15 FREE, Fun Family Summer Activities!

Summer has arrived. The kids are home from school and ready for some fun. If you are looking for ideas for connecting as a family without breaking the bank, I have FIFTEEN of them for you!

1. Friday Night Picnics

I've mentioned our practice of Friday night picnics in previous posts. For many years, I have packed up whatever I made for supper and we have headed up to the local park overlooking the river. My oldest sons have consistently voted "Friday night picnics" as their favorite memory while growing up. 

Tips for a successful picnic: 

• Keep a picnic basket pre-packed with plates, cups, silverware, a tablecloth, and napkins. 

• We don't use paper plates. Instead we have special Melamine tableware, which is dedicated to our picnic supplies area. It is nice looking and fairly indestructible. 

• Remember to take along a container of wet-wipes for quick clean ups for faces or spills.

• Be sure to pack a couple of plastic grocery bags or a cloth bag (if you don't use plastic) for taking home dirty dishes.

• A few wooden clothespins can be handy for holding down the edges of the tablecloth in windy weather. 

• Stick a pack of plastic storage bags in the picnic basket. This is handy for transporting food back home, especially if a child has part of their pizza or sandwich leftover. 

• If you don't often make dessert (I don't) then this is the perfect time to include  brownies or cookies as a special Friday night treat. 

You can keep nearly anything hot (or cold) for a short time - even in the middle of summer. 

• Make pizza portable by creating homemade pizza pockets instead of a traditional round crust. Take them out of the oven and wrap in foil to keep warm. 

• Transport soup in a crock pot. A slow cooker will keep things hot for a mighty long time. And it ensures less spillage in the trunk or back of the vehicle.

• Wrap cold items in a kitchen towel and then surround them with several layers of newspaper in a cardboard box for transporting. This is a trick I learned from my Mother-in-law years ago! 
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2. Gourmet Popcorn and Movie Night

 

Give your kids the "movie experience" without the cost of tickets and snacks! 

Step 1:

Borrow a movie from your local public library. Alternately, you could also find something that everyone would enjoy on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or any other streaming service that you are currently paying for. I don't generally encourage paying any money for movies. But, I will admit that my 20 year old recently bought a Netflix subscription and I'm finding it a little addictive. But, then again, I'm not paying for it. 

Step 2: 

Get the snacks ready! For that full movie experience, I recommend freshly popped popcorn. Popcorn is inexpensive when you purchase it in bulk. We get 50# at a time from SAMS for under $50. Air popped popcorn is so easy and fast to make! You'll want to get out some fancy toppings for that bowl of goodness! 

Gourmet Popcorn Ideas!

• Mexican Fiesta (a mixture of chili, garlic, and onion powders)  

• French Toast (cinnamon and powdered sugar) 

• Taco Deluxe (taco seasoning, cheese powder, and lime zest) 

• Peanut Butter Cup (powdered sugar, PB2 powdered peanut butter, and cocoa) 

• Spicy Indian (curry powder, a touch of cinnamon, and hot sauce) 

• Cherry Delight (cherry Kool-aid mix and powdered sugar) 

3. Attend a free or inexpensive concert!

There are a plethora of opportunities to expose your kids to great music at no or low cost throughout the summer. We have listened to everything from Bach to the Blues! 

*For many more ideas and a list of ways and places to find free musical experiences, read this post: "Music Appreciation for Little or No Money" 

4. Have a fight! (with Nerf guns) 

Our oldest two sons sent this photo was sent to my husband and I after we challenged them to a Nerf gun fight.

They included this note: "Challenge accepted! Thursday night at 6pm. We are faster. We are smarter. The adults are goin' down!"

Our response was: "We are more experienced. We are sneakier. Game on!"

I am serious when I tell you that having a family fight has never been more joyful! As a bonus, it won't cost you a penny!

Use the brightly colored Nerf bullets. It's makes it easier to find the "bullets" after the "war" is over. Otherwise, you'll find orange foam pieces scattered all over the yard the next time you mow. *I may, or may not, know this bit of trivia from actual experience. LOL! 

5. Have a "you are the artist" night

Get out watercolors, markers, colored pencils, and art paper. Stream a Youtube art tutorial. Everyone creates their best rendition of the art technique being shown by the artist on the screen. Be sure to have awards to hand out at the end of the evening. 

6. Write a play and then perform it.  

You are the star! Let the kids write a short play and then everyone acts it out. You may choose a theme that you have been discussing with them. You could also begin by giving them a moral dilemma that their play needs to showcase. It helps kids brainstorm how to use drama to depict real life issues like lying, stealing, gossip, jealousy, and more. 

