Fun on a Budget for Families

Things to Do With the Kids This Summer That Won’t Break the Bank

Aug 6, 2009 Anna Sanclement

There are quite a few activities that can be done with the family without having to shell out the full price of a regular trip away from home this summer.

With the economy on the downturn lately, many parents are opting out of their yearly family vacation. Although nothing can compare to the excitement of getting away on a much-needed vacation, there are many things to do to keep the kids happy.

Following are some ideas that will maintain the kids busy while they also have a blast:

A Backyard Camping Trip

A large part of camping is about living in a tent for a few days, regardless of the place. Set the tent out in the backyard by packing all the items as if on a real camp-out to a remote location. Bringing all the essentials that would be needed on a camping trip to the "wild" makes it even more exciting.

During the day the family can spend time in the pool, if there is one, and cook steaks and burgers on the grill. If a swimming pool is not available, a ride down to the local zoo or aquarium can be just as much fun; packing along some sandwiches for lunch will also help save a few dollars.

Family games and cards are great ways to spend the evenings out by the tent. The kids can also bring books and magazines to read by their gas lamps while in their sleeping bags. Another fun camping activity is to tell tales by a fire, if a fire can be safely lit on the backyard this could be a lot of fun for all. The kids can make "Smores" while the grownups drink a glass of wine.

A Day at the Beach

An easy way to have fun with the kids is to take them to the beach. It is a wonderful place to spend the day and almost nothing comes closer to feeling like a real vacation. While the kids have fun playing in the sand and water, parents can relax under an umbrella lazily reading books and magazines while eating snacks and having a cool drink.

Another great advantage of the beach is that by the end of the day the kids will be exhausted from so much play and they will sleep wonderfully.

Doing Fun Magazine Activities

There are a various kids’ magazines available that have wonderful activities for kids to do with the help of adults. Publications such as Highlights for Kids, Spider and Jack and Jill often have all kinds of projects that can keep the children busy for an entire day. With the parent's help, kids can make bracelets, pillows, puzzles, kites, etc.

Two or three kid's magazines should contain enough activities for a day or two. Most of the items needed can probably be found at home, or a parent can take the kids to a nearby hobby store to get any materials.

This can be a lot of fun as well as provide the family with some quality bonding time. The kids will also feel proud of having made items such as pillows or other home goods they will get to display on the couch, or use in their rooms.

Family Baking

Let the kids go through some cooking books or online recipe websites and pick what they’d like to bake. Get all the ingredients ready, taking a supermarket trip if necessary, and start having fun in the kitchen.

Assign different tasks to everyone, leaving the more complicated ones, such as handling the oven, to the adults. With everyone having a part in the baking process, even the smallest kids will feel like important contributors. Once the goods are baked they can be enjoyed while watching a good movie.

Going Bike Riding

Pick a bike-friendly route, get the helmets on and start pedaling! A family biking excursion can be lots of fun and it’s also great exercise for everyone. Food and drink can be packed along, or if preferred, a stop at a casual restaurant can complete the ride.

It's a good idea to have a handlebar basket for all the food supplies and also for a first aid kit, just in case anyone takes a fall. A bike riding trip will provide a day of fun and also make it easy for the tired kids to sleep well that night.

A Picnic at a Nearby Park

A picnic at a park can be a lot of fun for the whole family. Have the kids help prepare the food, make things like potato salad and hot dogs, which are great for picnics. Also bring along chips, fruit and some snacks such as nuts and maybe some cookies for dessert.

Also it’s a goof idea to pack some games and things like a volleyball, Frisbee, jump rope etc. After eating all that great picnic food the whole family can enjoy some game time together.

Even though every family needs a vacation now and then, when it just isn’t possible, there are ways to improvise. Try doing some, or all of the activities above to keep the kids happy and the whole family entertained. Remember, it’s important to have fun as a family and still make great memories, even if it isn’t on vacation.

The copyright of the article Fun on a Budget for Families in Family Finances is owned by Anna Sanclement. Permission to republish Fun on a Budget for Families in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Emma on the Beach