A Month of Fun with Children

Making Memories on a Budget

What childhood memories do you hold dear? For me, it was all the times “life happened”. The little things like playing outside, riding my bike, playing at the park, swimming in the lakes, laughing with friends. None of those moments cost a cent, yet they are some of my most treasured memories.

Making memories on a budget is very easy to do. Choose any of the ideas below and you’ll have a fun-filled time without breaking the bank!

Garden

Plant flowers, fruit trees, herbs, or vegetables. Your child will learn science, responsibility and have fun!

Snip-it

Give your child some old toy catalogs or magazines and safe scissors. Watch them cut all day.

Diggin’ It

Send your child outside with a bucket and small shovel. Shoveling snow, sand, dirt or rocks — it’s all good fun.

Sing

Turn up the radio and sing! Teach your child the music of the 70s, 80s, or 90s.

Play Catch

Throw different items (balloons, tennis balls) to your child. Roll balls to young children.

Sidewalk Chalk

Lay on the sidewalk and take turns outlining each other. Decorate your flat selves.

Cardboard Boxes

Make towers, play houses, airplanes, trains, forts and more!

Bubbles

Go outside and Blow Bubbles. Take turns chasing and popping them.

Masks

Make Masks from Paper bags, paper plates, foam, or anything on hand.

Cards

Teach your child all the classic games — UNO, Crazy 8, Go Fish, Old Maid, Memory Match.

Scavenger Hunt

Give your child a list of clues and send him out to find them. Clues can be simple (find a rock) or very advanced (find a piece of granite).

Throw Rocks

Go to a pond, creek, or lake and throw rocks. Try to skip them or aim for different targets.

Bath Time

Bring kitchen utensils into the bath tub. Bubbles and water can become a gourmet dinner.

Office

Give your child Junk Mail, stickers, a calculator and pen. They will play office for hours.

Photography

Let your child use a disposable camera or a digital camera and witness their creativity. They may surprise you!

Picnic

Make some sandwiches and eat them outside.

Cooking

Find age-appropriate recipes and let your child help in the kitchen.

Tag

How many versions of tag do you remember from your childhood? Teach the oldies to your children (freeze tag, TV tag, etc.)

Write a Story

Younger children can write wiggle-worm sentences (much scribbling and pictures). Encourage older children to write chapter books — your child could write the next Harry Potter or Magic Tree house.

Charades

Toddlers can act out or guess their favorite animals. Older children will enjoy acting out movie titles.

Flashlight

Turn off the lights & make shadow puppets. Or get two flashlights and chase the light beams.

Wildlife

Feed the ducks, squirrels, birds, turtles or fish near you.

Abundance

Every day, have your children tell you what they are thankful for.

Dress Up

Let your children dress in your clothes.

Treats

Make cookies and decorate them.

Dance

Turn up the music and Dance!

Play Games

Teach your child all your favorite board games.

Journal

Get a notebook or diary and encourage your child to express their feelings with pictures and words.

Tea Party

Grab the stuffed animals and treat them to a delicious cup of imaginary tea.

Keep in Touch

Write a letter to Grandparents, Aunts or Uncles. Teach the importance of family.

I Spy

Come up with age-appropriate clues and let you child guess what you are thinking.

Be sure to print out this list and keep it handy for the next time your children say “MOMMMMMM — we’re bored!”

The Author:

Nicole Dean is the owner of Show Mom the Money ( Showmomthemoney.com) — a fun and exciting site for Moms