From Frugal Family Time
If we were to believe the commercials on television, we'd think that a child simply can't be happy without the latest toys and expensive video games. Actually, the gift kids love most is your undivided attention, which is free. And though toys and games are fun to have, they need not cost a fortune to be enjoyable. Time spent together as a family can be a treat for all and doesn't have to break the budget. It may require a stretch of the imagination on occasion.Dining In
Once in a while (not just on a significant occasion, such as a birthday), set your table as if company were coming and treat your children like honored guests. Serve their milk in special glasses, light candles, have music playing in the background, and encourage the family to dress up. That doesn't have to mean putting on uncomfortable fancy clothing: Everyone might wear dress-up clothes, pajamas and bathrobes, or Halloween costumes for fun. The whole occasion won't cost you a cent more than a regular meal.
Penny-Wise Picnics
Impromptu picnic meals, out of doors or in, can made a simple meal much more fun and save you money in the bargain. Your kids will enjoy it, too.
- When you are spending the day with your kids at a park or an amusement center, avoid the added expense of buying food there; pack a lunch instead. Include a treat or two so your children will feel that the lunch is special. Save yogurt containers and margarine tubs to use as disposable containers for convenience.
- On a rainy or snowy day (or a real scorcher) when you're stuck inside, surprise your child with an indoor picnic. Spread a tablecloth or old bedspread on the floor, serve picnic foods on picnic plates, and, for added atmosphere, set houseplants around the cloth to create an outdoorsy atmosphere.
Unfortunately, taking the whole family out to the local quadraplex for the latest hot movie can really break the bank, even if you look for bargain matinees. (The cost of popcorn alone can top the cost of matinee tickets!) Thankfully, with videos and DVDs, movie night can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home. Movie rental stores usually have a "cheapie" night or two during the week, and libraries loan videos and DVDs free. Make loads of popcorn, turn out the lights, and curl up with a film that the whole family can enjoy.
One-Day Getaways
Cultural ExpressionYou don't have to spend tons of money to introduce your children to art, music, dance, and theater. Just learn to use a few of these tricks:
- Museums. Most museums have a free day, and many have free or extremely inexpensive programs for children. Call the museums in your area and find out what they offer.
- Theaters. Legitimate theaters often charge a significantly reduced price for tickets during previews, which function as rehearsals before an audience. Some have free matinees, aimed at introducing children to live theater, or one performance during a run for which you pay what you can. The same is true for dance companies, symphony orchestras, and even opera companies. Call the performing arts companies in your area to ask for details.
- College performances. If you live in a town with a college or university, take advantage of student performances. College choirs, symphonies, theaters, dance troupes, and art galleries usually charge very little, and you'll have the thrill of seeing stars in the making. And older children often respond strongly to performers close to their age.
Most kids love going to sporting events. But with the ever-growing price of tickets, taking the family out to a professional sports event can cost almost as much as going to the theater -- more if you want to sit anywhere close to the action. Check for promotional days or nights to lower the cost somewhat. Or try the minor leagues or become a fan of your local college teams. The tickets are usually less expensive, the games are scrappier, the fans are more loyal, and the players aren't doing it for the paycheck -- yet. Don't just try the men's teams; women's softball, basketball, and soccer are hot right now, as are women's volleyball, lacrosse, and swimming and diving events.
Members Only
Children's museums, science centers, and nature centers generally offer family memberships and are usually a bargain. Though the initial outlay may make you pause, if you live in an area where most of a season (very cold winters or very hot summers) must be spent primarily indoors, a membership in a top notch museum or center will quickly pay for itself. Furthermore, members usually receive advance notice of special events, discounts on those events, and some special benefits including food or gift discounts. And if that's not enough, many museums and centers have reciprocal relationships with centers in other cities across the country, so you will have free access to those when on vacation.
Class Distinctions
Classes for enrichment or fun are terrific for kids. You can find excellent classes through most parks and recreation departments for all ages, and the cost is minimal. (The YMCA and YWCA also offer excellent classes, but the membership fees tend to be heftier.) Take a class in a foreign language, modern dance, pottery, step aerobics, basketball, improvisation, Chinese cooking, tumbling, feng shui, or anything else you or your children care to try. Even better, take a class with your child and get to know him or her better, too.
Creative Expression
Downloading FunThe family computer is becoming an institution, and with the drop in computer prices, it's become more commonplace to have more than one computer in a home. There are reams of fun sites for children and teens to visit, but you want to be the one in control.
Consider having a family computer set up in a den, a family room, or a corner of the kitchen -- some place where a parent is usually available. That way you can be present for help or questions and can subtly monitor the sites your children are investigating.
If you have more than one child, make sure you set up a schedule for sharing time on the computer. It's a good idea to put a time limit on using the computer. Though computers can be interactive and educational, sitting is still sitting, and recent studies show that many children are not getting enough physical activity. But used well, a family computer can provide hours of fun and a learning experience to boot.
Making Music
It's wonderful when a child expresses an interest in taking music lessons, and it is definitely something to encourage, but you shouldn't invest in a musical instrument until you know this isn't just a passing fancy. Most music stores rent instruments, so call around for the best deal.
Secondhand Sounds
Buying a musical instrument secondhand can offer great savings, but be sure to ask a music teacher or someone who actually plays the instrument to check it out before you buy. And be wary of used guitars for sale on the cheap; they are often warped so badly that the strings are as much as an inch from the frets, making them nearly impossible to play.
