Kids Just Wanna Have Fun

When is the last time you built a fort with your child? Or put on Asian or Italian themed music while baking orange flavored chicken or pasta and meatballs?  Popped popcorn from the convenience of your own microwave before watching a kid friendly movie rental you just picked up from your local library? 

            As parents, we’ve all had to come up with creative ideas to entertain our children. With financial strain becoming more of an issue for families in today’s economy, now more than ever parents can use a little extra help in keeping their kids excited and looking forward to this weekend’s plans.

            Let’s start with the basics. If you’re stranded at home, think within your garden box as to what activities within the home can keep a rainy day straggler convinced that Mom and Dad still are the hippest parents on the block. 

            Just this past Valentine’s Day, my son and I discovered the lost art of fort building. I have to admit, I was a little rusty in the basic structure of our temporary abode. [Parent Tip: Use thin, light weight sheets as opposed to heavy blankets for the roof’s construction.] We custom designed our fort around the television set where we cozily huddled up and watched “The Explorers” while munching on holiday chocolates.     

            Even the little ones can have fun at home on a dime. Mother of a two year old toddler, Melodi Preston shares how she puts on her daughter’s “cutsie” dancing shoes and some music “and we are off dancing for at least an hour or more. She loves it.” My son and I have been known to bust out a “Safety Dance” or two… or three or four in the comfort of our home. I’m still waiting for an investor to come along and support my dream of a Friday night “kids’ club,” a family friendly facility where parents and their children can dance at a relatively low cost. For now, our living room/toy room/mom’s exercise room will have to do. 

            If the sun is shining and walking isan option… opt to foot it to your next destination, for instance at a local park in support of little leaguers. After a trip to the snack shack for a bag of peanuts and ring pop, your kid will feel like she’s rounding the bases.  Kids just want to have fun. And that includes alone time with Dad and/or Mom. All the while, the parental figures relax in the shaded stands, thankful to be close to home and avoiding the long drive, fuel costs and parking/admission fees to the nearest hour away major league stadium.

             If there’s still time left after the big game, check out what’s new at your town’s library. I’ve been telling friends and family for months about my latest discovery in low-budget entertainment through the library. I know, if you’re like me, a child of the ‘80s, you still might be recovering from the opening scene of “Ghostbusters” and haven’t stepped foot into one since.   However, let me assure you that the library these days is much more than about checking out books or searching for green goblins. Not only can you check out books and scan recent magazines, more importantly you can rent movies.

            Hold onto your wallet for this part, you can even save gas by ordering your movies ahead of time online. Or heck, go really crazy and use the library’s FREE internet access.   One advantage to the library’s online service is the wider access to selections through its interlibrary loan system where you can not only order movies and books from your local branch, but the other connecting libraries. Sure, sometimes it might take a month or two for a newer release to come in, but in these trying times it’s definitely worth the wait. Speaking of waiting… I don’t have to guess when my orders arrive, I simply log onto my email where a friendly message awaits.

            Don’t forget about the numerous diverse programs most libraries offer families:  film screenings, magicians, puppet shows, storytimes, crafts and special presentations from zoos and ocean diving companies.  

            In addition, a lot of times libraries have used books, videos and CDs for sale at bargain prices. [Parent Tip: Bring your change purse, along with your child’s saved-up allowance.]  Where else can you get “Great Hits of the 1980’s” for 10 cents or “Pokemon 3” for a buck?

            Please don’t just take my word for ideas; ask friends and family for suggestions to local upcoming events. Scan your local supermarket and eateries for free flyers/magazines informing readers of scheduled events in the neighborhood. Many times these magazines offer readers time to plan ahead for that month’s activities.  

            Other fun weekend excursions include a trip to a nearby beach. Lauren Kelley, mom to a seven year old son, explains how a “beach day ‘vacation’ makes you feel a million miles away from it all, for free!” She adds, “It is really important for kids to grow up having ‘frugal fun’ because the things they do for fun now will very likely influence them as they grow older and start making their own activity choices.” 

            Whether it’s a “beach day vacation”, a holiday sponsored event at the local mall (think Easter Bunny or Jolly St. Nick), or simply a pillow fight at home, the important thing is that kids are having a blast seeing another side of Mom or Dad.  

             Shares Doreen Stillings, mother to a six year old daughter, “I like to keep active with my daughter. I try to balance work, school, chores, errands, exercise, sleep and fun into our lives which is sometimes challenging. But, these years won’t last forever and I want to enjoy every possible moment.”

            Kids long for those memorable moments too. The special time kids spend with their parents doesn’t necessarily need to come wrapped in big packages or themed parks. Those are fun too, for a birthday weekend or reward for a report card fitting to Mom and Dads’ standards. However, on the average weekend, for the average kid, it’s always great when we parents pull off the ultimate good time by pulling out new recipes, games and activities from our front apron pockets.