Is Your Budget Tightening? Try These 5 Kid-Friendly (And Free!) Ideas.
Posted by : Jess on 8:10 PM |
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Tonight Scott and I took Cole on a *free* tour of our local firehouse. He's almost 3, obsessed with firefighters, and was so excited that he even ate *ALL* of his vegetables during dinner so that he could go and go quickly!We weren't sure what the turn-out would look like - it's Thursday, families are in the middle of the work week, and this opportunity wasn't well advertised. Turns out, though, that we were NOT the only people interested in some educational, free entertainment for our kid as 30+ families turned out for the tour!(In case you're wondering, the kids are demonstrating the stop, drop and roll technique. Sort of. Mine is the one in the big red fireman's hat!)With tighter budgets, we've been getting more creative with our family entertainment options! Here are 5 of our free or almost-free favorites:1. Check out your local community center or YMCA: Even if you don't have a family membership (which can get costly), a 1-time pass or punchcard usually grants you fun on the cheap. Most centers offer classes for all ages and a variety of activities to allow your family to get the bugs out, rain or shine.2. Swap Tired Toys for "New": What to do when your kids are sick of their tired, old toys? Swap them out for new! Control the clutter in your home and refresh options without breaking the bank! I particularly like http://www.toystotrade.com/ because of their easy site navigation by age and focus on educational toys.3. Host a Playdate - Then Ask For a Return Favor!: When my son was an infant, the hubby and I were desperate to GET OUT of the house for an afternoon. We didn't have any teenagers in the neighborhood that we could approach for babysitting, and didn't have a ton of money to spend on a babysitter anyway. We met another set of parents with a son Cole's age who were in the same position. We set it up so that one Saturday, their son would come to our house and they'd go out. Then the next Saturday they'd take Cole, we'd go out. The kids got to play, we got to go our without paying for a sitter. Win-win!4. Take a Hike. No, really!: The current generation of kids are more dependent on technology for their social life than any previous generation. Expose them to something new - check out your local state park. You'll find tons of options to hike trails, go camping and participate in outdoor educational programs (ok, not always free but certainly cheap) for kids of all ages.5. Community Events: like our firestation trip this evening, every community has a calendar of events that are free or almost free ranging from ice cream socials to group play at the local elementary school. A great way to meet neighbors and new friends, you can find a calendar of events via your county's home page OR check out your local library for details.To see more Firestation Trip pics, CLICK HERE
Jess MN, United States An inquisitive and driven professional by day, sure that social-media will forever alter thebusiness landscape.
A mom and wife dedicated to her family by night, determined to cherish each and every moment.
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If it were perfect, it wouldn't be a (mis?)adventure, now would it? Please feel free to share your own comments, opinions and experiences. Everyone's path is different, and all points of view are welcome!--Jess
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