7.  Perform an "act of service" together.  

There are a multitude of opportunities for your family to serve others! From experience I will advise you to call the person or agency whom you'd like to serve and make sure that it's okay to bring along the kids. Many places like food banks have a minimum age to be able to volunteer. Also, new mothers sometimes like you to leave small children at home if they are having a particularly difficult adjustment period. So, be considerate to those whom you wish to bless and call ahead to let them know of your intentions.

Here are a few ideas for your consideration: 

• stock the shelves at a local food bank

• purchase inexpensive items for needy children

• send greeting cards to the sick, elderly, or shut-ins from church

• Take dinner to a family who has just had a new baby

• Offer to mow and trim the church lawn

• Visit a local nursing home 

8.  Go visit a local cemetery

Okay, I know that some people would not find this either exciting or something that they would choose to do in their spare time. But, my family has always been fascinated by history. You can find out a whole lot about history and spend time in a very peaceful place when you hike at cemeteries. In fact, one of our local historic cemeteries is quite the attraction. It's filled with beautiful places of rest and families, joggers, and hikers can be found there year-round. 

9.  Attend a free day at the local zoo or museum

I've mentioned this before, but it bears repeating: nearly all attractions have free days scattered throughout the year. Find out when they are and mark them on your calendar. That way you won't forget that family fun can be had for FREE on that day! 

No free day on the weekend you have time to explore as a family? Ask at your local library. Sometimes they have free passes that you can check out to go to local zoos or museums for free!

10. Listen to a book on tape together 

This is a nice change from a read-a-loud. In this case, you get to sit while a professional reads the book out loud to you. There is something different about the experience, sort of like listening to old time radio programs together. If you've never tried it, do give it a try. 

11. "Trade" music 

I got this idea because one day I found out that my oldest son had no idea who the Rolling Stones were! How could I have missed this critical element of his education?! Believe me, I quickly remedied that situation! Although, I must admit that I'm not sure he saw the beauty of the Stones in the same way that I did.

Pick and convenient time to play some tunes together as a family. Grab some snacks and some LPs. Well, as close as you can get to LPs anyway! Youtube has all the hits of a few decades ago. All you need to do is Google the title. Let your kids introduce you to their favorite music! Then have them tell you why they like it and what message they believe the music is trying to promote. Then, you get to do the same! Reach waaayyy back! Grab that disco sound and then watch their faces! Bonus points if you once danced to this music together - especially if you actually dated your spouse in high school.

12. Cook dinner together 

13. Let the kids create a "restaurant"  

This is a unique take on cooking together. In this case, the kids do the planning, cooking, and serving. The adults are the "customers" at their restaurant.

 My older boys loved doing this when they were younger. They took over the kitchen and created a menu based on items we already had in the house. They even had a logo for their eating establishment!  They named their restaurant and then used the computer to create a customized menu. The table was set with our nicest dishes and candles were lit. We were then invited to enter the restaurant and have a seat. One son stayed in the kitchen to plate our choices, while the other dressed in an apron and became our chef for the night. 

We always asked the chef to come in so we could compliment him on how amazing the food tasted. We tipped them both liberally and then the adults did the dishes, while the kids relaxed. Please understand that I have never owned a dish washer. So, my boys wash and dry the dishes every single night. Having us take over this task for them for the evening was a tremendous treat for them. 

14. Charades (on the front lawn if you are brave) 

Bonus points if you get the neighbors to join in! 

Charades are so much fun and it is amazing how quickly the little ones catch on! I have been delighted by how creative some of the youngest members of our family can be! 

15. Create a back yard obstacle course 

My older boys and I spent an entire day doing this when we were learning about physics. We decided to use all of our yard equipment to make an obstacle course, which would move a large ball from one end of the yard to the opposite end. We had to use a lot of science and spatial relationships to get it to work. When we were finally successful, I whooped and hollered, only to see the neighbor across the street standing in her front yard and laughing at my obvious enthusiasm. I yelled over that we were having a "ball" and we proceeded to high-five each other and figure out if we could reconfigure the course and get it to work again.

BONUS IDEA! -  Plan a "media free" month

When I mentioned to my oldest son that I was writing this article, he told me that the most impactful thing we ever did was to have a media free month. At one point, we realized that we were not connecting as a family in enough meaningful ways. So, we unplugged for 30 days. No computers, no television, no social media. It was amazing! After about one week, we were coming up with all sorts of interesting and enjoyable ways to be together! We absolutely loved it! So, maybe this summer is just the time for you to deliberately unplug from anything that requires a cord to run it and plug into spending time together! 

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Do all to the glory of God, 

Hope

Never Underestimate the Testimony of Your Children!

I blinked back tears as my 10 year old son once again begged me for piano lessons.  
We simply did not have the money. 

Raising children while living under the US national median income is not for the feint of heart.  It's just plain hard at times.  This was one of those times.

