Truth is, no child wants to be confined to 4 walls. They need to run, explore, get fresh air, feel the sunshine and most importantly laugh. So many parents think that they can’t take their kids out of the house even when funds are low but that’s not true. What seems like a very basic thing to you in your adult life is going to mean the world to your child. Why be in the house listening to your child say cringe worthy words such as “I’m bored,” when you can easily fix that?
Don’t feel overwhelmed. Get up, get dressed, throw on a hat and sneakers and GET OUT THE HOUSE. Remember your child can still live their best kid lives for free and we got you fully covered. Below is a list of things you can do with your kids even when you have a low budget or no budget.
THE PARK:
Take your child to the park. It’s free, they will entertain themselves and they will be so thankful they got out of the house. Playing at the park goes beyond just playing and running around. It will allow your child to meet new friends and you to meet new parents. It will also help your child work on social skills and motor skills. Your child can learn conflict resolution, feel accomplished by finally conquering something they have been working towards such as swinging across all the monkey bars without falling. They will also learn new games from friends such as how to play tag or hide and seek. In a lot of cities, your local parks and recreations team will have special events planned on certain days such as game night weeks, or free holiday events.
THE BEACH
If you live in a city where you have one or multiple beaches near you, TAKE ADVANTAGE. So many cities do not have beaches. Many families have to travel just to hit one. If you have one near you and the weather is nice, never waste a beach day. Children love feeling that beach breeze and running along the water even if they only put their feet in. They can build sand castles, play with sand buckets, find seashells and rocks. You can feed your children before you go or pack snacks and picnic type food to enjoy on the beach. It’s always nice to bring a little speaker as well.
GO ON A WALK
It’s always a good idea to get some fresh air and the easiest way to do that is to go on a walk. You can go on a walk in your neighborhood. Besides being the most convenient way to go on a walk, this will help your child get familiar with your neighborhood over time. It will also allow you and your child to get some exercise in and tire them out. You can make your walks fun by playing games like “I Spy.” “You can also collect flowers or leaves on your walks and sing songs.
PICNIC
Make it a picnic day. Pack a big blanket or picnic sheet, a few snacks, drinks and make it a fun day where you soak in the beauty of nature. You can pack board games, books, puzzles, bubbles and even a frisbee or soccer ball for your little ones to have some entertainment. It doesn’t require sunny weather and it’s free. You might luck out and get your child to take a nap on the picnic blanket. Most importantly, it will allow you to just bond and talk to your child.
SPORTS DAY
You don’t have to be a dad to have the ultimate sports day with your children. I do it all the time and I am terrible at sports. I find it rewarding for multiple reasons though. Not only do we both get a little work out, but I get to teach my child the basic fundamentals of some sports and it’s completely free. Grab a soccer ball, frisbee, football etc and have fun with your child. This might seem so simple to you but for them, these are the memories they will never forget.
Those 15-30 minutes it takes you to get dressed to go outside and another 30-60 of play time will make your child’s entire day or weekend. To stay updated on everything My Best Kid Life, make sure to subscribe to our mailing list here.