Low Cost to No Cost Things To Do . . .

I originally intended for this to be a post titled “10 No Cost to Low Cost Educational, Yet Fun Things to Do With Your Child.”  However, I figured that I could come up with more than 10 free to practically free things to do with children that could also serve as means for learning.  And, I did.  So, here it is.  I hope this is helpful.  Check back for updates, as I never know when a light bulb will go off in my head and a useful idea will appear.  If you have any helpful suggestions please feel free to comment.

1.  Turn your own back yard or neighborhood into a science lab.  Believe it or not, there may be many things your own back yard just waiting to be “discovered.”  You and your child could pretend that you’re scientists or on a safari.  You can roam your back (or front yard) or perhaps the neighborhood in search of specimen from average to the unique, whether it be a multi-colored rock, a lady bug, dragon fly, a lighting bug or a beautiful leaf.  Items could be collected and observed in a plain jar. 

However, if you have the extra cash, you could spring for a science kit, complete with test tubes, glass slides and a microscope.  Prices range from $20 to over $100.  It’s all about how much you are or aren’t willing to spend.

2.  Take a trip to your local library.  Not only will you find books on just about every subject, most local libraries have computers with internet access that is either free or cost just several cents to use.  There, you can research what you found while out on the nature adventure in your back yard in reference books or on the internet.

3.  Visit your local park and simply delight in play.  You and your child could pretend that you’re in a land that you read about while visiting the library and simply imagine and play the afternoon away. 

4.  Get creative with your child.  If you don’t already have these items laying around your house, a trip to your local 99 cents store could get you some construction paper, markers, a pair of scissors and some glue.  Then you and your child will have all that you need to get busy creating cards for those you love, building paper airplanes for your paper airplane flying contest or anything else that the two of you can imagine.  This activity involves spending as little or as much as you wish.

5.  Get artsy with nature.  Using the pretty leaves that you found on your nature adventure and the paper and markers that you picked up at the 99 cents store, you and your child could create leaf rubbings.  The using books from your local library, the two of you could learn about the various types of leaves and trees.

6.  Visit your local zoo or a farm.  You can discuss the animals and their native habitats prior to your visit.  You can also check out books or read up on the internet after your visit and have your kids create a report or story and draw a picture to go along with it.  This could be a truly fun, yet educational outing for you and your child.

7.  Cook a meal together.  Using either a recipe from a cook book or an old family favorite, you can use this opportunity to teach your child measurement and temperature.  The two of you could discuss various methods of measurement and you could ask your child does he or she know the temperature at which water boils or an item freezes.   When all is said and done, the two of you could then sit down, perhaps joined by other family members, and enjoy a great meal together!

8.  Go shopping!  You can teach and practice everyday math skills by taking your child with you on your next trip to the grocery store.  It can be as simple as having your young child count the number of items that are in the shopping cart to having an older child add up items and then figure out the total cost of your groceries (including sales tax) before you reach the check out line.

9.  Hit the road!  You can teach your child direction and build upon math skills while running errands.  The next time  you and your child are out and about town, bring along a map and have your child calculate distances between your stops and home.  For younger children, you can quiz them on direction as simple as whether or not the car is making a left or right turn or if your vehicle heading north or south.

10.  Read your local newspaper together.  Any section will do and once you’ve finished, discuss or even quiz each other on what was read. 

11.  Compete to complete a word search or crossword puzzle.  Using either the crossword puzzles found in your local newspaper or a book of puzzles purchased at the 99 cents or drugstore, you and your child could compete to complete a puzzle.  This activity has the potential to sharpen spelling, memory and increase general knowledge.  The person who finishes last must do something kind and thoughtful for the other.

12.  Visit a museum together.  Most cities to many small towns have some kind of museum, whether large or small.  Many museums offer discounts for children and students.  Some even offer discounts based on the time and day of the week.  Scour the internet, your local newspaper  and even your phone book for museums and their contact information.

13.  Help those in need by volunteering together.  While this activity may be free for you and your child, the person or persons on the receiving end of your time, generosity and kindness stand to gain more than you may ever know.  Whether you and your child volunteer at a soup kitchen or help build a home via Habitat for Humanity, the learning potential is endless.  Not only could your child stand to gain practical knowledge through volunteering, but the lesson in compassion and kindness (especially in this day and age) is absolutely priceless.

14.  Help your child plan and start up a business.  Whether it be a lemonade stand, dog walking or car washing service, you could help your child plan the cost of purchasing supplies and teach them how to keep good records.  You could also help with marketing.  Together, the two of you could either create posters or fliers by hand or design them on a computer.