Low Cost Family Outings
Consider Covid-19 restrictions for all activities listed
Family outings should involve the kids in the planning
They will learn:
• Organizational skills
• Reasoning
• Budgeting
• Research
Send us your suggestions for family outings and we’ll add them to this list. talkaboutparenting@gmail.com
Local gardens, zoos and museums – all ages
Most have a monthly free day. Call to find out when. Preparation: Learn about the exhibits, animals, plants and flowers in the garden or museum. Additional activities (depending on ages): range from drawing pictures to writing a report worthy of using for a school/class assignment.
College/University campus – all ages
Beautiful, spacious and well-kept grounds. This adventure provides the opportunity for kids to see first-hand where their education can take them in the future. Discoveries are endless and the kids can turn their academic dreams into reality. Preparation: Research the history of the school. What famous people attended. Athletes? Actors/Actresses? Journalist? The possibilities are endless.
Tour your civic center – ages 4-11
Give your kids the chance to know more about the city or town they live in. Pre-activity: Reading about what makes a city work. Learning how to make a route map by adding to it the buildings and offices they will visit.
Take a walk – all ages
Walk and talk. Finding out what’s around the corner and up the block in your neighborhood is worth discovering. Then there’s local parks and walking/hiking paths and trails. Post-activity: what did the kids discover?
Books, Books, Books – all ages
Libraries provide computers, internet access and more books than the kids can ever read. A library card is something special to own. Kids learn responsibility when they understand the importance of returning books when they’re due.
Family events and programs are offered, free of charge, and cater to a wide range of ages and interests. Check with your local library and, also, visit these links for a fascinating experience:Link to audio storytelling presentation of an African Fable; Carlsbad Library for many do-at-home activities.
Book store – all ages
Bookstores have wonderful children’s sections. You don’t have to buy anything but can spend hours with the kids reading books in a great environment. Story Time and other children’s events take place on a regular basis.
Pet store/animal shelter – ages 2-10
They Will Learn:
proper care of pets
cost of owning a pet
pets aren’t just “cute”,
pets are a responsibility.
Ethnic festivals – ages 2-20
How important to learn about other cultures. Festivals offer music, costumed dancers, and information booths. Social Distancing will be important as well as wearing face masks.
Take A Ride – ages 5-10
A ride in the car can take on new importance when the activity of routing the venture is given to the kids. A tour of the town looking for specific landmarks is an excellent no-cost (well, gasoline) experience.
Get on the bus – ages 4-7
If you regularly use public transportation this isn’t for you. But for those holed up in their cars, a ride on the bus or subway is a great experience for youngsters. You don’t necessarily have to have a destination.
Learning? Awareness – local streets. Money-how to count change for exact fare
The show must go on – ages 7 – up
Reduced ticket prices for major theatrical performances are often available. Call performing arts centers for information on when and how reduced tickets are available.
Movies – ages 5 – up (only G rated)
Some families still enjoy GOING to movies. You don’t have to take all the children on the same movie day. This makes a special one-to-one outing. It reduces cost of activity. Only go to bargain matinees. AND most important DO NOT go to the snack bar. Get a treat somewhere after leaving the theater!
Butterflies – all ages
(1) Visit the Smithsonian Butterfly Pavilion on the second floor of the National Museum of Natural History, 10th St and Constitution Ave, N.W., Washington D.C. Open: 10am-5:30pm daily. Admission: The museum is free; the butterfly habitat is $6 for adults; $5 for children ages 2-12; $5.50 seniors 60+. No charge on Tuesday. For info and ticket reservation, call (202)633-1000 or visitwww.butterflies.si.edu/tickets/index.htm
(2) From late October to early March, Monarch Beach in Central California is the gathering site for millions of Monarch butterflies that swarm from Canada, the western United States and Mexico. Visitwww.pacificgrove.org/dirpages/butterflywatching.htm
Grocery shopping – ages 4- up
Make this an activity where the kids, depending on age, make a meaningful contribution instead of whining to buy this and buy that. Teach them to help prepare the shopping list! Each child can have a separate food category -produce, dairy, coupon items, etc. Predetermine how much each category might cost! Talk about what you have to spend. Include payment options – cash, check, credit card, EBT card.
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