But, I had just read a book called, Raising Kids for True Greatness by Tim Kimmel.  In it, he encouraged parents not to limit what God can do in seemingly impossible situations.  Instead, he urged us to pray with our children and allow God to work.

Holy cow!  This was a challenge!

 

We had to be honest.  We told him that we truly did not have the money to pay for lessons.  But, we also encouraged him that we have a big God, who was more than able to provide if it was His will.  So, we joined hands and prayed.  John went happily off to play, while I sat down to pray in earnest.

"Lord, I know that we just prayed, but I want you to know that I beg you to do a miracle for my son and ensure that he can have the lessons that he wants so badly." 

 Prayer Answered!

Within a week, out of the blue a piano instructor called me.  I had asked her prices for lessons several months before. She began, "Are you still interested in lessons for John and, if so, would you be open to doing a barter?"

"Sure!  What do I have that you want?" I enthusiastically inquired. 

"It's not what you have, but who you have that I want," she replied. 

I was pretty excited, but her answer left me more than a little confused. 

It all became clear as she clarified, "I have seen the way your sons treat one another.  They are kind, gentle, peaceful, and Christlike.  In return for lessons for John, I would like both of your older boys to come to my home once a week and mentor my sons."  She was adopting five young children, who had just lost their mother to cancer.  

She finished by adding, "They need positive peers, so they understand what it means to be a young man who is following God. I just want your boys to spend time with my sons.  Play board games, talk to them, help them with homework.  Be their friend and role model."  

I was in tears - and humbled.  God had answered my prayer because of my own children's own testimony of how to treat one another with love and respect!  I asked James for his consent.  He immediately agreed to give of his time once a week so that his brother could have lessons.  

Then, I was able to tell John that not only had God answered, but He had answered as a specific blessing because of John's own behavior toward others! 

Wow!  His smile was worth more than money could ever provide! 

John's first recital

A year later, we had just enough income to reorganize our budget and fund the lessons.  Interestingly, when I called his instructor to tell her that we were now in a position to pay her for lessons, she responded that she was just going to call me.  It seems that her boys' school schedule had changed and there was no longer time for the weekly mentoring dates.  Once again, it was God's perfect timing. 

Here is a piece that John co-wrote and performed at Bradley University's summer piano camp when he was 14 years old.

John took lessons over the next several years.   I rarely had to remind him to practice the piano. He loved it!  He is now a young adult and still plays the piano and every time his fingers touch the keys he remembers how God personally reached down and answered his heart's desire.

Let your children know that God can use them and use their lives to bless others!  

Remember,

Do all to the glory of God, 

Hope

Teens and Cars

Cars are a big deal for teens.  I have 4 sons.  Nothing beats the thrill of driving by a gaggle of girls after school and honking your horn to give a friendly wave.  We have some pretty stiff rules for all of our boys when it comes to the coming-of-age tradition of getting their driver's license and their first car.

Here is a snapshot of our house rules for teens and cars:

When Obtaining a license:

                                                      1.  Have a job

                                                      2.  Have a $1000 emergency fund
                                                      3.  Pay for one year of insurance

 When Purchasing a car:

                                                      1.  We cover up to $2000

                                                      2.  The car goes in their name alone 
                                                      3.  The teen pays for insurance, repairs, 
                                                           and upkeep

 LET'S TALK ABOUT EACH INDIVIDUAL POINT: 

At age 16 we consider much of our financial obligation to our children to be completed.  We still pay for food, shelter, and medical expenses.  But, at this age we begin to transfer monetary responsibility to them.

 PART TIME JOB!

Before taking their driving test, they must have a part-time job.  There is no sense getting a license if you can't afford car insurance.  Our oldest took a job a little more than a mile from our home.  In good weather, he hoofed it back and forth to work.  If the weather was inclement, we took him.  We were willing to provide him transportation until he got his license, but he preferred to listen to music and think while he walked twenty minutes to and from work.  Our second son got a job about 3 miles from home.  We took him to and from his part-time job until he had saved an emergency fund and car insurance money.  Although it did make for a pretty busy life, especially when both boys started working, it was worth it to us to offer them transportation while they got up on their financial feet.

EMERGENCY FUND!

 This brings us to my second point.  Our children are required to have a $1000 emergency fund before getting their license.  We want the habit of having money set aside for a "rainy day" to be thoroughly ingrained in them before they leave our home.  Additionally, I can't imagine a time in their life when they will be able to more quickly and easily save up that $1000 than when they are still living under my roof and not paying room and board. 

CAR INSURANCE!

They must have enough money to pay for one year of insurance up front.  If you pay monthly, the insurance company tacks on a "convenience fee".  We try avoid all fees and teach our children to do the same.  My grown sons use Dave Ramsey's free budgeting app, Everydollar, to track their monthly expenses and save enough money monthly to cover their insurance bill in full when it arrives once a year.

