FAMILY FUN FOR EVERY MOM

Most of the ideas I will offer you for family fun will cost you very little money. Few moms need ideas for having fun at Disneyland and I know you can find fun activities for kids if you have a thousand dollars in your wallet. I won’t be discussing vacations, hotel stays or amusements parks (as fun as they are). These are valuable topics, but there is already lots and lots of information available about them. What I am hoping to provide for you, my fellow moms, is cheap, hassle-free family fun, suitable for every budget.



SPRINGTIME ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS AND FAMILY FUN

It’s Spring and now we have longer days, a milder climate and more sunshine. The weather is changing and so is our landscape. New plants, leaves, flowers and creatures are emerging everyday. This makes Springtime an ideal time for outdoor family fun and activities for kids that capture the joy of discovery. Here are some great ideas for springtime family fun.

Taking a Hike for Family Fun. Hiking for family fun does not need to be complicated or intense. You need comfortable shoes, a hat, sunscreen, drinking water and appropriate clothing (layers for cool weather, long sleeves if mosquitoes or poison oak, ivy, sumac are a concern)

Local Parks: Many city and county parks have hiking trails, so even a walk in the park can be turned into a hiking adventure.

State and National Parks: Most State and National Parks have established hikes on cleared and safe trails. Many trails are even paved, making it very easy to give your kids the thrill of being a “hiker”.

Real Hiking: You can find hiking trails, hidden away in most areas. Check out Americal trails.org for state by state hiking guides or Localhikes.com for hikes near metropolitan areas.

In the Neighborhood: You can take a neighborhood hike. To make this an authentic “hike”, dress in hiking clothes, bring a backpack with a light snack and (if you think this is a good ideas for your family) let your kids use a walking stick. Walk somewhere you would usually drive, perhaps to a park or even a store. The focus here is on enjoying the hike, rather than getting to the destination.



Taking a Walk for Family Fun. If you only have a short amount of time and want to squeeze in some family fun, you can take a walk. Try taking one of these walks with your kids.

Nature walk: This is a truly fun activity for kids. A nature walk can be taken anywhere. A nature walk in the city can be exciting, because every bit of the natural world that pokes through can be seen as an amazing discovery. Look for plants that spring up in the cracks of the sidewalk, birds nesting, bugs, spiderwebs and animals of any kind. Squirrels and even dogs and cats can be imagined and talked about as though they were wild animals.

Adventure Walk: This walk is adventurous family fun because you never know where you will end up. When you come to a corner, flip a coin (twice) to determine which way to turn. You will either get two heads, two tails or a head and a tail. You can decide ahead of time which will be left, right or straight.

Discovery Walk: For some interesting family fun, walk a route that you would usually drive with your kids. Look for things that you have never noticed before. Point out interesting sights. Encourage you kids to use their best observation skills. You can add to the excitement of this activity for your kids by responding enthusiastically to each discovery that is made.

Sensory Walk: During this walk, pay attention to all five senses. What do you see, hear, smell and feel? Challenge your kids to stick out their tongues to see if they can taste the sunshine or the wind. 





Starting a Garden. Starting seeds in peat pots makes the whole process so much easier. Your kids, with a little supervision, can do most of this project (filling pots with soil, adding the seeds and water). Let the plants sprout and get a good start indoors, then in several weeks you can plant them in your garden. The peat pots are planted right in the ground with the plants.

Although not all kids will like gardening, most kids will find something fun about it. If your child likes digging, he can help turn over the soil. Allow your kids to help add the peat or soil nourishment. Most kids will also enjoy watering with a hose or a watering can.    

When you are testing your sprinkler system, as many of us do in the spring, let your kids run through the water. Better yet, join in and run through the sprinklers with them. You will be creating an amazing and enduring memory for your family.



Getting to Know Insects. Spring is a great time to do fun activities for kids that teach about insects and other creatures. Here are some simple and rather inexpensive ideas.

Butterflies: Classrooms often raise butterflies and this is something you can easily do at home if you wish. Butterfly kits and Pavilions can be purchased usually for about 20 to 30 dollars. You get about five caterpillars and everything you need to raise them to butterflies. You can also acquire caterpillars from your own yard and watch them as they go through their stages. Try this website for instructions on raising butterflies. 

Silkworms: These are not for squeamish moms, but are fascinating for kids. Raising silkworms is easy. They are slow moving and can be kept in an uncovered box, because they do not try to escape. The larvae (caterpillars) grow very fast, they spin a cocoon and then emerge as moths. Even the moths are slow moving. You can purchase your first batch of silkworm eggs and then when the adult moths lay eggs, store them in the refrigerator for next year. 

Meal Worms: This is a very cheap and easy way to observe the life cycle of an insect. You can buy meal worms in a pet store for just a few dollars. They are usually sold as food for reptiles. Put them in a jar with a little bit of uncooked oatmeal and a small slice of potato (they use this for water). Soon the meal worm will form a pupa and then in a few weeks will come out as a beetle. There are many websites for more instructions on raising meal worms.

Praying Mantis: You can purchase praying mantis egg cases at most nurseries for under 10 dollars.  They are about the size of a small walnut and contain a few hundred eggs.  Put the egg case in a jar with netting secured across the top (this is very important), then put it in a sunny place.  It may take a few weeks, but when the eggs hatch it is an event!  Hundreds of tiny, fully formed mantises stream out at once.  You can then release them out into your garden. Holes that you poke yourself or those in standard bug containers are too large.  If you don't use netting across the top you will end up with countless, minuscule mantises scurrying across your tabletop and a house full of shrieking kids (Been there; done that!).  
                                                                                           
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