The Sound of Your Voice
Make tape recordings of your children's favorite stories, or record yourself telling about your childhood or special events or holidays. For extra fun, tape the family singing favorite songs. When you're going out for an evening or are away on a business trip, these tapes can provide a lot of comfort to young children, with very little investment of money. Further, have grandparents make some tapes to keep faraway grandchildren connected.
Revisit Your Childhood
Young children love to hear stories about when their parents or grandparents were little. (Savor this time -- it does not last.) Put together an album of your childhood and share those times with your own child or grandchild. Even better, go to a copy shop and make a copy of each photo on a piece of paper with space below. Type or write the story beneath the picture. Purchase an inexpensive album and make a book of your life for your child or grandchild to keep forever.
Great Game Ideas
Bowled OverKids love to bowl, and bowling can be done inside or outside. You can make your own bowling set for practically nothing!
For bowling pins, save 2-liter plastic soda bottles (or ask friends and family to save them for you) and wash them out. Use any sort of soft ball as the bowling ball. For very small children, leave the bottles empty and use large balls. As the children get older, fill the bottles with sand (to make them tougher to knock over) and use a smaller, heavier ball. If you want to make an impromptu bowling alley in your driveway, garage, or basement, just prop two long two-by-fours (or two-by-eights, if you have them) about 3 feet apart, with a board across one short end to stop the ball.
Keeping Keen
Many children have more toys than they know what to do with, so at least half the toys sit around collecting dust. Trick your youngsters into greeting each toy as if it were new by boxing up half to two-thirds of their toys and storing them out of sight. When boredom with the current group sets in, whisk out a hidden box and hide the "old" toys.
Stacking Up Savings
- Stacking cups. These are still one of the most popular early toys for tots. But you don't have to buy them. Look through your cupboards for old plastic cups to make your own set. Or check out garage sales for a set of measuring cups.
- Building blocks. Another simple toy you can make is building blocks. Cut small pieces of wood from two-by-fours or four-by-fours (or ask a local lumber store to save them for you). Sand off any rough edges. Either stain to bring out the wood tones or paint in bright colors. (Make sure the stain or paint is safe for children; check the label, and if in doubt, ask for help at the paint counter.)
If you want to extend the life of your favorite family board games (particularly those played often and with enthusiasm by the youngest members of your household), coat the boards on both sides with shellac or polyurethane varnish right after you buy them. The games will last longer, and you can clean the boards easily with a damp cloth. Store the game pieces in plastic self-sealing bags.
Chalk Talk
Wrap masking tape around the middle of chalk to keep it from breaking (and to keep hands cleaner). Coat chalk or charcoal drawings with hair spray to keep them from smudging.
Revive That Marker
Give new life to a dried-out marker by dipping the tip in an acetone-based nail polish remover. Replace the cap and let the marker sit for a couple of hours before using.
Postcards
Kids love getting mail, and they especially love receiving picture postcards, which cost little to buy and mail. Ask relatives or friends who live out of town (it doesn't matter where the cards come from) to send a postcard for a child's special day (birthday, first tooth out, graduation from preschool, end of baseball season, dance recital). Then designate an area of the child's room as the card wall. Install inexpensive corkboard (to prevent tape or pin marks in the wall) on which the cards can be displayed.
Imagination at Play
Don't Throw It Out!Save every paper towel roll, toilet paper roll, margarine tub, yogurt cup, plastic bottle cap, soda pop bottle, plastic jar, oatmeal or cornmeal container, coffee can (with plastic lid), and sturdy paper box. Let your kids build castles, forts, mountain ranges, and more with all these free construction materials.
Animal Cracker Race
This is an ideal game for two to four younger children: Use an old checkerboard (or, even better, make your own). Each child gets one animal cracker. Designate one corner square as the Start position and place hurdles (a chocolate kiss or a marshmallow) on random squares around the edge of the board. Each child rolls a die once, then moves his or her cracker the number of squares indicated by the die. If a player's animal cracker lands on a hurdle, the player must go back two squares -- but gets to eat the hurdle! The first animal cracker to make it all around the edge of the board wins. And the winner eats his or her cracker!
Story Sack
On days when the weather keeps you inside, when you're on a long car trip, or during evenings in hotels, this can be a fun pastime for everyone in the family: Fill a bag with pictures cut from old magazines. Take turns with your children picking out images and making up stories about them. Write out or tape-record the tales you create.
Stir Crazy
Kids love to help in the kitchen, especially if they get to eat what they make. Assign fun activities they can tackle with their bare hands, such as kneading bread dough or cutting out cookies. Decorating a sheet cake or a batch of sugar cookies is another favorite: Supply the youngsters with an array of sprinkles, chocolate bits, jelly beans, nuts, or fresh berries, and tell them to be creative. Let them eat their masterpieces when they are done.
Hold It!
Make your own crayon or pen holder:
- Take a foot-long scrap piece of a two-by-four and drill 1/2-inch-diameter holes in a line down the 2-inch side, spaced about 1/2 inch apart. If desired, paint the holder in a bright color.
- Use an old toothbrush cup with holes to hold pens, pencils, markers, and scissors (with the points down) handy for your little artist.
Everyone gets more junk mail than they'd like to, and most of it goes right into the trash. But before you throw away the ads, look through the envelopes. You may find free stickers (showing thumbnail-size magazine or CD covers, for example) that your kids will enjoy pasting on their creations.
Greening of the Thumbs
Another activity children usually like to help with, if encouraged, is gardening. If you have the space, give your children their own plots on which to grow whatever they fancy: tomatoes, watermelons, sunflowers. Teach them how to prepare the soil, plant the seeds, and care for their plants. If space is limited, buy a window box planter or several small pots and let them learn container gardening.