Fun and Inexpensive Activities for the Whole Family
Guest post by Sarah D.
Finding activities that the whole family can enjoy is never easy, especially when it involves kids of varying ages. While younger ones may be keen to watch their favorite Disney movie again and again, older kids and parents will soon become bored with such activities. But tiny tots can’t partake of the same cinematic action fare that teens and adults find attractive. You see the conundrum. And then, of course, there is the expense to consider. Even going out for a date night with your spouse (dinner and a movie) can come with a hefty price tag. But when you cart the whole family along the costs can soar. So if you’re looking for a few activities that will provide fun for the whole lot of you at a low cost that your budget can bear, here are a few things you might want to try.
- Have a family movie night. Okay, so going out to the theater is a major expense when you’ve got the crew in tow. But you can get nearly the same experience at home with a little planning. For starters you need to rent some flicks that are going to be both suitable and entertaining for all. Pixar has a growing library of films that should do the trick, but you might also want to push the envelope with perennial family faves like The Princess Bride, E.T., and The Goonies, just to name a few possibilities. Then you can pick up some movie butter popcorn at the store and stock up on everyone’s favorite candy to create the authentic experience in your living room (don’t forget to turn off lights and cell phones).
- Try backyard camping. If you can’t afford to take the time off work for a week in the pristine beauty of nature, at least use your weekend to pitch a tent in the back yard, make s’mores over the fire pit (or the grill), tell ghost stories, and gaze at stars. It won’t really cost you anything and you can spend the days exploring local hiking trails and then head back to your “campsite” in the evening. Best of all, you can still enjoy working bathrooms.
- Plant a garden. There are few activities more fun and beneficial than gardening. The whole family can plant their own section in order to grow the fruits, veggies, herbs, or flowers they fancy (although you may want to supervise kids’ crops to make sure they are receiving proper care). Your kids can take pride in their efforts and see their hard work come to fruition (literally) and you can put fresh, organic produce on the table (actually saving you money).
- Train for a race. If you want to get the kids outdoors and moving around, then signing everyone up for a race could provide the motivation you need. You should start small (maybe a 1-mile race or a 5K, depending on the age of your kids and the relative fitness of your family), give yourself several weeks of lead time, and create a schedule that will allow everyone to prepare for the race. And consider choosing an event where the proceeds go to charity.
- Take a class. Your community likely has all manner of real-world and online courses to choose from, with options as varied as team sports, photography, dancing, music, painting, cooking, web design, and more. If you want everyone to get some added value and learn a new skill, these community-sponsored classes could be just the ticket.
