| You've read all the articles about inexpensive | | | | friends over for a cooking class and teach the kids a |
| summertime activities. The ideas sound good, and you | | | | simple an inexpensive meal they can prepare if age |
| know keeping it simple is the best thing for your | | | | permits. Do crafts with the kids, have a cleaning or |
| budget, but you can't help thinking, "Will my kids really | | | | painting day if your home needs it. We recently had a |
| enjoy a hike in the woods? They won't feel cheated if | | | | day of painting the basement at our home and were |
| we have a picnic in the park instead of a Disney | | | | told the kids had the best day spending time with the |
| World vacation?" | | | | family painting, we even had our three year old |
| When school ends it can send parents scrambling and | | | | involved- I'm still trying to remove paint from his cloths. |
| searching to find things for the children to do. We look | | | | One fantastic memory I have of childhood was |
| in the local papers and online of course only to find | | | | catching fireflies in my pajamas after having an ice |
| expensive camps and vacation getaways that will | | | | cream pop from the freezer of course. We had a |
| break our budget if allowed. What do we, as parents | | | | swing on the tree out front on our modest front lawn |
| do, to entertain our children? When asked what was | | | | that we loved to go on at night which was a tradition I |
| remembered from childhood summers I was | | | | passed down to two of my three children. Our third |
| astounded to learn the researcher found that kids | | | | child didn't experience it due to townhome living- but I'm |
| remember not Disney Vacations but in fact the | | | | sure he'll have other memories such as playing at the |
| cheapest alternatives to summer fun. What was | | | | park across the street with all the kids from the area. |
| remembered fondly was the enjoyment children got | | | | My point is it doesn't take a lot of money to have fun |
| out of spending quality time with their families. They | | | | with the kids if you don't have it, what they will |
| loved going for ice cream on a hot summer night, you | | | | remember doesn't necessarily cost anything. |
| can also catch a good sale if you go on Wednesdays | | | | In an economy such as the one we live in these days |
| (wink, wink). Getting together with friends of theirs or | | | | it is reassuring to know the kids will not miss any |
| yours for that matter and swimming in the pool also | | | | expensive Disney Vacation that we can't afford this |
| ranked high on their list of fun in the sun. Plan day trips | | | | year and will actually remember one that lesser means |
| with another family to the beach, or zoo- they give | | | | can provide. |
| discounts on certain days of the week. Have the kid's | | | | |