About Families Online

Feature Articles for June 2003

Five Fun Activities for Free!
by Shelly Divnich Haggert
Summertime and living is easy — unless the kids are underfoot and need entertaining. No sooner does school let out for the break than the lament begins: “I’m bored! There’s nothing to do!” If you can’t — or won’t — afford readymade entertainment like sleep away camp and Little League, don’t sweat it. Here are five, fantastic, fun and free things to keep the little ones (and the bigger ones) busy.

1. Take a walk. A long walk. In fact, see just how far you can go. Make it more interesting by taking along a compass and a notepad, and challenge the kids to make a map of the neighborhood. Create your own scavenger hunt, and encourage the kids to find familiar landmarks like donut shops, hospitals, fire stations and churches. For a simpler variation, just flip a coin at every corner — heads you go left, tails you go right. See where you end up. It’s a great opportunity for kids to get to know the neighborhood or practice their traffic safety skills, and it’s good for their health besides.

2. Get in touch with nature. Visit an area park, or conservation area, and explore. What animals and plants are native to this area? Which have become extinct? If you’re staying closer to home, try the backyard. Flip over a rock and see what worlds lie below. Then use the Internet or the public library to learn more about the flora and fauna you’ve found.

3. Check out the public library. Area libraries are much more than a collection of reading material. You can learn to use the Internet, borrow toys and books or even video and audio tapes. The libraries offer summer programs to encourage young people to read — if they don’t, you can always create your own. First child in the family to read five age-appropriate books wins a trip to the ice cream store with Mom or Dad.

4. Get creative. Summer is the perfect season for kids’ crafts. Glue and paint can be moved outside to lessen the mess, and porches or clotheslines are perfect for drying and displaying creations. Explore the other arts too — kids can write stories and act them out, complete with props and costumes, or they can use their favorite books as ready-made scripts. A couple of blank audio cassettes and a tape player make it easy for kids to create their own radio shows. Parents, of course, are the perfect audience. These activities are great for rainy days too — just put newspaper down before gluing and painting.

5. Get active. Walk, hike, jog, roller-skate or cycle to get your family moving. Remember to always take appropriate safety precautions, such as wearing helmets or kneepads. And that gang of kids that always seem to be hanging around your kitchen? They’re a baseball or soccer team waiting to happen. Who needs fancy uniforms and a concession stand? Whether it’s the front yard, back yard, or the park down the block, your family will benefit from this spontaneous and spirited exercise.

These activities can be a great opportunity to connect with your kids at their level. Have fun!

Shelley Divnich Haggert is a freelance writer with three daughters.