A family hike is a great way to enjoy time with your family.
Let’s face it, entertaining a family can be quite an expensive task. A professional sporting event can cost over $150.00 for a family of four. Going to the movies can cost upwards of $50 for a family of four if you include snacks (best of luck attending a movie without snacks)! Below are my family’s top ten inexpensive ways to enjoy each other’s company:
1. A walk outdoors. Take a walk around the block. Get out and meet your neighbors! A walk at your local park can be a good thing as well. Our family tries to see a different park every weekend during the summer.
2. Game Night- Board games are cheap and the entire family can play. Sitting around the table, competing with one another, really opens it up for discussions about anything. What happened at school, what’s bothering them, anything comes out. It’s a non-invasive open communication. We have great memories from our game nights. I’ll post some of our favorite games in a later post. What are some of yours?
3. DVD Movie night - At our house it is Netflix night. We just love Netflix, it is cheap and they have an astounding selection of movies. We can always find something for the entire family!
4. Road Trip! - If you are close to a cool destination, pack up the car and drive to it! Rent a hotel room with a pool and the kids will never forget it!
5. Festivals- If you cannot find a festival near you, then you are really not looking hard enough! Festivals can be found almost every weekend, and not just during the summer months.
6. Free Events-Our town always has a free event. Parades, bonfire’s, Sponge Bob’s appearence at the local mall, just to name a few!
7. Museums - When is the last time you took your family to the museum? What better way for your family to discover history? Our trips always inspire discussion about our family history. Our local art museum is free admission for kids every Sunday.
8. Public Library – We are fortunate to have a really good public library system in our town. This is not only a great way to instill a love of reading in your children, but also responsibility. Giving your children their own library card gives them a sense of maturity, responsibility and being part of the community at large.
9. Cook a family feast together – We love to cook together as a family. In the summer, Dad BBQ’s on the grill and plays frisbee or football in the yard with the kids. In the winter, I bake cookies and my famous pumpkin bread with my daughter. This is a great way to bond. The great thing is, that the kids usually eat their dinner the days we cook together!
10. Start a garden! Last year, my kids and I were exploring our local greenhouses and were inspired by an amazing fairy garden. We could not afford to make a duplicate fairy garden, but we found affordable solutions. It was a great family activity that allowed for a learning experience, a bit of whimsy and fun, and has even continued over the winter inside. (We used containers and brought them in before the frost. ) This will be a later post too!
