lorac4disney
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2008
While this may not sound like your typical idea of family "fun", I believe that it is a very important family activity regardless of the age of the participants.
While looking for things to do, we volunteer. Not only does it enrich your lives, but it also enriches the lives of the people you touch. For our family, it is very important that we give back in whatever way we can. To me, time is more valuable than money.
It doesn't have to be anything huge either. Some of my best childhood memories are of visiting the local nursing home and spending time with the residents there. It was a win-win. As a small child, I got massive amounts of attention and affection from people who became like family to me while they got to "adopt" me and my siblings while their own families weren't able to be there. My kids were shy at first. Now they love it.
My Dad taught us to look after our neighbors. I spent many days cutting grass and planting flowers for my neighbors. Being nearly shut in, they looked forward to our visits and would always bake us the best goodies. My kids now make the same rounds I did.
We also spent a lot of time playing at the local park. That's where I learned to play tennis. Didn't cost a dime except to buy a racket and some balls. Wal-mart has some cheap ones.
Go fishing. Doesn't cost much after the initial investment in some poles, but instills a love of nature. I've found the best place to buy really cheap ones is at garage sales. Sometimes they give them away for free if it's for a child. Believe me, they NEVER forget the time they caught their first fish.
Another thing you might try is to contact your local 4H office. Sometimes they can hook you up with people who give free horseback riding lessons in exchange for volunteer work (cleaning stalls, feeding horses, etc.). I got my kids free lessons this way.
Hope this helps.
While looking for things to do, we volunteer. Not only does it enrich your lives, but it also enriches the lives of the people you touch. For our family, it is very important that we give back in whatever way we can. To me, time is more valuable than money.
It doesn't have to be anything huge either. Some of my best childhood memories are of visiting the local nursing home and spending time with the residents there. It was a win-win. As a small child, I got massive amounts of attention and affection from people who became like family to me while they got to "adopt" me and my siblings while their own families weren't able to be there. My kids were shy at first. Now they love it.
My Dad taught us to look after our neighbors. I spent many days cutting grass and planting flowers for my neighbors. Being nearly shut in, they looked forward to our visits and would always bake us the best goodies. My kids now make the same rounds I did.
We also spent a lot of time playing at the local park. That's where I learned to play tennis. Didn't cost a dime except to buy a racket and some balls. Wal-mart has some cheap ones.
Go fishing. Doesn't cost much after the initial investment in some poles, but instills a love of nature. I've found the best place to buy really cheap ones is at garage sales. Sometimes they give them away for free if it's for a child. Believe me, they NEVER forget the time they caught their first fish.
Another thing you might try is to contact your local 4H office. Sometimes they can hook you up with people who give free horseback riding lessons in exchange for volunteer work (cleaning stalls, feeding horses, etc.). I got my kids free lessons this way.
Hope this helps.
Go on a tour of your town's (or go to another town) with a picnic lunch -- different playground each week, then return to the ones they really like. The lunch doesn't need to be elaborate -- PBJ, juice box, chips, apple, etc.
