Education and Fun With Kids and Links 2:30 pm
If you don’t read Ann Voskamp’s blog Holy Experience, you should. I’ve been completely enjoying her post How to Feed a Brain Everyday (Daily Links for Hungry Minds). Wow! A wealth of web resources for learning! I can’t wait to use some of these with my kids.
Fun With Kids and Togetherness 9:06 pm
Well, I had a fabulous quote on memory-making marked and ready to type in, and now the book has disappeared from the table by my rocking chair. Check back! I’ll post it as soon as I can find it!
Education and Fun With Kids 11:30 pm
We have a lot of books at our house. I read about a great idea to make sure seasonal favorites are rotated and enjoyed, and it was such a good one that I started to do it myself. We keep a basket in the living room where I put season-appropriate books every couple of months. The rest of my children’s books are loosely categorized in shelves and bins (mainly grouped by history, science, and fiction) and the kids are free to read them any time they like. But I’ve found that they really enjoy having a few special books near the couch that they might not normally pick up. Right now I have several Independence Day books as well as other summer stories such as Andrew Henry’s Meadow and Blueberries for Sal. I don’t have a current picture, but here’s what our basket looked like at Christmas.
Creativity and Fun With Kids and Links and Sons 8:04 pm
I found this great post at an Australian “simple living” blog that gives ideas for activities for little boys. Be sure to read the comments! They are chock full of creative ideas!
And we don’t want to leave our girls out, do we (although most of the boy ideas are good for girls as well)? Here’s a link to some adorable printable paper dolls.
Creativity and Fun With Kids and Simple Craft 6:58 pm
I’ve wanted to do more crafts with my kids this summer, but sometimes I just come up empty for ideas. This week, I’m checking out The Crafty Crow, a collective blog for kids’ crafts! Thought you all might enjoy it too!
Here are a few more cool kid craft blogs/sites I’ve come across.
[Disclaimer: Just because I link to a site doesn't mean I endorse everything on the site. These are sites that have inspiring ideas for things to do with kids, but obviously I haven't had time to read every post on every blog...Read with discernment! 
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Creativity and Fun With Kids 1:29 pm
School is out. It’s sometimes too hot for outdoor activity. What ideas do you give your kids when they complain that there is nothing to do? It would be great if the ideas were things they can do at home without excessive adult supervision…We are doing lots of fun things together this summer, but I need some things they can do on their own too!
Frugality and Fun With Kids and Uncategorized 11:07 pm
Entertainment can add up. Fortunately there are many, many ways to have just as much fun for little or nothing. Here are a few ideas. I’m sure this list is far from exhaustive!
Movie Night at Home
Most expensive way to watch a movie: theater
Second most expensive: rent (assuming it’s something you’ll want to watch again)
Third most expensive: buy new (if it’s something you’ll watch again)
Fourth most expensive: buy used at movie rental places, garage sales, pawn shops
Cheapest: borrow from the library
At the very least, wait till that movie you’ve been dying to see has come out on dvd, and then rent it (if you aren’t sure it’s one you want to purchase) or buy it (if it’s one you know you’ll want). If you are really patient, wait a couple years till it’s $5 at Wal-Mart, or you can find it used.
Read Aloud
This is one of the most fun and educational family habits you can develop. My family read literally hundreds of books together, from the time we were little all the way through high school
Make Music
You don’t have to be a great musician to make music together as a family. Play an instrument (if you can) or sing hymns or folk songs a capella. It might feel silly at first, but ultimately you’ll have lots of fun. Plus it will develop a love of music in your kids.
Charades
Bible stories, historical figures, favorite movies, literary characters—all make for fun charade themes.
Board and Card Games
Scrabble is my favorite. Other good ones are Sorry, Uno, Dutch Blitz, Pictionary, Scattergories, Chess, Checkers, Boggle, Balderdash, or The Worst Case Scenario Survival Game, and for little ones, Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land, or Go Fish. Those are just a few ideas to get you started.
Puzzles
I’m not a puzzle person, but puzzles are great if you enjoy them.
Crafts
It’s both fun and fulfilling to make something beautiful or useful with your hands.
Books on Tape or Old Radio Shows
While you work puzzles, or craft, you can listen to books on tape, radio programs, or old radio shows on CD like Amos & Andy or Fibber McGee and Molly.
Family Walk or Bike Ride
Take a nature walk or ride together through your neighborhood.
Hospitality
Instead of going out to eat with friends, have them over for an inexpensive dinner like soup and bread. Or have several families over for pot luck. Have games available for the kids, and let the parents enjoy visiting with each other.
Picnic
Pack a picnic for the back yard or a nearby park.
Fishing
Fishing is inexpensive and fun. Buy poles used or use inexpensive cane poles.
Outdoor Games With Family and Friends
You don’t have to be involved in organized sports to enjoy the game. Many games are fun to play with a large family or group of friends. Plus, it’s good exercise!
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The possibilities for cheap entertainment are limitless. If you have any more ideas, tell us about them in a comment!
Frugality and Fun With Kids 8:01 pm
Heather’s comment on this post was so good that I thought it needed some front page time of its own. This is why I love to hear your thoughts! Great stuff! Thank you, Heather!
I always focus on quality time with my four children rather than giving them things. We are a one-income family and my husband is a police-officer, therefore, outside of Birthdays and Christmas, which I save and budget for, we can’t afford a lot of extras. We enjoy playing and having a picnic at a local park (when it’s not this hot!), and playing at home together. Also, we take advantage of our local library. Every month they offer story times and craft classes, and best of all- it’s free. We always participate in the summer reading club. The prizes received for reading books allowed the children to have things like pizza night and free ice cream at Scarlet Scoop. My son also enjoys the free kids building workshops at Home depot and Lowes. My girls love to cook with me and I try to bake with them at least once week. With one income, you have to get creative if you are on a strict budget. However, I know that my children are a lot better off having my time and enjoying things together as a family. It’s much better than doing something highly priced and without family interaction.
Fun With Kids and Recipes and Simple Craft 1:11 pm
The kids and I have enjoyed making our own play doh lately. It only takes a few ingredients and a few minutes, and it keeps them busy for hours. They add food coloring and glitter so they can each personalize their own little bit. Here’s a good recipe. It takes boiling water but doesn’t actually require cooking.
The first time I made it, it was perfect. The other day it was raining and it came out a bit sticky (I guess from the humidity in the air), so I added flour a tablespoon at a time till it felt right.
1 c. flour
1 c. boiling water
2 tbsp. cream of tartar
1/2 c. salt
1 tbsp. oil
Mix and knead together.
