Free Kids Craft Ideas

WHat are fun free things to do with your kids? I am in a lull of ideas during summer and money is tight.?

I am a mother of 2 boys, 7 and 2, almost 3. We live in central NJ. Summer is not so busy and money is tight. Any ideas for free activities, crafts, your family favorites? Thanks!

Visit your local park.

Go to your library-it is air conditioned, they can participate in activities there (story time) and take home books to entertain them later.

Home Depot and Lowe's have free projects for children on Saturdays. They even get an apron!

Some arts and Crafts Supply Stores such as Michael's and A.C. Moore have similar free projects on Saturdays.

Go on a nature walk. Spice it up and do it once during the day, then again at night and compare the differences.

Rent movies. The library has them for free.

Visit your local animal shelter. Ours lets families come in and play with the puppies so that they are well socialized when they find their new homes.

Get out old pictures or home movies and watch them. My children are fascinated when we do this.

Let them have a yard sale to remove some of their unused clutter, and let them use the proceeds from it to purchase something-a hermit crab, perhaps? They are inexpensive, relatively easy to care for and very interesting to watch (we have eight). Another suggestion if you do not want a pet is a board game. This will cost you nothing, and will get rid of some clutter.

Find free computer games for them to play-websites such as PBSKids.org, Nick.com and Disney.com have them.

What are they interested in? Help them look it up. It will teach them computer skills as well. For instance, my eight year old son likes Monster Trucks so we recently looked up their tour schedule, profiles, etc.

Let them help you cook a meal or bake cookies.

Have a picnic on the living room floor.

Let them create a fort in the dining room (sheet over the table) and camp out there for the night.

Here are some more ideas that are not free, but cost very little:

Purchase some seeds and let them plant and tend to them. Pumpkins are a good idea this time of year!

Purchase some bird seed. Get a short, fat branch and roll it in peanut butter and then cover it in bird seed (the peanut butter will make it stick). Hang it from a branch and they can watch the birds have a meal.

Purchase some non drip paint, and tape the paper to the underside of the coffee table. Let them lay under the table and paint, Michaelangelo style.

I hope this helps, and I hope you and your boys have fun!

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