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Hi,
Single mommy of 3 girls ages 2,7,9yrs here,
We have a bunch of things we like to do as a family.. In the winter we like to collect some pine cones and paint them ( finger paint, no toxic works) you can use a paintbrush or not. then when they dry use some glitter to spice them up they can make an excellent winter center piece or ornaments for a tree ect. Way fun.. And during the summer we LOVE going to the drive in movie.. The girls don't have to be quit, sit still they can just have fun we usually take blankets and some dinner and make like a picnic out side of the truck.. but sitting in the back of a tahoe or pick up truck is great to. And kids get in for free in my area so it costs me a tottal of $5 dollars for one adult to get us all in. and They play newly released movies as well same that are in the exspensive theators. And sense you can take your own food, munchies, drinks. It saves you that money as well its a blast.. Ariesmom3

Hi!

I'll try to think of some ideas, but I can tell you that "fun" is a matter of attitude. We spend so much time trying to "entertain" children these days when I believe it is all a matter of perspective. In ever situation, I always tell my children we're "making memories". We have some crazy ones!

We've had times when our car broke down leaving us stranded. Instead of freaking out, we took a walk (maybe a 20-30 minute ONE WAY walk--quite a bit for my young children) to the nearest ice cream supplier we could find. We sit, have our ice cream, try to figure out how to get the situation under control then walk back. It makes for a much more relaxing "adventure".

We had an ice storm hit several weeks ago and were left without power for a couple of days. We got in the car and "hit the town". We waited almost an hour to be seated at one of the few restaurants with power. We ate our meal SLOWLY as we played "hangman" on a scratch pad. Eventually, we got up and went to Target. We took time looking at things we NEVER take time to look at. We played Playstation games, talked to complete strangers, and just enjoyed the warmth. When everything was closing, we went back home where we lit up a million (well, maybe about 20) candles and played "Monsters Inc. LIFE (the board game) by candlelight. In about 5 layers of clothes, we collected all the blankets we could find, piled them on my bed, and settled in while watching my little bitty portable TV. We snuggled close and made a very scary night a very great memory.

A bicycle and a tent can provide a lifetime of entertainment as well.

Scrapbooking is a fun thing to do with children too. I love Creative Memories products, but it is unreasonable for a single mother with very little money to think that would be good entertainment for her children and her. SOOOO, make pages using things around the house: Christmas cards, school papers, magazine cut-outs, etc. The kids will love it, and you'll get to stroll down memory lane. It can be a great opportunity to teach your children about their heritage, show them how to be creative, and allow them to cherish the special things in life.

Have a special dinner night where you don't make the kids eat vegetables they don't like. Let them have the world's biggest ice cream sundae instead. It's a dairy product, and if they're eating healthy the rest of the week, it won't hurt! OR, let the kids plan the menu and you just help them prepare it. Let them plan it on their own and don't worry about it not being the perfectly balanced meal that night.

I have found that if I give my children an idea and really work with THEIR creativity, they will come up with some kind of idea. Sometimes it sounds like a flop, but they usually find a way to make it more exciting. Even when it is not so entertaining for ME, they usually feel really great about having come up with the idea themselves.

We also like to sit around the keyboard and sing. If you can't play an instrument, sing with the radio or something. If you can't sing, don't worry about it--ham it up and have fun with it anyway. Sometimes we try to sing a common song like "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" substituting the first letter with a single letter of the alphabet. For example, use the letter "T" would go like this: "Take Tee Tout To Te Tall Tame". It's simple, but the kids have a ball. We also try to sing in different styles like singing the National Anthem in its usual opera form then perhaps singing it like a hillbilly.

We also play "I'm going to..." You have to come up with a name, a place, a mode of transportation, and an item you'll take with you. Take turns. The first person starts with the letter "A". The next goes with the letter "B". We have several different versions. If we're playing "Bubba" and we're on the letter E, we'll come up with something like, "My name is Ellie Mae; I'm going to Elberton in my El Camino, and I'm taking my Elvis t-shirt." Of course, you have to do it with a "twang". If it were "snooty" style, you might say, "My name is Dorothea; I'm going to Denver in my DeVille; and I'm taking my diamonds." Once again, the accent is everything.

Some silly stuff in response to an old post...I hope others might post some great ideas to share though.

