Parenting: Fun Parent / Child Activities

April Masini’s Top Nine Tips To Entertain Kids Under 12 For Under $15

Tip #1:  A matinee or a rental movie is a great treat for most kids. Make some popcorn at home for your rental movie.

Tip #2:  Bake. Cookies, brownies, roast chicken — let your child help you make dinner.

Tip #3: Library trip. For free, you can take your kids to the library to check out books, DVDs and videos.

Tip #4:  Collages. Give your child a stack of old magazines, some scissors and glue. Let them make a big collage to hang in their room.

Tip #5:  The local YMCA has a great indoor, heated swimming pool. Take your kids for a winter swim. Or sign them up for a class.

Tip #6:  Tents. If you don’t mind the clean up after, give your child some sheets and let them make tents over the living room and dining room furniture. They will play there all day.

Tip #7:  Dress up. A trunk of dress up clothes will keep kids entertained for hours.

Tip #8:  Educational computer games. Ask your child’s teacher to recommend a few. A computer program that teaches children to type is great.

Tip #9: Too cold for lemonade? Let your kids make a cookie stand outside, and sell cookies. A garage sale that they run with their old stuff is great, too.