When one of our sons gets his license, we charge him the difference between our current insurance policy and the amount it goes up when we add their name to the policy.  One small note:  If the child gets his or her license in the middle of our insurance cycle, then their portion of the insurance is prorated.  For instance, our second son got his license in May.  Our yearly insurance bill is due in August.  So, the insurance prorated the amount.  He paid us for his portion of the insurance for May through July.  Then, in August, he was responsible for his portion of the entire yearly bill when it arrived in August.

We do not provide a separate car for our sons to use.  We have two cars.  We don't need any more.  If they want exclusive use of a vehicle, then they can purchase one.

MOM AND DAD'S INCENTIVE PROGRAMS 

 But, wait!  There's more!  

FREE RIDE

As extra incentive to save money, we agreed to get them to and from work, free of charge, from age 16 until they got their license.  Our sons both worked an average of 15-20 hours a week during high school.  It took them 4 - 6 months to save up their $1000 emergency fund and enough for one year of car insurance.  Additionally, in our state a teen under the age of 18 must complete 50 hours of practice driving before obtaining a license.   They purchased cars at age 19 and 18, respectively. 

FREE MONEY

Just as there are requirements for getting a drivers license, there are requirements for getting a car.  We like to call our special incentive program the:  "Mom and Dad 401k Car Fund".  We modeled it after Dave Ramsey's car plan for his kids.  Just like some employers match a percentage of your 401K contributions, we match what they save toward a car - up to a certain amount.  We match the first $1000 that they save. Then, we match it again for the second $1000. Then, we stop.  Basically, if they find a set of wheels for $4000, then we have paid for half.  If they want to spend more money, then they are more than welcome to ante up with more of their own dough.  Our first son found a car for under $4000.  Our second son spent more.  It goes without saying that all vehicles are bought with cash.  No loans.

 

The title of the car went in their name and their name alone. They were responsible for insurance, gas, maintenance, licensing, etc.  We did find a local company who would bundle their insurance with ours, even though their vehicles were not in our name.  That saved them a little money every year.  Good student discounts saved them even more!  When they are paying their own bills, believe me, they will work hard for that "A" or "B" in order to save money on their insurance!

FREE GAS!

We did institute one more rule.  This is a fun one!   If we borrow their wheels (even to run to the store) we fill the gas tank for them.  They tend to offer their car to us for errands whenever their indicator dips below one-half a tank. Okay, I'm really a softie at heart.  We don't help them much monetarily and our cars are generally parked in the garage, while theirs are on the driveway.  So, it does make it convenient to grab their keys to run a quick errand, rather than move cars around.  But, having said that, it is fun to be a blessing to them when they least expect it.

Remember,

Do all to the glory of God,

Hope

Graduating Keyboard Geeks

Why You Should Use Computers in Homeschooling:
How This Computer Illiterate Mom Graduated Keyboard Geeks

1.     Teach your children to view technology as a tool, not a toy.   When my boys were younger, we had a “no game” policy.  Instead, we bought two older model Apple computers, set up two small desks in the basement, and allowed them to use their free time to learn to use computer programs.  Subsequently, they became proficient in the use of programs like, Word, Photoshop, and Power Point by middle school. 

2.     Employers are looking for students who can skillfully use computer programs.   Every job application that my boys have filled out has asked questions about their knowledge and use of computer programs.  Excel, PowerPoint, and Word were most frequently listed.  My son, John, has spent countless hours researching apps, programs, and tech products.  This passion spawned his desire to become an IT Specialist. 

3.    Computer programs can encourage your children to think outside-of-the-box.  My boys figured out how to combine their interest in photography and action figures to create stop-action “movies” using iMovie by 6^th grade.  

4.     You can use their interest in computers to create high school level classes.  During his junior year my son, James, created a graphic novel of Pilgrim’s Progress with action figures and small-scale props.  He edited the final product on his Apple computer and added speech bubbles.  We had the book comb bound and gave him credit for graphic arts. 

5.     Computers are the perfect fit for tactile learners!  The interaction between the keyboard and monitor can create the perfect combination to keep the interest of your “active” child, give them a feeling of satisfaction, and increase their understanding and comprehension. 

6.    Science and History can come alive through interactive websites!   I personally recommend: kids.nationalgeographic.com and www.history.com. Google can be your friend when your student needs help understanding anything from long division to rocket science!  An adult should do the searching unless you have an internet filter installed. 

7.     Computer literacy should be an integral part of your homeschool planning.  Computers are used DAILY in college.  Instructors communicate with students solely through digital means.  Assignments are given and submitted though the college website.  Research and writing are conducted using the internet.   Every student should also have a good understanding of how to effectively use search engines and databases.