Cheap, Fun Activities that Help Fight Boredom

By Michele Blandino

There are a few things that are inevitable about school vacations and weekends. The first is that the kids will be home. The second is that the phrases "I'm bored!" and "There's nothing to do" will be uttered more often than any other phrase in the English language.

Unfortunately, keeping kids entertained these days is a pretty expensive proposition. Summer camps can run from $100 per week on up, meaning parents can easily spend $1,000 to keep their kids occupied during the summer months. Even an afternoon at the movies can run you at least $10 per child.

So, how can you keep your kids occupied without depleting your savings account? Here are some inexpensive, yet fun (and educational) ideas:

• Listen to the music. Tune your radio to a different station each day. Alternate between jazz, classical, country, rock and oldies. Encourage your kids to talk about which types of music they like best. Or, have a dance contest. In addition to exposing your kids to different types of music, you may actually succeed in nurturing a love of something new - which, depending on your kids' current musical taste, may come as a relief!
• Make regular trips to the library. Most libraries have regular story hours, plays and even movie nights. Not only are these activities entertaining, they are generally free. While you're there, encourage your child to check out books on topics that interest them. Some libraries also lend educational videos and DVDs. See if there is anything of interest to your kids.
• Explore the outdoors. Depending on where you live, you could visit the beach, or take a mountain hike. Before leaving, make a list of things to look for. For example, for a beach walk make a list of different types of shells and then see how many you can find. While hiking, look for certain leaves and plants.
• Visit a state or county park. See if you can make arrangements to meet the rangers and get a tour of the park. Many parks have free activities for kids. Visit the park's website to see what is available.
• Plant a garden. It doesn't have to be very big - perhaps some green beans, carrots, lettuce or other vegetables. If you have the room, plant some pumpkin seeds and then watch them grow. Teach your children how to weed, water and care for the garden and then let them take responsibility for its upkeep.
• Go stargazing. On a clear night, go outside and lay in the grass. See how many constellations you can identify. If you need help, check out an astronomy book from your local library (see Idea #2).
• Learn about the history of your town. The local chamber of commerce is a great place to start. Libraries also can be a good source of information. Once you have identified the main points of interest, develop your own walking tour of your town.
• Create a cookbook. Ask your kids to make a list of their favorite dishes and then have them look up the recipes in your cookbooks or on the Internet. Have them write the recipes down and illustrate with drawings or pictures cut from magazines.
• Do a puzzle. Jigsaw puzzles can be addictive and, if they are big enough, can take days, even weeks, to complete. Ideally, you should set aside a place to work on the puzzle where it can remain undisturbed for long periods of time. Putting together jig-saw puzzles can quickly become a family endeavor in which evening hours are spent together working together rather than off doing individual pursuits.
• Pick berries. Many farm markets feature "u-pick" blueberries, strawberries and raspberries. Spend the morning picking fruit and then take it home and make a pie, jelly or other treats.