Comments on: 10 More Ways To Entertain Young Children For $1 Or Less (Without The TV) http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/ Simple, applicable personal finance advice for the modern world Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:02:42 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Lenetta @ Nettacow http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-760112 Lenetta @ Nettacow Sat, 22 Aug 2009 20:25:54 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/#comment-760112 I linked to this on my weekly roundup post last week. Thanks! I linked to this on my weekly roundup post last week. Thanks!

]]> By: MICHELLE http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-733276 MICHELLE Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:40:30 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/#comment-733276 My son and I have tried so many of those things, things I did as a bored only child. It should not take a ton of money for entertaining children. They have huge imaginations. My son tells me I'm cheap all the time, but once you factor out things that cost money, I ask him what he wants to do. There are so many things sonce we tear ourselves away from the TV or PCs. We go for bike rides, walks, feed the ducks nearby, visit friends and family. We did the fort with blankets and couch cushions. The library is always nice. We dance and love playing Guitar Hero together. Another big favorite is any kind of game that involves a ball of some sort. There are not too many kids around us, so we play alone a lot. We make up our own games. Sometimes there is a big mess later with a home experiment, but it is worth it. He loves to color, make paper airplanes (or anything). He loves "playing school" and even prints activities himself from the internet. As a single mom, I don't have a ton of money or time, but we make the most of it because he won't be young forever. My son and I have tried so many of those things, things I did as a bored only child. It should not take a ton of money for entertaining children. They have huge imaginations.
My son tells me I’m cheap all the time, but once you factor out things that cost money, I ask him what he wants to do. There are so many things sonce we tear ourselves away from the TV or PCs. We go for bike rides, walks, feed the ducks nearby, visit friends and family. We did the fort with blankets and couch cushions. The library is always nice. We dance and love playing Guitar Hero together. Another big favorite is any kind of game that involves a ball of some sort. There are not too many kids around us, so we play alone a lot. We make up our own games.
Sometimes there is a big mess later with a home experiment, but it is worth it. He loves to color, make paper airplanes (or anything). He loves “playing school” and even prints activities himself from the internet. As a single mom, I don’t have a ton of money or time, but we make the most of it because he won’t be young forever.

]]> By: Rhonda http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-80408 Rhonda Tue, 02 Oct 2007 02:58:08 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/#comment-80408 If you will call your local newspaper, they will often give you, for free or a very small price, rolls of unused newsprint that are the ends of the rolls. We can get ours at our local newspaper on Thursdays at 1:00 for 50 cents to $1.00 per roll, depending on size. These are enough to last a loooong time. You cut off enough to roll out on the table for free art. You can cut off one the length of your child, trace him, and let him decorate himself for a self-portriat. The uses are endless! If you will call your local newspaper, they will often give you, for free or a very small price, rolls of unused newsprint that are the ends of the rolls. We can get ours at our local newspaper on Thursdays at 1:00 for 50 cents to $1.00 per roll, depending on size. These are enough to last a loooong time.

You cut off enough to roll out on the table for free art. You can cut off one the length of your child, trace him, and let him decorate himself for a self-portriat. The uses are endless!

]]> By: Tisha http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-80185 Tisha Mon, 01 Oct 2007 19:14:05 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/#comment-80185 Some of my best memories were inside a cardboard box. My Great Grandma would give us a box and a box of chalk and we would spend hours playing. You never know what a child will draw!! Some of my best memories were inside a cardboard box. My Great Grandma would give us a box and a box of chalk and we would spend hours playing. You never know what a child will draw!!

]]> By: Emma http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-56595 Emma Sun, 12 Aug 2007 23:14:42 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/#comment-56595 I can't wait to try some of these with my grandchildren. Thanks. I can’t wait to try some of these with my grandchildren. Thanks.

]]> By: The Festival is Up! on Consumerism Commentary: A Personal Finance Blog http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-54939 The Festival is Up! on Consumerism Commentary: A Personal Finance Blog Wed, 08 Aug 2007 04:23:40 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/#comment-54939 [...] a Budget Motivates Me to Act Frugally, Some Fast Food For Thought, and 10 More Ways to Entertain Young Children For $1 or Less (Without the TV). Here is more information on the Festival of [...] [...] a Budget Motivates Me to Act Frugally, Some Fast Food For Thought, and 10 More Ways to Entertain Young Children For $1 or Less (Without the TV). Here is more information on the Festival of [...]

]]> By: tehnyit http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-54881 tehnyit Wed, 08 Aug 2007 00:49:11 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/#comment-54881 We made our own rattle but putting a hand full of rice into plastic bottles, sometimes we use dried peas or corn. We made our own rattle but putting a hand full of rice into plastic bottles, sometimes we use dried peas or corn.

