Once the holiday festivities come to an end, there’s still some vacation time remaining for the kids. Even after the new year begins, there are a few long weekends scheduled, including President’s Day, soon after that. So what do you do when your kids are home during the winter that won’t break the bank? Read on for fun, frugal ways to entertain your children.
[See: 6 Ways to Treat Yourself on a Budget.]
Teach them to cook. The colder winter months are the perfect time to spend in the kitchen. While you’re preparing meals, why not involve your kids and impart some knowledge? Try teaching a few basic skills, such as boiling water, using a meat thermometer, cooking pasta or steaming vegetables, as you cook. While you’re at it, include a few tips on kitchen safety, such as keeping flammable items away from the stovetop and making sure everything is turned off after you’re finished. For older children, you can even begin teaching the proper way to hold a knife and educate on different methods for chopping, slicing and mincing.
Kids will love the feeling that they had a part in creating a meal, whether it’s something as simple as letting them stir or giving them their own dish to work on.
[See: 12 Ways to Be a More Mindful Spender.]
Visit a museum. If you and your family catch cabin fever, load everyone up in the car and head to a museum for the day. Some museums only ask for donations but don’t charge for admission, so you can share what’s right for your budget. Others offer a discounted rate for children or unlimited access for members — if you’re a frequent visitor, membership might be the best decision to save money. Lastly, check a museum’s website for an event calendar that lists free hours or days each month.
Check out library programs. Your local library remains one of the best free resources available for adults, children and families alike. Not only are books, music and movies available to check out for free, but libraries also host fun and educational events such as book clubs, craft nights and storytelling.
If you’re headed to a museum, check your local library for free museum passes. You’ll need to sign up in advance as there is typically a waiting list, but it’s another great benefit to having a library card.
Have a karaoke night with YouTube. If bad weather has you stuck inside, watching movies and reading books will only get you so far before you hear a chorus of “I’m bored.” Link to YouTube on a streaming device and check out the many karaoke resources available. Stream YouTube on a tablet, device or television and everyone can take a turn belting out their favorite songs. You can even have everyone create their own “microphone” with household materials.
[See: 10 Fun, Frugal Ways to Spend Your Free Time.]
Help out the neighbors. When the weather gets bad, a few of your neighbors might not be physically able to clear their driveways or sidewalks. Encourage your kids to help with shoveling snow, spreading salt or digging out cars for those who aren’t able to. Not only will this teach them how to be neighborly and help out their community, it’s a great physical workout and will keep them active and enjoying the outdoors — after all, it’s pretty likely a snowball fight will break out at some point. Spread the word with printed flyers or by word-of-mouth through your neighborhood, and by the next snowfall, you’ll have plenty for the kids to do.
Join a local community discussion board. If you’re truly out of ideas, head online to brainstorm with fellow parents in your community. Most towns, big or small, have an online gathering place to share events and local news. This might be a Facebook group, a subreddit or a forum, but once you join, you may be surprised by how much is happening in your area. Joining an online community is also a helpful resource when you’re looking for recommendations on a local service provider, volunteer opportunities or just general advice.
Another benefit of connecting with other local parents is the opportunity to “swap kids” for the night. For one evening, you’ll entertain twice as many children, but you’ll also get another entire night to yourself.
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Inexpensive Ways to Spend Winter Break With Your Kids originally appeared on usnews.com
