Big Fun Without Spending a Dime
from GRANDPARENTS.COM website.
My parents, Ruth and John Kloha of Holly Springs, Miss., are experts at stretching a dollar without making serious sacrifices in their lives.
"We do need to watch our pennies these days, but we can still have a lot of fun," says Ruth, 75.
Being resourceful as they are, the Kloha family has dug deep into a bagful of time-tested, kid-friendly activities, and they're sharing ten of their best ideas for entertaining the grandchildren at home when the budget's a wee bit tighter.
Camp out at home
Grab some marshmallows and sit around the fire pit or the grill for an evening of s'mores and spooky stories. When it's bedtime, head back in for some "tent-making," using card tables or large corrugated boxes as the frame for a bedsheet tent. Throw in some sleeping bags, along with a few flashlights, and you have a do-it-yourself campout. If that goes well, you can take the little ones camping in the wilderness the next time.
Kick it, old-school
With the popularity of Dancing With the Stars, why not plan an old-school dance-off? Grandparents, fire up the turntable and teach the kids the Bunny Hop or the Electric Slide. The kids can haul out their MP3 players and show you the newest version of the Cha Cha Slide. Great for fitness and an evening of laughs.
Plan a pasta night
Grandkids love to cook, and parents often hate to turn them loose in the kitchen. You can bridge the divide by letting them cook at your place, assembling ingredients for a homemade marinara sauce. Along the way, you can teach them about different pasta shapes. (Follow with an ice cream sundae bar, and you may get an extra hug.) If you can stand the after-mess, you've avoided the price of eating out.
Clean up for cash
Invite the grandchildren to pick up around your place, with the incentive of allowing them to keep all the loose change they find while vacuuming sofa cushions or under chairs.
Rediscover old movies and VHS films
If you're like many families, you probably have a treasure trove of home movies, old MGM musicals, or (like my dad) videotaped vintage cartoons that the grandkids may not have seen. They'll love watching videos of their own parents as kids, and you may also find them well entertained by Gene Kelly's choreography, or by an old Tom and Jerry episode.
Use your bird brains
Your neighborhood's a veritable ornithological laboratory. And there are many ways to make birding a family event. For the younger ones, count as many birdies as you can on a walk around the block. For the older ones, bring along a journal to record various species.
Get your hands dirty
Gardens are not only about planting and weeding — they’re also a place for exploring the creepy-crawly life beyond your back door. If your grandchild isn't squeamish, take a flashlight and scoop up handfuls of soil for closer examination.You might be surprised at what you'll find. Get them their own little garden tools for added fun.
Finger paint with shaving cream
No need to buy expensive art supplies. Grandpa's shaving cream makes a great finger-painting medium. Spray a dollop on a moisture-proof surface, and let younger grandkids dig in. The best part is cleanup.
Teach them "lost" pastimes
The old home arts of sewing, knitting, and crocheting aren't gone, but they've been swept aside in favor of soccer leagues and music classes. Pull out the needle-and-thread basket, and teach older grandchildren how to mend socks, sew buttons on clothing, or create works of framable art to take home.
Have the grandchildren teach you
Learn about their video games while you wait for home-baked cookies to come out of the oven. Grandsons will be all too happy to explain every aspect of the latest handheld gaming systems. Often, this is a key way to connect with the younger, tech-savvy generation.
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