Need something to do with the kids?
Inexpensive Activities for Kids
Everyone is feeling the budget crunch and it is getting harder to keep kids entertained without being bored. Older kids seem to want to play with electronic equipment and video games all the time. It may be hard trying to get them peeled away from that sort of activity. I know it’s a challenge with my 12 year old daughter. Good luck with that.
As for the younger kids, there are plenty of things that you can do to keep them busy. One thing that kids seem to enjoy is zoo animals. Plan on taking them to the zoo for the day you can take along some paper and pencils and let them have fun drawing the animals. Sometimes there are planned activities at the zoo. Check out your local zoo to be sure. Many zoos also have a day where admission is greatly discounted so that’s always a good day to go.
Go apple picking. Another thing that kids love and that is to go to an apple orchard or a pick your own farm. Most orchards do not charge you a fee if you want to pick fruit to purchase. Have the kids don a hat as well as proper outerwear and head out to the orchard. The kids will have a great time exploring the outdoors and learn how to properly pick fruit from a tree. Sometimes the orchard will also have activities such as a pancake breakfast or even a hay ride.
Other inexpensive activities for kids could also be a trip to your local library. Several libraries have reading clubs and offer story time and even craft making. Sometimes various venues are planned depending on the season or celebratory event. Puppet shows or cultural events may also be taking place at your local library.
Community centers are also another place that may have inexpensive activities for kids. Outdoor carnivals with face painting and various sports activities will surely keep them entertained.
Crafts are always a great option. I’ve always kept crafting stuff around that I’ve picked up from the dollar store. My daughter and her friends love o draw and make cards. For special occasions you can pick up kits from places like Michaels for Valentine’s Easter and Christmas themed crafts. They always go on sale and I save them for the kids for a rainy day or a holiday specific activity.
One last suggestion is go for a nature walk, weather you live near a park, forest or just in an urban area you can do a nature walk. Tell the kids to find “nature” in their neighborhood, look for different types of leaves, point out different creatures etc.. There’s always something to be found and if you can take pictures, they always like to look at the pictures later.
How do you keep your kids entertained? What is their favorite activity?
Joni Mason says
June 29, 2014 at 9:01 PMI recently took my 3 1/2 year old grandson to the local walking track which runs beside a creek. We took his butterfly net and a jar and we “fished” for minnows and tadpoles. We had a blast for free!
TJ Eans says
March 26, 2014 at 10:06 AMOur local SPCA has a kids volunteering program every Sunday morning. Kids are invited to come learn about proper pet care and they get to play with the animals afterwards. It’s good socialization for the animals and the kids learn about the responsibility of having a pet. Last week it was leashes and collars, and this week will be how to spot common skin problems. Great stuff.
Dorothy Teel says
March 26, 2014 at 8:31 AMWhen my boys were little we would go on picnics to neighbor hood parks and they loved it from fixing lunch to packing stuff to go, and my boys enjoyed going to State Capital and family museums that offered family friendly prices about once a month. Let the kids help plan the activity from visiting fire stations to visitng the library.
angela m says
March 26, 2014 at 8:18 AMThese are great tips to keep kids entertained 🙂
Most of these we have done with our kids and we always enjoy
Helga says
March 26, 2014 at 7:28 AMI like to take them on natire walks and identify birds and bugs and plants! I learn things too.
Rachel says
March 26, 2014 at 1:02 AMmy granddaughter likes to make cards for everyone, so we repurpose envelopes from junk mail into greeting cards with some crayons and markers. she loves handing them out!
Rebecca Wilson says
March 25, 2014 at 4:44 PMI will never forget going to the apple orchard as a kid, or the other activities we did like that. Kids love that kind of stuff as much as you do, even if they claim they don’t 😉
dawn k says
March 25, 2014 at 3:55 PMThese are wonderful ideas. Great for the grandkids.
Jennifer Hiles says
March 25, 2014 at 8:51 AMHaha, I have a 12 year old and an almost 3 year old. The 12 year old only wants to play on her ipod? I think that’s what it is, lol. And the 3 year old is happy with an empty box! I love the idea of going fruit picking. My little one would love that. I’m not sure how much fruit would make it into the basket though!
lisa says
March 25, 2014 at 8:45 AMThose are good ideas. You don’t always have to spend a lot to have fun.
Dana Rodriguez says
March 25, 2014 at 8:04 AMI don’t have any children but those are some great ideas.When I was a kid my grandpa had an apple orchard and I loved picking apples!