Living within a budget does not mean living with boredom. Keeping your family content
during hard times can be a challenge. Children want everything they see, but you can give them
something so much more valuable than material things. You can give them your time, your attention
and your love and values to grow by.
We offer a few suggestions and articles on things to do as a family that will make good
memories for all of you, but not put you further in debt.
Families With Small Children
Take A Treasure Walk. - Small children are always exploring and love to be outside in the world. Take them on a Treasure Walk. Give each child a paper bag (lunch size works well), then walk around the neighborhood, or a park, or any outdoors place. The idea is to let the children pick up small rocks and pebbles, leaves, sticks, feathers, etc. When the walk is over, let the kids spread out their new "treasures" and show them off.
Discover The Library. - Your
Public Library will probably have a children's room. Take the children and let them pick out one or
two books each then plan on a reading hour each day or evening. Gather the children and pick one of
their book selections at random to read aloud. Snuggle up with them and read slowly, stopping to
ask them what they think or let them ask the questions.
Get Together a Dress-Up Box.
- Children love to pretend. Help them along by filling a large box that will fit in a closet or a
corner in the family room, with discarded clothing, pieces of jewelry, and an assortment of
accessories. The trick is "almost anything goes". Let the kids dress-up and arrange
little skits and pretend situations. This will occupy the children's imaginations for hours.
For Older Children
Organize a Scavenger Hunt. - Make
several copies of a list of everyday items. Have the children invite friends to take part in a
neighborhood scavenger hunt. The idea is to turn the kids loose with their lists and a bag to
gather up the items. The child that gathers them all first wins. Prizes don't have to be expensive.
An excellent idea would be coupons for a local fast food restaurant.
Start a Genealogy Project.
- The children may resist at first, especially if they are in their teens, but it does not take
long to pique their curiousity about their origins. With the advent of the web, research is much
easier than it has been in the past. Let the kids make scrapbooks of the information you find. Or,
let them use their love for drawing to make elaborate family trees.
Plant A Garden. - Involve the
family in starting a vegetable (or even flower) garden. If you have the space, plot out a backyard
garden and give each child a small section of their own. Let them choose what they wish to grow and
plant and tend the garden themselves. If you are short on space, try container gardening.
Family Vacation Fun On A
Budget
Family vacations when the budget is tight can be a challenge, but with careful planning, a
good time can be had by all. Make home your base to save on hotel costs and make day trips. Use
your imagination and let the children offer input since kids get more excited when ideas are their
own. Search the internet for destinations within easy drive and go. Camping is a good possibility
and even if the cost of a campground is preclusive, pitch a tent in the wilds of your own backyard.
Good destinations include historical towns, State parks, beaches, picnic areas, hiking trails,
nature conservancies, lakes and rivers.
