4 Budget-Friendly Ways to Keep Your Kids Occupied Outside of School This Fall
Instead of driving your children to various activities in your car, try to find activities that you can do at home and in the neighborhood. It will keep your children safe and provide activities that help them learn and get exercise. When you want to take a trip, plan a specific activity to do, like fishing, walking, hiking, or biking.
Here are some ideas to get you started.
Let Your Children Help With Meal Preparation
They can help you with shopping by writing a list and looking for specific items in the store. You can search online for recipes and try preparing a simple one for a family meal. Start by creating healthy snacks and let them wash and cut vegetables and fruit. Make a homemade dip for these items. Let them learn and make mistakes, but practice safety. They can help with dinner by giving them tasks to accomplish. Washing, cleaning, setting the table, and cleaning up are important tasks your kids can handle.
Have a family pizza or pasta night and let everyone participate. Have your children look for a recipe online. Since 49% of consumers say they search for items and products, let them look for recipes on Google. Shop for ingredients at the store, and make the dish at home, letting the children help out. There are many premade pizza crusts where you just have to add the toppings and cheese. It is an easy and fun project!
Develop Outdoor Activities For Exercise
Get your children outdoors to develop a regular outdoor exercise routine in the yard or in your neighborhood. They can weed the garden or water plants if you have a garden. Your children can play games outdoors that require physical activity. They can ride bikes, play bocce, badminton, walk, do yard work, basketball, or any activity that gets them moving.
There are many games sold for children that promote exercise. In fact, Americans spend over $600 million on golf balls yearly. Kids can learn to hit golf balls in the yard. There is a game called Putterball that comes with a mat, two golf balls, and two putter sticks that lets you practice. You can buy more golf balls for a group activity. If you have room, buy a used trampoline and let the kids exercise outdoors.
Start a Hobby Where They Create Something
It’s time for your children to learn a hobby or learn a craft. You can set up a table outside where they can make things. They can learn to draw, write poems, stories, or essays. You will need pencils, paper, crayons, colored pencils, and other common supplies. Fat Brain Toys make creative kits for different crafts and projects for boys and girls. This is a good way to try a craft without committing too much money.
They have kits that involve weaving, making clay dinosaurs, easels and art supplies, chemistry, and engineering and construction. If you are skilled at a craft, you can teach your children some simple tasks to see whether they are interested. Let them choose a hobby they have an interest in, and they will be more likely to stick with it.
Teach Them About Fishing
Perhaps you like to fish and live near a local lake, pond, beach, or have your own. You can teach your children to fish by scouting for safe places to go. The local bait store can tell you the best places to stop. Instead of buying equipment, let them use what you have. Try to find a location you can fish off the dock or near the lake where they do not need a boat.
Teach them to use bait and aim to catch some fish. Keep it simple; try fishing from the beach, piers, or stream. These are good places to start. Talk to your kids about how the first fish hooks were made of a short piece of wood, bone, or stone. They were even supposed to be pointed at both ends! Keep the fishing trips short, not too long, to maintain interest. Try different locations without using a boat at the beginning.
If you’re worried about keeping your kids occupied outside of school hours, here are some ideas that’ll keep your kids fit, curious, creative, and helpful at home while spending little.
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