Loosen Up! Family Fun Activities Are Free and Worth It!

Tight budgets, increasing debt, and even unemployment can make family bonding through play seem difficult to do for lack of funds. The good news it that fun family activities don't have to cost, and they can bring relief and laughter to the whole family.

If you sit down with your children and made a list of family activity ideas that are low cost or free you may be surprised how many things there are to do, and how many things your children wish you did with them. So sit down and write the list

 then pull one idea off your list each week do it, and then do another the next week.

Here's a list to get you started:

• fly kites
• play board games
• do puzzles
• make cookies together
• sing together
• jump on the trampoline together
• dance in the dark with someone holding the spot light (a flashlight)
• have puppet shows (the children love seeing mom and dad's shows!)
• paint together
• slip and slide
• play basketball or kickball
• water fights
• play party games like Charades or Pictionary

Anything that Mom and Dad do with the children and really get into, equals fun times for the children, and helps families thrive.

Some family fun may be spontaneous or created by the children. Here's an example:

One summer my children decided to "play camping". Their friend found lots of old odds and ends around the house and garage and loaded them into his wagon and brought them over to play. The children loved it so much, they asked me if they could take some of their money to the local thrift shop and buy some old things to play camping with. We went. There they bought dishes and old telephones and other odds and ends for their new game. They were in heaven picking the new toys and had even more fun paying for them with their own money. Then it came time to play and they never wanted to stop, especially when we parents joined in.
Games like this is better than any high-priced attraction. This kind of play is the best part of being a child and lasts for days and days. We all remember this summer fondly.

Parents need to loosen up. We take life too seriously. If we let ourselves have fun and be crazy, then the children will have fun. No, they will have a blast! which often translates into a more positive home life for all. In fact, teaching children that it is OK to act silly and have fun helps them develop self-confidence!

Family life was meant to be fun. So, let loose, play with your family. Plan times at least every week to let loose and enjoy each other. Life will be more enjoyable for the whole family. Isn't that what we all want anyway? Good times and happy relationships with the ones we love? So why wait? It's free!

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