]]> By: Jenners http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-54778 Jenners Tue, 07 Aug 2007 18:28:50 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/#comment-54778 I raised my kids in West Africa and when they were babies I carried them on my back in a 2 yard length of fabric like the locals. Subsequently each child has kept their personal 'bambaran' (as they are called here) and used them for all kinds of play activities: tent, picnic cloth, wrap around skirt or dress, baby doll blanket; the list is endless. I would personally recommend every child be given 2 yards of cloth just to play with. To this day, my 22y.o. has hers and now uses it as a shawl, still a picnic blanket, to wrap bundles, etc. I raised my kids in West Africa and when they were babies I carried them on my back in a 2 yard length of fabric like the locals. Subsequently each child has kept their personal ‘bambaran’ (as they are called here) and used them for all kinds of play activities: tent, picnic cloth, wrap around skirt or dress, baby doll blanket; the list is endless. I would personally recommend every child be given 2 yards of cloth just to play with. To this day, my 22y.o. has hers and now uses it as a shawl, still a picnic blanket, to wrap bundles, etc.

]]> By: m360 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-52745 m360 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 02:56:10 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/#comment-52745 Some think the only way to form lasting moments with their children is to spend money. Although taking a vacation to another country, going to a concert, etc. can be priceless, it need't be. Just spending time with your family will build memories. Especially the unique things that nobody else can relate to. Anyone can take their family on a trip, but teaching a youngster how to cook/bake teaches valuable skills and builds life-long memories. I remember assisting in a lot of cooking as a young child, making all kinds of things, including home made pasta dough, raviolli, perogi's. Like in Trent's post on gardining with his grandfather. Besides the memories, there are valuable lessons to be learned from these things and skills that can be applied later in life. There is something to be learned from building/making something with one's bare hands. Even if it's building a fort with bedding, making a snow fort, or building a tree house. I was lucky to learn how to crochet and sew. These are valuable skills my mom taught me. It was also a time to bond. I am honored to know these skills, because they are dying arts. They are also conversation pieces later in life. During a lesson on baking bread, my mom found some old yeast in the cupboard. She doubted that it would work but I wanted to try anyway. The dough took longer to rise but the bread came out perfect. By trouble shooting, we also learned that letting the bread rise in the oven with the oven light on gave just enough heat to make it rise. Also, when we teach our kids something new, we are bound to learn something as well. When kids grow up and show that they learned something from their parents, it makes them proud, the fruits of their labor. You don't have to smother a child with $ in order to be the very best parent. Playing board/card games, depending on age, can be a fairly cheap way to have fun, learn how to count, read, learn good sportsmanship skills and learn about taking turns too. A lot of times games can be obtained cheap from thrift stores/yard sales. Taking a walk and pointing out different birds, trees, plants, etc. can be a fun way to learn too. Also, especially for young kids, a whole box of 64 crayons can be purchased for $1 at the dollar store. The colors may not be as vibrant but if someone is on a budget, it works. Junk mail is great for drawing on. Envelopes can work too. It can be a lot of fun to use items that would have been thrown out for craft projects. Some think the only way to form lasting moments with their children is to spend money. Although taking a vacation to another country, going to a concert, etc. can be priceless, it need’t be. Just spending time with your family will build memories. Especially the unique things that nobody else can relate to. Anyone can take their family on a trip, but teaching a youngster how to cook/bake teaches valuable skills and builds life-long memories. I remember assisting in a lot of cooking as a young child, making all kinds of things, including home made pasta dough, raviolli, perogi’s.

Like in Trent’s post on gardining with his grandfather. Besides the memories, there are valuable lessons to be learned from these things and skills that can be applied later in life. There is something to be learned from building/making something with one’s bare hands. Even if it’s building a fort with bedding, making a snow fort, or building a tree house.

I was lucky to learn how to crochet and sew. These are valuable skills my mom taught me. It was also a time to bond. I am honored to know these skills, because they are dying arts. They are also conversation pieces later in life.

During a lesson on baking bread, my mom found some old yeast in the cupboard. She doubted that it would work but I wanted to try anyway. The dough took longer to rise but the bread came out perfect. By trouble shooting, we also learned that letting the bread rise in the oven with the oven light on gave just enough heat to make it rise.

Also, when we teach our kids something new, we are bound to learn something as well. When kids grow up and show that they learned something from their parents, it makes them proud, the fruits of their labor.

You don’t have to smother a child with $ in order to be the very best parent. Playing board/card games, depending on age, can be a fairly cheap way to have fun, learn how to count, read, learn good sportsmanship skills and learn about taking turns too. A lot of times games can be obtained cheap from thrift stores/yard sales. Taking a walk and pointing out different birds, trees, plants, etc. can be a fun way to learn too.

Also, especially for young kids, a whole box of 64 crayons can be purchased for $1 at the dollar store. The colors may not be as vibrant but if someone is on a budget, it works. Junk mail is great for drawing on. Envelopes can work too. It can be a lot of fun to use items that would have been thrown out for craft projects.

]]> By: ChiaLynn http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-52585 ChiaLynn Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:24:49 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/#comment-52585 My husband tells me that adding glycerin to the play-dough will also help keep it supple. My husband tells me that adding glycerin to the play-dough will also help keep it supple.

