Kids Activities - Cheap Fun in the Sun

If you're like most parents, you don't have the time, money or energy to spend the entire summer taking your kids on every fun-filled adventure that's out there.

Following is a list of simple, low-cost kids activities that will make your summer days just as memorable:

Spread out a blanket. Spend some time gazing at cloud formations and deciding which animals or shapes they look like. Or get some books and encourage your children to take their reading outdoors.

Wish upon a star. Try sky-gazing with your kids and open up a world of fun and exploration. Grab some bug spray and everyone's sweaters and find a quiet spot away from the city lights. Although there is plenty to see with the naked eye consider investing in some binoculars and telescopes. You may want to further peak your children's interest in astronomy by taking a trip to the local library to learn more about shooting stars and constellations.

Go school park hopping. Pack a lunch and spend the day doing the circuit of local school playgrounds.

Fruit and veggie picking. Get your hands dirty and make the most of our summer bounty by harvesting fruit and vegetables at a U-pick farm.

Discovery diary. With a notebook in hand head out on a discovery hike. Encourage your children to draw or describe something they find during their travels. When they return, they can display their work on the refrigerator or bulletin board. Or better yet, have them create a scrapbook.

Some of these things are not like the others. Take your kids for a walk in the park, hike through the woods or stroll along a sandy beach. Ask your children to point out everything that doesn't belong. Take a garbage bag and carefully pick up any foreign items. Talk about cleaning up and taking care of the environment.

Draw on the sidewalk. With chalk, draw a giant tic-tac-toe game or hop scotch grid on the driveway. Or draw a long and winding road complete with gas station, parking lot, and stores.

Why not encourage your children to take some toy cars out for a spin? Some young artists may also want to try their hand at abstract expressionism. Washing away the masterpiece with a hose is almost as fascinating as creating it in the first place.

Organize a parade. Get all the neighborhood children together for a parade. Have your children send out flyers asking local kids to decorate their bikes, scooters and wagons for an after-dinner parade.

Host a game day. Invite some kids over to participate in an afternoon of fun and games. Have everyone wear comfortable clothes, runners and bring a bathing suit if there will be water activities.

Team games should focus on the taking part and having fun not on winning. Be sure to supply lots of refreshments.

Plan a party. Your children can enjoy several creative hours designing homemade invitations made of construction paper and stickers and deciding on the guest list, menu, and theme.

The party can be simple or whimsical, but it need not be elaborate. A large casserole dish of macaroni and cheese or hot dogs on the BBQ with watermelon and Kool-Aid should suffice for a menu.

Party suggestions include inviting neighborhood kids and their teddy bears for tea or hosting a community birthday bash where each guest brings a wrapped gift from a dollar store and everyone gets to blow out the candles on the cake. You might also try an 'awards party' in which guests fill out certificates of appreciation for one another, such as "To Amber, for being my bike riding buddy or "To Justin, for sharing your scooter."