Website design By BotEap.comWhen you and your family are on a tight budget, sometimes one of the first things to cut is money for entertainment.

Website design By BotEap.comWhen our 3 children were young, my husband and I always tried to find fun things to do as a family that would not put a dent in our budget.

Website design By BotEap.comOne thing we recommend is reserving one night a week for “Family Fun Night”. Turn off the television and the phone and do something together. It doesn’t have to be an expensive outing, but plan ahead and let the kids have some input into your plan.

Website design By BotEap.comHere are some ideas for ‘family fun on a budget’.

Website design By BotEap.com1. Take a walk around your neighborhood. Say hello to everyone you meet, whether you know them or not. Point out to your children some of the beautiful things in nature, perhaps the beautiful sunset, someone’s beautiful flowers, the clouds in the sky.

Website design By BotEap.comTeaching them to enjoy and appreciate the simple things is one of the best gifts you can give your children. When you get home, indulge in homemade ice cream!

Website design By BotEap.com2. A great source of inexpensive entertainment is your public library. In our library, we can view family videos and puzzles, as well as books. Watch a video the whole family can enjoy and make popcorn (old-fashioned maybe; some kids don’t even know there is another kind other than microwave popcorn)

Website design By BotEap.com3. Have a family picnic in the park. Let the kids help prepare the food: make sandwiches, make a cooler, make cookies for dessert. The town we lived in when our children were little had a nice park with lots of playgrounds. It was a real treat for them.

Website design By BotEap.com4. During the school year, we took advantage of the entertainment the school had to offer. For example, a couple of times a year, the high school band has a free band concert. The Christmas concert was always our favorite. Some schools have drama clubs that offer plays from time to time. If you live in a college town, you will have access to more opportunities for free or low-cost concerts and plays.

Website design By BotEap.com5. In the summer, set aside a night to make homemade ice cream. Invite the grandparents to come and talk about the “old days.” Maybe you would even like to go as far as to make ice cream with a hand crank freezer. If your parents don’t live nearby, consider inviting an older couple or someone from your neighborhood. They will enjoy it and your children will too!

Website design By BotEap.com6. During the winter months when it is impossible to go outside, make hot chocolate and read a classic book aloud, in installments. Research shows that children who are read to from an early age are better readers.

Website design By BotEap.comI’m sure you get the idea by now. What you do on family night may not be as important as just doing it! Keep it simple and fun!

Website design By BotEap.com– Good character, like a good soup, is usually homemade!