Comments on: 10 Relatively Cheap Ways to Keep Your Kids Entertained During the Summer http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/04/10-relatively-cheap-ways-to-keep-your-kids-entertained-during-the-summer/ A personal finance blog dedicated to discussing such topics as budgeting, asset allocation, 401K, IRA, cash flow, insurance, financial planning, portfolio management, and other areas in personal finance. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:56:44 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: DebtMan http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/04/10-relatively-cheap-ways-to-keep-your-kids-entertained-during-the-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-318525 DebtMan Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:59:36 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/04/10-relatively-cheap-ways-to-keep-your-kids-entertained-during-the-summer/#comment-318525 This post is very interesting.... Another interesting way to get out, depending on if the interest is there is something called geocaching. Yes you need to buy a GPS, and it takes some tech savvy, but it is a great way to just get out. It helps to have some parks around, or national parks but still a nice way to get out and do something, without breaking the bank. I have to agree http://www.kimberlycredit.com This post is very interesting….
Another interesting way to get out, depending on if the interest is there is something called geocaching. Yes you need to buy a GPS, and it takes some tech savvy, but it is a great way to just get out. It helps to have some parks around, or national parks but still a nice way to get out and do something, without breaking the bank.

I have to agree
http://www.kimberlycredit.com

]]> By: David http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/04/10-relatively-cheap-ways-to-keep-your-kids-entertained-during-the-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-318515 David Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:31:26 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/04/10-relatively-cheap-ways-to-keep-your-kids-entertained-during-the-summer/#comment-318515 How about swimming at a local pool, lake, river, ocean etc? How about swimming at a local pool, lake, river, ocean etc?

]]> By: Foobarista http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/04/10-relatively-cheap-ways-to-keep-your-kids-entertained-during-the-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-318354 Foobarista Thu, 05 Jun 2008 07:51:59 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/04/10-relatively-cheap-ways-to-keep-your-kids-entertained-during-the-summer/#comment-318354 One thing: let them do things _without_ their parents. Way too many kids do dumb things as young adults, and I'm convinced that part of the problem is they never learned to be by themselves as kids. One thing: let them do things _without_ their parents. Way too many kids do dumb things as young adults, and I’m convinced that part of the problem is they never learned to be by themselves as kids.

]]> By: JK http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/04/10-relatively-cheap-ways-to-keep-your-kids-entertained-during-the-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-318347 JK Thu, 05 Jun 2008 07:10:21 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/04/10-relatively-cheap-ways-to-keep-your-kids-entertained-during-the-summer/#comment-318347 Another interesting way to get out, depending on if the interest is there is something called geocaching. Yes you need to buy a GPS, and it takes some tech savvy, but it is a great way to just get out. It helps to have some parks around, or national parks but still a nice way to get out and do something, without breaking the bank. http://www.geocaching.com Another interesting way to get out, depending on if the interest is there is something called geocaching. Yes you need to buy a GPS, and it takes some tech savvy, but it is a great way to just get out. It helps to have some parks around, or national parks but still a nice way to get out and do something, without breaking the bank.

