What things do you do with your kids
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elis mom 08 · 10-17-2010, 07:17 PM

that are cheap or free? We used to take our DS to do the coolest things.....visit new states, cruises, museums, zoos, Sea World, ghost towns, beach..... Now we can't afford to do anything. I have so many cool photos in his scrapbook and I can't help but think my soon to be born DS won't have anything that compares. So, I have vowed to do some type of adventure with our DS once a week, since it seems we haven't done anything in awhile. Today we drove up to the lake and picked up pinecones, and had a picnic lunch. It was fun, and the whole day cost about 35.00. Just hoping to get some more inexpensive ideas.

stretch2864 · 10-17-2010, 07:51 PM

The public libraries here in Minneapolis have something called the "Museum Adventure Pass" which offers free admission for up to 4 people to various museums, zoos and attractions around the Twin Cities area. You might want to check and see if there is anything like that available. Libraries often offer free programs for children. I used to take my DD to local nature centers and parks which were free and allowed her to burn off some energy by running around. Some of the museums here offer family nights which are free. You might also check with your local school as they sometimes know of free and low cost activities for children in the area. Good luck and have fun making memories with your sons!

stretch2864 · 10-17-2010, 07:58 PM

Maybe check your local newspaper as well. On the weekends here, they publish a list of family friendly activities, many of which are free or low cost. Community celebrations with parades can be fun to take kids to. There are a lot around here in the summer time. Have fun!

Huntermom · 10-17-2010, 08:27 PM

How far are you from Las Vegas? When we took a vacation out that way, there were many state and national parks in the area. Most of them have great programs for kids. When my kids were young and money was tight, we did lots of nature based activities,

We would also buy a museum membership carefully choosing one that had lots of reciprocal agreements with other museums. My Boston Museum of Science membership allows us access to several museums in New England and was only $140.00 for a five person deluxe membership, with planetarium and omni theater tickets. But we can also get into other nearby museums/zoos, etc.

Do you have a parks and recreation department? Ours offers family activities, especially around the holidays.

I think my kids enjoyed a walk exploring tide pools as much as a day at an amusement park. We also vacationed nearby off season. We could get a place on Cape Cod for considerably less after school started back and would also take long weekend trips once the kids were in school.

Also, don't forget young children will enjoy a trip to a high school or minor league game as much as the big leagues. It's the adults who know the difference.

Kids value time with their parents. A bike ride around the neighborhood can be just as important and as much fun. So is cooking together, gardening, even washing the cars.

elis mom 08 · 10-17-2010, 08:37 PM

9 hours away. We ae close to Lake Tahoe which is beautiful, but not a whole lot going on. When the snow comes, I see a lot of sledding in our future!

lukeandbrookesmom · 10-17-2010, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huntermom

Kids value time with their parents. A bike ride around the neighborhood can be just as important and as much fun. So is cooking together, gardening, even washing the cars.

This is it in a nutshell

If gotten some amazing photos for scrapbook pages out of the simplest activites!

When you say 'not much going on' that is totally from an adult's perspective and not a child's

You'd be amazed at what the kids consider fun and exciting.

I agree with checking with your library - they would be a great resource especially for indoor events.

PamelaK · 10-17-2010, 08:58 PM

Are you near the Reno area? I know when we were looking to move out to Reno I had done some research on free and low cost activities for families. I will have to dig up that old research, but I am pretty sure there were some fun things to do.

Teresa · 10-17-2010, 09:39 PM

I know nothing about your area. Since my children were little, I've taken them to local theater productions (yes, a 1.5 year old can sit through Hamlet and be quiet -she didn't understand it, but she loved it). If there are any colleges near by, see if they have any productions you might be interested in.
We've also always taken them to the local (free) art museums. Looking at colors and faces and other things are interesting at any age. Now, I've got children ranging from ages 12 to 27 who love the arts, love visiting museums, and are able to converse intelligently about impressionism, neo-classics, romanesque, etc.
Local high schools are not just great places to go see sports events, but also plays, musicals, band performances, etc.
And it sounds like you're already on the right track - taking hikes are great. You don't have to go far. Some of our best things we used to do were to walk to the nearby park with a picnic basket and some kites. The kids had a great time finding bugs and birds and flowers there, too. We always had guidebooks with us to identify them.
taking trips and cruises are fun, but they are not necessary to growing up well. Your little ones will be fine, and they'll learn to appreciate what they have and to find fun wherever they are!