Hi, I'm a mother to three boys(7,4 and 10mths) We love to do heaps of fun things together like, Do some cooking, cakes, biscuits.. different shapes, pancakes..different colours( using food colourings) mini pizza's using english muffins cut in halves and topped with tomato sauce and our favourite toppings and lots of grated cheese, cooked under the grill (yummy). We also like to do crafts like getting some plaster powder mixing it up and pouring it into moulds, either store bought or found around the home, then we dry them in the sun, turn out and paint. Bubble blowing is always fun, the kids love to run around and catch them and pop them. I also have a selection of shape cutting stamps, we like to make cards, pictures. Teamed with different coloured papers and cardboard, fancy edge scissors and glitter and what ever else you've got laying around makes for great hours of fun. We also like to go for walks to the beach and collect shells and odd shaped rocks ( you can paint these and glue eyes on them to make "pets".) We like to go for walks to the park and collect different shaped leaves for making different impressions with paint onto paper. Your imagination and your kids imaginations can make for fun times and memories that will last a life time.

quote:

Originally posted by silverline122:
[qb]Hello- I am contributing to an issue on the Jr. Times, and I would be forever grateful if any of the forumites here could give me some input to put in our newsletter! Well- the topic that I could use help on is: "Inexpensive quality fun with your kids!" I am searching all over for creative activities that require little to no money! Please post ideas if you don't mind having your name mentioned in my newsletter! or contact me please! (i'll send you the issue with your posts if you'd want) Thank you- I'd really appreciate it.[/qb]

Hi,
I wondered how old your kids are,what they enjoy and what you enjoy?
Geri

quote:

Originally posted by silverline122:
[qb]Hello- I am contributing to an issue on the Jr. Times, and I would be forever grateful if any of the forumites here could give me some input to put in our newsletter! Well- the topic that I could use help on is: "Inexpensive quality fun with your kids!" I am searching all over for creative activities that require little to no money! Please post ideas if you don't mind having your name mentioned in my newsletter! or contact me please! (i'll send you the issue with your posts if you'd want) Thank you- I'd really appreciate it.[/qb]

I always look for cheap or even free entertainment as I have 4 kids at home and do not make a lot of money. I look through the newspaper and find free events, usually zoos or museums have free days you just have to find them....and if you qualify you can get reduced rates to join the YMCA. For 20 dollars a month I have family membership which includes free care for my younger ones, classes for me kararte for them once a week, its also a great stress reliever!
When we do go to the Theater, I go during the matinee and smuggle "food" in, although we are not suppossed to-but hey, the prices for food there are outrageous!
A day at the park is always fun, I like to bar-b-que, once you get some food and the charcoal you are set, sometimes Ill buy a bag of water balloons(about 1 dollar) they love it! Hiking in the mountains is always great too, we live in Tucson so we have a lot of good weather for that.
Sometimes if we are reallt bored we go for a walk around the neighborhood and pick flowers growing wild, we also make up games like we will say a line in a movie and the other people have to guess where it is from! Also we hum songs from a movie and have to guess which one it is from-I don't know how we started that but they like it-so....whatever works! lol

My daughter and I have done lots of activities that require little or no money (out of necessity most times(LOL)- You just need to be a little bit creative. Something as simple as packing up the kids, some sandwhiches and some paper and colored pencils. You can take them to a park or to the beach or any other location- and have them draw what they see. I can't tell you how much children enjoy anything that is creative- and it also gives them an appreciation for beauty as well as art. The best thing is- my daughter remembers doing these things when she was just 2- so she really must have enjoyed it- and I believe that is what contributed to her artist ability and expression. She is quite the atrist now!!

Another really fun idea that kids love-potatoe sack races- just take them to the park and let them race-make sure to take a camera!!

Hi there
I used to be a director of a private daycare in the Yukon and became an 'almost' expert on creating projects with little to no money for 32 kids. Having a very creative mind you can create anything from everything. My favorite was recycling products into easy crafts...

- Picture Frames out of cardboard then have the kids look around the house for different coloured items (string, buttons, tinsil (nothing like having a bit of help after Christmas to get tinsel out of carpets , and even simple things for the differnt seasons... pine needles, leaves, dried flowers... )

- Place Mats get clear mac tac and have your children put pictrues... valentines day cards, birthday cards, etc into it and make 'personalized memories" that you will love to bring out on those occasions.

These are only 2 of a lot of ideas that I have.. if you want more ideas... send me a message.

Krystal