]]> By: Jason http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-52309 Jason Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:33:02 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/#comment-52309 tickle fights are fun until someone pees their pants (it's not always the kid!) tickle fights are fun until someone pees their pants (it’s not always the kid!)

]]> By: Erica http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-52002 Erica Tue, 31 Jul 2007 07:43:29 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/#comment-52002 We made "goop" recently, it was a lot of fun. We made “goop” recently, it was a lot of fun.

]]> By: Isis Uptown http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-51956 Isis Uptown Tue, 31 Jul 2007 02:48:26 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/#comment-51956 Today, at Zion National Park, I saw a boy and a girl spend quite some time trying to catch a lizard. If you have harmless lizards in your yard, maybe let your child try to catch one. The little girl did catch the lizard; she didn't hurt it. Today, at Zion National Park, I saw a boy and a girl spend quite some time trying to catch a lizard. If you have harmless lizards in your yard, maybe let your child try to catch one.

The little girl did catch the lizard; she didn’t hurt it.

]]> By: Jen http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-51908 Jen Mon, 30 Jul 2007 23:49:44 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/#comment-51908 Last Thursday, I was making dinner in our kitchen, and I looked out the back window to see my husband and 2yr old running around the backyard with their noses skyward and their mouths open. It's one of those moments that just makes me happy. Also, combine a box of cornstarch and enough water to make "goop", it's solid, but if you hold it, it'll run through your fingers. Lots of fun. Last Thursday, I was making dinner in our kitchen, and I looked out the back window to see my husband and 2yr old running around the backyard with their noses skyward and their mouths open. It’s one of those moments that just makes me happy.

Also, combine a box of cornstarch and enough water to make “goop”, it’s solid, but if you hold it, it’ll run through your fingers. Lots of fun.

]]> By: dznomore http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-51901 dznomore Mon, 30 Jul 2007 23:00:10 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/#comment-51901 Tip for the Playdoh I've been a preschool special ed teacher for 20 years. This is the best recipe but the trick is to mix the dry ingredients in a pot. Then add the oil to the hot water, cook on med med low until bubbly, mixing the entire time. Take off heat, let cool, spill out and knead. It holds for weeks if you do it this way. Also, add cool-aid for color and scent, it's worth the thirthy cents!!! Tip for the Playdoh

I’ve been a preschool special ed teacher for 20 years. This is the best recipe but the trick is to mix the dry ingredients in a pot. Then add the oil to the hot water, cook on med med low until bubbly, mixing the entire time. Take off heat, let cool, spill out and knead. It holds for weeks if you do it this way.
Also, add cool-aid for color and scent, it’s worth the thirthy cents!!!

]]> By: Amanda http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-51893 Amanda Mon, 30 Jul 2007 22:24:53 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/#comment-51893 As a former teacher, another tip with the Play Dough is to put it into ziploc bags for storage and get a few more uses out of it! As a former teacher, another tip with the Play Dough is to put it into ziploc bags for storage and get a few more uses out of it!

]]> By: Mitch http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-51873 Mitch Mon, 30 Jul 2007 21:12:05 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/#comment-51873 The itsy-bitsy spider has saved me many, many times around toddlers. It has enough motion to be interesting, but is mild enough to calm down some frenzy, soothe to sleep a child who fights it. The itsy-bitsy spider has saved me many, many times around toddlers. It has enough motion to be interesting, but is mild enough to calm down some frenzy, soothe to sleep a child who fights it.

]]> By: Tim http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-51861 Tim Mon, 30 Jul 2007 20:19:55 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/#comment-51861 Wouldn't it be better to composte your playdoh? The same as the plastic water bottles - maybe your area doesn't have recycling, which is a shame if so... Wouldn’t it be better to composte your playdoh?

The same as the plastic water bottles – maybe your area doesn’t have recycling, which is a shame if so…

]]> By: DivaJean http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-51858 DivaJean Mon, 30 Jul 2007 20:17:06 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/#comment-51858 Don't forget, not only paper can be salvaged for crafting from the recycle bin! My kidlets and I come up with all kinds of crafting based on what's in the bin. My daughter just recently made a servicable drum for her doll from a pringles can. Don’t forget, not only paper can be salvaged for crafting from the recycle bin!

My kidlets and I come up with all kinds of crafting based on what’s in the bin. My daughter just recently made a servicable drum for her doll from a pringles can.

]]> By: laura k http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-51854 laura k Mon, 30 Jul 2007 20:02:57 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/30/10-more-ways-to-entertain-young-children-for-1-or-less-without-the-tv/#comment-51854 To get some paper more or less for free, use discarded paper from the printer. I have no qualms going dumpster diving (okay, recycle bin diving) to salvage perfectly good paper. And kids don't usually care if it's a little wrinkled. To get some paper more or less for free, use discarded paper from the printer. I have no qualms going dumpster diving (okay, recycle bin diving) to salvage perfectly good paper. And kids don’t usually care if it’s a little wrinkled.

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