As parents, we all yearn to provide our children with the best life experiences. When we grow up feeling deprived of some positive experiences in our childhood, we often try to compensate for this with our children. Unfortunately, we can become so preoccupied with providing our children with material things and monetary pleasures that we forget the importance of spending quality time with them.
Over the years, my children have taught me that some of their best experiences have happened without us ever spending a dime. Here are some of the things that my family has found enjoyable.
1 – Movie Night
Gone are the days of visiting Blockbuster and Hollywood Video. You can now find many movie options without ever leaving your couch. There are many options of streaming services to choose from, but my personal favorite is Amazon Prime.
Amazon Prime not only allows you to rent movies on demand, but you can also often get premium movies at no cost by signing up for a free trial of one of their many channel options.
If you want to give your children a real movie experience, a quick trip to your local dollar store can yield you some popcorn and snacks for less than the cost of a movie ticket.
2 – Laser Tag
Amazon has a variety of Laser Tag games that you can buy at various price points. Your children will love playing this! We picked up a low-cost option at Walmart several years ago and enjoyed many weekends of entertainment. Playing Laser Tag with your children is bound to create some very memorable experiences!
3 – Baking
You don’t have to spend much money to create some memories in the kitchen with your children. For under $10.00, you can buy a few packages of ready-made cookie dough and allow your children to bake cookies for you. Even my teenage daughter enjoys doing this on occasion. If you are even more daring and perhaps a better cook than I am, you can show them how to make cookies from scratch!
4 – Enjoy a Day in the Park
No matter their age, you can find something for your children to enjoy in your local park. If your local park is lackluster, don’t feel you must stick to a park close to home. A quick google search will allow you to find a park that offers a variety of fun.
A large open park is great for a picnic or football game. Many parks offer sprinklers to keep the kids cool during the summer. Don’t forget the swimsuits!
5 – Go for a Drive
My children love just getting in the car and going for a drive. If you don’t mind getting behind the wheel, a quick day trip would be a great way to spend time with your children and get them out of the house. Many places across the U.S. offer scenic views that are great places to explore.
Be careful, though. A drive in the car may be an easy excuse for your children to dive back into their electronics. My family and I recently enjoyed a day trip, but before the trip, I stopped by our local library the day before to let each of my children pick out books. I was surprised at how willing my children were to read when there was nothing else to do.
Summary
Spending quality time with our children is important for their emotional well-being. Understandably, it can be difficult to balance the demands of everyday life with our role as parents. However, you must remember that spending time with your children doesn’t have to be a grand event. You will be surprised at how much closer your children feel to you just by doing simple things as a family.
