Summer Activities Do Not Have to Cost an Arm and a Leg

By Trisha Gedon, Oklahoma State University

First posted on 07-01-2009

Now that families have a few weeks of summer under their belts, parents may be wondering how they are going to afford to keep their children occupied for the next several weeks.

The economy is down, unemployment is up and parents are discovering they may have to say no to the many requests for summer activities.

Having to repeatedly say no to requests from children – even reasonable requests – can be difficult for parents, said Debbie Richardson, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension parenting assistant specialist.

“It’s no secret the summer camps and activities can take a chunk out of a family’s budget. If you’re looking for ways to keep your children entertained and still have money in the bank, just think back to your own childhood,” Richardson said. “Even just as few as 25 years ago there were more stay-at-home moms. Those moms took their children to the local library, went on walks and simply played outside. These activities not only don’t cost anything, they also will help build a lifetime of memories for children. Families didn’t have expensive ‘gadgets’ such as computers and video games to keep children occupied.”

Remember that is it OK, and even beneficial, to let children entertain themselves. Parents can encourage children to draw, read or listen to music. Get other children in the neighborhood together and have them write a play and perform it for parents. Cards and board games also are great alternatives to sitting around and watching movies all day.

“Activities in which children can be creative have so many benefits,” she said. “They learn to expand their thinking and also can enhance their social skills if they’re involved in a group project. Coloring books, crayons, paints and even sidewalk chalk give children many opportunities to express themselves.”

If your children have an over abundance of toys, box up about a third of them and store them for a month or more. When your children say they are bored, bring out the box of “new” old toys. It is likely your children had forgotten about these toys and will be excited to play with them again.

“With today’s economy, some parents may feel bad about having to say no to certain requests from their children,” Richardson. “It’s important to keep in mind the quality of the time you spend with your children as opposed to the amount of money you spend to keep them entertained.”

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