http://www.geocaching.com

]]> By: D. Flor http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/04/10-relatively-cheap-ways-to-keep-your-kids-entertained-during-the-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-318318 D. Flor Thu, 05 Jun 2008 04:29:01 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/04/10-relatively-cheap-ways-to-keep-your-kids-entertained-during-the-summer/#comment-318318 I don't have kids, but here are some low-cost ideas for anyone who has free time. I live in a city so these ideas would have to be customized to your area. Volunteer time at a non-profit organization of their choice. Kids can visit nursing homes, animal shelters, etc. and help out. Churches and youth organizations may need murals painted or computer repairs or just some cleanup. I don't know what the age limits are for home-building charities like Habitat for Humanity, but that is a great choice for someone who likes building. I volunteered during high school and it really helped teach me compassion and community building. Other charity work: have them plan a fundraiser for their favorite charity, maybe in conjunction with a church, youth group, etc. eg. a benefit potluck, bake sale, car wash... Ask them if they were the president, pastor, chairperson how they would raise money to support the charity. This is a way to discuss budgeting and donating/tithing. As a family, sign up for a charity walk/run/bike event. Train together in advance and then participate together. Also available at libraries: - summer chess club: free, fun, and builds intelligence - free DVD's and music instead of paying full price at the movie theater Local universities frequently have free speakers open to the public. This is a great free introduction to the world of art, politics, history, and current events. It's also great prep for college. This can be a good family night with a low cost dinner out. Street/city festivals - My city has free festivals where they showcase music, dance, and culture. Anyone can attend for free - Latin/Hispanic festival, Hindu/India festival, Muslim festival, African festival...etc. It's a free entry and low cost way to sample international foods and be exposed to new cultures. For little kids: Take them to the local airport and sit in an accessible lounge (before the security checkpoint)where they can watch the planes land and take off. Pack a picnic lunch or snacks and talk about planes and trips. (My former co-worker's two little boys loved this day trip with their mom.) When I was a little kid, I loved watching the trains arrive and depart from the town's train platform, so a trip to a train station can work too. If your children are learning a foreign language in school, you can: - look for places in your area where that language may be spoken and go there (may require supervision depending upon area) - seek out free foreign-language newspapers and do translation projects - seek out exchange students, ESL students, or immigrants who may attend your local church, youth group, schools, or other local organizations and do language swap time - at the library or video store look for movies in the foreign language that would be suitable for the kids' age group - when you are doing the cooking lessons try some new foods from a grocery store from a different culture. Search the internet for new recipes for dishes from that culture. If the kids like learning about investing, have an investing contest where they get $100,000 in fake money to invest and have them build a portfolio. This will really get them thinking about investment types. The winner is the person with the most appreciated portfolio (or some other metric you decide upon). The winner gets a bonus treasury bond, or an extra few shares of stock, or some savings reward. Have fun! D. I don’t have kids, but here are some low-cost ideas for anyone who has free time. I live in a city so these ideas would have to be customized to your area.

Volunteer time at a non-profit organization of their choice. Kids can visit nursing homes, animal shelters, etc. and help out. Churches and youth organizations may need murals painted or computer repairs or just some cleanup. I don’t know what the age limits are for home-building charities like Habitat for Humanity, but that is a great choice for someone who likes building. I volunteered during high school and it really helped teach me compassion and community building.

Other charity work: have them plan a fundraiser for their favorite charity, maybe in conjunction with a church, youth group, etc. eg. a benefit potluck, bake sale, car wash… Ask them if they were the president, pastor, chairperson how they would raise money to support the charity. This is a way to discuss budgeting and donating/tithing.

As a family, sign up for a charity walk/run/bike event. Train together in advance and then participate together.

Also available at libraries:
- summer chess club: free, fun, and builds intelligence
- free DVD’s and music instead of paying full price at the movie theater

Local universities frequently have free speakers open to the public. This is a great free introduction to the world of art, politics, history, and current events. It’s also great prep for college. This can be a good family night with a low cost dinner out.

Street/city festivals – My city has free festivals where they showcase music, dance, and culture. Anyone can attend for free – Latin/Hispanic festival, Hindu/India festival, Muslim festival, African festival…etc. It’s a free entry and low cost way to sample international foods and be exposed to new cultures.

For little kids: Take them to the local airport and sit in an accessible lounge (before the security checkpoint)where they can watch the planes land and take off. Pack a picnic lunch or snacks and talk about planes and trips. (My former co-worker’s two little boys loved this day trip with their mom.) When I was a little kid, I loved watching the trains arrive and depart from the town’s train platform, so a trip to a train station can work too.