B.M. · 10-17-2010, 10:10 PM

My kids love going to the library- they love going in general, but our library also has movie nights, game nights, story time, and other activities. Like others mention, my kids also really enjoying taking a walk, especially one that takes us out of the neighborhood, and bike riding. Our park and rec dept puts on some fun free things a few times a year also- this weekend we had "movie under the stars" that included a free movie, jump houses, and games. I would encourage you to check out what your community has to offer......

HollyH · 10-18-2010, 06:24 AM

Some great ideas here. One new thing I can add is look into Letterboxing. If you haven't heard of it before, it's like a treasure hunt. You follow clues to find a box containing a stamp and a log book. We've taken letterboxing hikes in our hometown and discovered places we never would have know existed. Of course, a lot depends on whether or not you have some active "planters" in your area. This website will get you started: lbna.org

Tigger71 · 10-18-2010, 08:24 AM

The simple things in life are what kids may love most. How many of the parents on PP boards have kids that liked the "rest day" by the hotel pool more than visiting the Disney parks?

I remember cooking with my grandma - making cupcakes and her letting me choose the icing flavour.
My youngest loved our recent trip to Japan. Why? He got to ride on the train EVERYDAY (never mind the fact that we spent a fortune going to Tokyo Disney...) My DD loves to visit with her grandparents - Why? Each Saturday evening in my folk's neighbourhood they have a street party - rain, hail or not, they get together and enjoy food and fun for 3 hours!

Think about what you enjoyed as a child. What did you silently wish you could do? Tinkering in the garden, washing the car with Dad, making dinner and setting the table with the "good" china for a family meal, going to the park for a teddy bear's picnic, camping out in the yard, building a sandcastle, making a scrapbook, handmaking christmas gifts, maping a road trip and then doing it, write a journal, learn to sew, build a cubbyhouse (even if mum complained the living room was a mess!), learn to play an instrument with your parent, make a video for a far away friend.
I could go on for hours...one of my fav childhood memories was fishing with my dad. We did it once - but I'll remember it forever!
Who has a kid who played longer with the wrapping paper or box than the toy that was inside? See simple and cheap doesn't mean boring.
Ask you DS what he likes doing. You may be surprised. Have fun - choose your attitude!

clio · 10-18-2010, 09:46 AM

My daughters older but we go to the state parks and the national park alot. I've never done letterboxing but have done geocaching and questing which are similar. Geo caching uses a gps to find things hidden and questing uses poetry as clues to find the treasure. We like to do anything that involves being outside.
Liz

Carousel96 · 10-18-2010, 12:27 PM

A lot of museums may have a scheduled free day -- third Saturday, Tuesday nights, etc.
Lots of parks and historical socities (the small community ones are great for this) have special events that may only cost a couple of bucks a head.

One thing we've decided in our attempt to cut expenses is that not everything has to be a "family" outing. So we pick and choose which things both of us do with DD, and which will be "dates with Dad" or "mom and me" time. Not buying the second adult ticket can be a significant savings.
We've also joined forces with another family whose daughter is one of DD's best friends. We took both girls to the trick or treat event at the zoo this weekend -- they're taking our DD with them to a historical society event next week. Our girls get to experience both, but each set of parents only pays for one.

Connieq288 · 10-18-2010, 12:41 PM

My DS10 loves cub scouts, in fact he will be crossing over to boy scouts in Feb or march. It doesnt always have to be the father that does it either. I was even cubmaster for 2 years and I have done almost all the camping with him.

Camping is another thing that is fun also. We also go to the park every Tuesday. DD3 goes to speech therapy on Tuesdays so the park is right next to the school so my boys walk over to the park (they think they are big boys when they do that) and we play there for awhile.

Call the local rec center and see if they have anything going on and of course some people said the library. I live in the Smokey Mountains so of course its leaf changing time so even a ride over the parkway to TN would be really nice for us. We also have season passes to Dollywood so we go there several times a year.

JoanneS · 10-18-2010, 12:44 PM

It's really more important to share time with your kids, rather than places. I remember when I was little. My Dad would spend all of his vacation time taking us places; the beach, th amusement park, the zoo, the museum. etc. Finally one day my sister said, "Daddy, why can't we just stay home one day and play?" Some of my best memories are not of the places we went to, but the time we spent learning how to wash the car and make chocolate cookies with my Dad. He taught me how to make a mean pot roast, too!