys during the week to make sure that they never get bored.

Everyday will ALWAYS have (reading, learning books, and bible studies and playing outside)

Mondays-Cooking Days (I have my boys cook and bake with me)
Tuesdays- We go to the library
Wednesday-Free movie days at our nearby theatre
Thursdays-Gym (play area for them is $3.00 for 3hours)
Fridays-Barnes & Noble (where we sit and read books together)

This is just an idea what I do will my boys everyday.

Hopes this helps

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Permalink Reply by MotherofConfusion on July 30, 2009 at 9:48am

With a backyard and sprinkler. :)

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Permalink Reply by Rocio Cobos on July 30, 2009 at 10:01am

Great Ideas!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for sharing Tracey!!

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Permalink Reply by angela Church on July 30, 2009 at 10:02am

when low on cash I could always entertain my children by playing in the yard, making mud pies or leaf houses when they were litle. Library is always great place to go. We still love to go to the park and walk around. One of our favorites is to participate in church events

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Permalink Reply by Amy Elrod on July 30, 2009 at 10:07am

I got out the play dough not long ago also, and my kids had a blast! I was shocked. The same went for the sidewalk chalk! I think once you put those things away for a while and then bring them back out and play WITH them, they don't even notice all the places they aren't going!


sage moonstone said:

I have lots of boxes here in all sorts of sizes.. I give the kids some washable markers and the boxes and they come up with the coolest ideas! It keeps them entertained for hours!

Making play-dough is another fun one... My kids are almost 7 and just turned 5 and they played with paly-dough for SEVEN HOURS a few days ago!! I couldn't BELIEVE IT! :)

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Permalink Reply by Karen (Scattered Mom) on July 30, 2009 at 10:10am

Depending on where you live and what's available, there might be TONS to do just in your community. Seek out parks, beaches, community centers, playgrounds, water parks, lakes, rivers, trails, nature parks, and hiking trails. In the summer many communities put on festivals that are cheap to free. There's also the public library, and check to see if public pools/skating rinks have a 'cheap' night.

Kids are happy with the simple things-a picnic, run through a sprinkler, making sandcastles, berry picking, trip to the farmer's market, outdoor festival. Take advantage of that and keep things simple! Plus pack your own snacks/drinks so that you aren't tempted to buy stuff. Make the deal with the kids that they can get one treat at the festival, or buy one trinket.

Ride bikes, build forts, go camping at free to cheap campsites (set the tent up in the back yard!), build a fire at the beach and have a weenie roast, etc.

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Permalink Reply by Christie Adams on July 30, 2009 at 10:17am

A playground tour is a fun and free way to entertain your kids.

Instead of going to your usual park and playground, spend an afternoon touring all the other playgrounds in your town. Make a list of all the ones you want to hit, pack a picnic lunch, bring a map just in case, and you're good to go.

Kids LOVE checking out new and different playgrounds-or even ones that they know but don't usually get a chance to visit. And you'll get plenty of exercise, too!

In most neighbourhoods, there are several playgrounds within a reasonable walking distance of home, so this is doable for most families. If that's not the case, you can always drive to another neighbourhood that's full of playgrounds and then begin your tour.

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