If your children are learning a foreign language in school, you can:
- look for places in your area where that language may be spoken and go there (may require supervision depending upon area)
- seek out free foreign-language newspapers and do translation projects
- seek out exchange students, ESL students, or immigrants who may attend your local church, youth group, schools, or other local organizations and do language swap time
- at the library or video store look for movies in the foreign language that would be suitable for the kids’ age group
- when you are doing the cooking lessons try some new foods from a grocery store from a different culture. Search the internet for new recipes for dishes from that culture.

If the kids like learning about investing, have an investing contest where they get $100,000 in fake money to invest and have them build a portfolio. This will really get them thinking about investment types. The winner is the person with the most appreciated portfolio (or some other metric you decide upon). The winner gets a bonus treasury bond, or an extra few shares of stock, or some savings reward.

Have fun!

D.

]]> By: Foobarista http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/04/10-relatively-cheap-ways-to-keep-your-kids-entertained-during-the-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-318316 Foobarista Thu, 05 Jun 2008 03:59:20 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/04/10-relatively-cheap-ways-to-keep-your-kids-entertained-during-the-summer/#comment-318316 The best thing I got for summer was a bus day pass. I loved to just go places and people-watch as an early teenager, and would go to ballgames and such with friends. The best thing I got for summer was a bus day pass. I loved to just go places and people-watch as an early teenager, and would go to ballgames and such with friends.

]]> By: KC http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/04/10-relatively-cheap-ways-to-keep-your-kids-entertained-during-the-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-318254 KC Wed, 04 Jun 2008 21:08:46 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/04/10-relatively-cheap-ways-to-keep-your-kids-entertained-during-the-summer/#comment-318254 I was just going to say what Matt said - dump them on the grandparents! LOL. I don't have kids, but if I do they will be spending a week or more in the summer with each set of grandparents. The closest set is 8 hours away so that is driveable, but it'd still be worth the price of a plane ticket :D Besides they need to learn what life is like outside a big city and rural NC sounds like a good place to me!! I was just going to say what Matt said – dump them on the grandparents! LOL. I don’t have kids, but if I do they will be spending a week or more in the summer with each set of grandparents. The closest set is 8 hours away so that is driveable, but it’d still be worth the price of a plane ticket :D Besides they need to learn what life is like outside a big city and rural NC sounds like a good place to me!!

]]> By: Matt http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/04/10-relatively-cheap-ways-to-keep-your-kids-entertained-during-the-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-318226 Matt Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:11:25 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/04/10-relatively-cheap-ways-to-keep-your-kids-entertained-during-the-summer/#comment-318226 Hey JLP - don't forget to include leaving them with the grandparents if they live relatively close by. I know this isn't necessarily something you do with your kids but I always liked spending a week with my grandparents - they spent tons of time with me and kept me entertained. I'll do the same with my kids Hey JLP – don’t forget to include leaving them with the grandparents if they live relatively close by. I know this isn’t necessarily something you do with your kids but I always liked spending a week with my grandparents – they spent tons of time with me and kept me entertained. I’ll do the same with my kids

]]> By: Becki http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/04/10-relatively-cheap-ways-to-keep-your-kids-entertained-during-the-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-318196 Becki Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:47:56 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/04/10-relatively-cheap-ways-to-keep-your-kids-entertained-during-the-summer/#comment-318196 Our summers usually end up pretty packed! We go to our church's VBS, volunteer at a local Kid's Camp for 2 weeks, day trips to Galveston, Houston, or the beach, an educational camp of some sort (through school) and a lot of swimming! I know some people that go to 3 or 4 Vacation Bible Schools over the summer, and those are FREE!! Our summers usually end up pretty packed! We go to our church’s VBS, volunteer at a local Kid’s Camp for 2 weeks, day trips to Galveston, Houston, or the beach, an educational camp of some sort (through school) and a lot of swimming! I know some people that go to 3 or 4 Vacation Bible Schools over the summer, and those are FREE!!

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