Inexpensive Activities for Children

There are a ton of activities that consume our kids' time. Many of the activities that they are involved in cost a ton of money. Xbox and PS3 games are a fortune. Remote control cars and action figures that talk cost enough to feed a small country. But, what if you don't have the kind of money that is necessary to pay for these extravagant toys to keep your kids busy? Never fear, there are plenty of activities available that are just as much fun, provide more physical activity and cost a whole lot less money. Consider these activities the next time you want to have fun with your kids, and save some money at the same time!

1. Bug collecting. Many adults have an aversion to bugs, but that just isn't true with children. They will spend most of the day poking around in the back yard, trying to see what they can discover. An old mason jar with a few holes poked in the lid will serve as a great "bug jar", allowing the children to examine the bugs at close range. Just remember to supervise closely enough to keep them from catching anything that might sting or bite. Also remember to let the little critters go when your activity is completed, so that they do not die in the jar.

2. Collecting nature. It is amazing what children will collect. My son currently has a collection of leaves, a collection of acorns, and a collection of rocks. He is thrilled to death to be able to go outside and find something new to add to one of his collections. We can spend most of an afternoon walking around the neighborhood, looking at different trees, and picking up leaves for his collection. There are many things in nature that can be conducive to collecting. Simply turn a child loose, and see what he comes up with for this activity!

3. Arts and crafts projects. There are many art and crafts projects that children can participate in, that do not cost much money at all. Paper and crayons or markers can consume several hours, especially if you assign various projects for the children to complete. For example, you may have a contest to see who can design the most colorful drawing. Or perhaps you could encourage the children to draw and cut out paper dolls, with all of their accessories. You may also consider taking your children to stores like A.C. Moore, Michael's, Lowes and Home Depot that have various arts and crafts workshops designed just for kids. These are typically free, or have a very nominal fee.

4. Go to the library. A trip to the library, in and of itself, can be a great activity. Children, from a very young age, typically like heading off to the library to pick out some books or videos. Libraries also often have planned story times and other activities where children can get together and have a good time. Check the schedule at your local library and see what is available for the different age groups.

5. Volunteer. If you want your child to grow up and be conscientious about the people around him, and to have a desire to help others, then volunteering would be a great activity. There are many places that you and your child may be able to volunteer together, even when they are very young. But, volunteering does not have to be a formal affair! You can volunteer to go to an elderly neighbor's house and rake the leaves. Or you could work together to make a meal for someone you know that ill. Not only will you be able to spend valuable time with your child in this activity, but you will be teaching them a valuable lesson about life.

6. Go to the park. Exercise is a good thing, both for children and for us as adults. Going to the park gives you a chance to play with your child, and get that valuable exercise. It seems more and more difficult to make time for exercise! Children will also enjoy playing on the playground equipment, which is often far different from what they have at home. This is another great "excuse" for getting outside.

7. Surfing the web. Children sometimes become consumed by computer or video games. But, the internet is full of great activities for kids. If you already have an internet connection, it can be very beneficial and educational for kids to surf the web. My children love to play on educational sites like Nick Jr. (www.nickjr.com) and Playhouse Disney (www.playhousedisney.com). They can do various activities that teach them about numbers, letters, colors, reading and mathematics. It is not a good idea to let children play for endless hours on a computer or video game, but some time on the computer can be very good for them.

None of these activities cost much money, if any at all. However, they all are things that kids will enjoy doing. They are also all educational activities. Allow your child to jump into these activities and they will be happy for the rest of the day!