Any ideas for FREE things to do with kids?

[BarenakedLady]

We've done the library a few times. They aren't too interested in walking the dogs in the park. I don't have the gas money to Sunday drive around. They balk at actually cleaning/organizing their rooms or helping me unpack boxes, which I guess isn't actually "fun". I don't have a driveway to play with chalk. I don't have a real yard yet to run around on.

Maybe I'll just take a nap and let them keep playing World Of Warcraft. Heh.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

1. Any local museums, nature centers, or rec centers nearby?

Several of the ones in my area offer free programs for kids.

You could also make a game out of unpacking and cleaning. Make it a challenge for them, so it seems a little more fun.

[Arkansas Granny]

2. I don't know the ages of the kids you're talking about, but mine were young

we would go out and park near the airport and watch the planes take off and land. Ours is a small airport and you can find spots near enough to do that without violating security. They seemed to enjoy it. Sometimes we'd take snacks or sandwiches and make a picnic out of it.

[Lars39]

3. You can play that frisbee game,disc golf at some parks.

Or just use trees. Is it time to go to the library again?:)

[surrealAmerican]

4. This park you mentioned ...

... perhaps they would be interested in going there to play frisbee or something.

[AwakeAtLast]

5. Any parks nearby with nature trails?

I am fortunate that there are two decent parks that have well kept trails. Both could keep my daughter occupied for an entire day. She loves to pack a picnic lunch and take off!

[graywarrior]

6. Find something you can volunteer together.

Homeless shelter, nursing home, state parks, animal shelter, etc. Think of something you guys like to do.

[LeftyMom]

7. If they're old enough to say "no," than they're old enough you don't have to play cruise director.

Hand them the phone book and tell them to find something free or really, really cheap, and to come let you know if they need a ride. If they'd rather just sit around and be bored, that's not your problem. If their things need unpacked, tell them you'll go do whatever they picked out once it's done or after a significant milestone such as # of boxes each, when a specific room is done, whatever works for your situation.

Boredom won't kill them. Let them figure out themselves what they need to do to avoid it. It's good for them, really.

[seemunkee]

8. origami

Instructions and paper is all they'll need.

[hippywife]

9. Scavenger Hunt

Think of specific things that you know are in the unpacked boxes and offer rewards for them to find them.

Me, I'd resort to beatings. Which is of course why I don't have children.

Good luck. :hi:

[livetohike]

18. Oh, I just posted "treasure hunt" . I didn't see your post

:hi: Great minds think alike :-).

[hippywife]

25. Ah, but...

they don't have to be the same thing. I always think of a treasure hunt having written clues at each step of the game to lead to the next.

:hi:

[livetohike]

26. That's why I said it was going to take some work

:-).

[unpossibles]

10. what about sidewalk chalk drawing in the park

it's usually considered legal as it is not permanent.

Also, some museums (especially if you're in the city) are free, or at least work on suggested donations.

[Arugula Latte]

11. It's not exactly free, but maybe a cookie or lemonade stand.

Who knows, maybe they'll break even (considering the price of ingredients) or even make a small profit.

[Kali]

14. yes

earn the money to pay for the entertainment they think they need

[tigereye]

12. nature walk or scavenger hunt? Even teens who look bored at the mention

of a scavenger hunt, usually enjoy it. Mowing yards and washing cars for extra $? Also some parks have free activities for kids, or cheap pool passes.


It does seem like the time of year when the boredom sets in, though. We have a summer pass to the local water park, and both my son and the kids sitting next to us were complaining about how they wanted to leave. :eyes:

The mom said, I paid 8 bucks (parking,etc) and we're not leaving until we've been here a while. No doubt they were all desperate to get back to the Ipods, etc.


When I was a kid, we lived at the pool and the local park. If we stayed home, my mom turfed us out of the house with the admonition to "get out there and play!"



Good luck! :hi:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

28. Glad to see you here!

Hope it wasn't your health club where that whack-o went berzerk yesterday! :hi::hug:

[tigereye]

32. no, I live on the other end of the county, and I don't usually go to health clubs

I'm more of an outdoor pool, park, trail and walking in the city person. It was horrible to see all that- innocent women at an aerobics class gunned down because this man had poor relationship experiences (and likely untreated mental health issues...) He even shot a pregnant woman, the teacher, but she survived...

It was heart-breaking this am to read about the women who died- some were single moms, and one worked at Kennywood not too far from where I live.



:cry: :grr:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

33. Kennywood...Isn't that the amusement park

with restored rides? I've wanted to visit it since I heard about it!

I suspect you're right about the unaddressed mental health issues. :(

[tigereye]

36. yes many of Kennywood's rides are very old school (wooden coasters)

and they have a section called Lost Kennywood which also has a lot of retro rides. They also have plenty of the newer style rides, too.

[applegrove]

13. If you have a forest nearby you could build a fort.

[KansDem]

15. Have them create a board game!

Really, my 11-year-old son loves to make up board games. All he needs is a large piece of paper (at least 11x14; maybe two taped together to make 14x22), a pencil, little items to use for the "players," and dice. He draws the game using his imagination and sets the rules (the more complicated the better!). Then we sit down and play a few games!

It's fun and it can take up several hours...

[rug]

16. Cook.

[livetohike]

17. A treasure hunt! Of course this would take some work on your

part, but you could get them to help unpack that way :-). You pick the reward - maybe out for ice cream or such.

[wickerwoman]

19. Pick blackberries?

Hard to say without knowing the area well... but we have a few parks that let you pick blackberries free.

Our local swimming pool is free for kids under 12 and only like $2 for adults. Might be worth researching.

[Mind_your_head]

20. Your profile says your state is New York - are you in New York City, perchance

or in a less urban/more suburban setting? Also, roughly how old are the children? (Not trying to be 'nosy', just it might help us think of ideas for you).

[datasuspect]

21. painting, lawn mowing, cleaning, car washing

i can think of others.

[Mind_your_head]

23. Car washes are good.......it's a good opportunity for a water fight

and you get a clean car out of the deal too! lol

[merh]

22. water balloons and sprinklers are my fav.

No yard, well that just means a full hose down before going inside (do you have a garage? change of clothes in the garage - building a changing tent out of blankets/sheets and clothesline).

Do you have your heart set on their rooms being perfect or have you ever thought of letting them paint a wall or walls. (Remember Randy Pausch: the professor famous for the "Last Lecture" - his mom let him paint his walls with "things that mattered to him").

Edited: Poster above suggested a car wash, the car wash can be part of the water fun. Part of the game is picking up the remnants of the balloons.

[Bucky]

24. Tell 'em it's time to play "The Lawnmower Game". When they're done, the "Vacuuming Game" is next

[Parche]

27. hey

i have my model ship collection 700 scale 'battleships' 'cruisers' etc
and my 200 scale model airplane collection

how about an N scale model train?

:hug: :hug: :hi:

[carlyhippy]

29. bring food and have a picnic in the park

go for a bike ride

[noamnety]

30. I raised my kid with no tv, no computer, no money

we put on a lot of puppet shows in our living room, using two chairs and a blanket for a stage. Sometimes we did hanzel and gretel was a favorite because there's music for it. Cooking is good, since it has to be done anyway and is cheaper than buying prepackaged food.

How old are they?

[elleng]

31. Hell NO!!!

It AIN'T college!!!!

[Wapsie B]

34. Let 'em grow up and get high-paying jobs

so they can support you later on. I'm still waiting for that to happen. :P

[BarenakedLady]

35. Thanks for all of the suggestions!

For those who asked, they are 12(f), 9(m), and 6(f) and we live in the 'burbs.