*Between uniforms, half-time snacks and shuttling kids back and forth between school and practice, organized sports may provide kids with a multitude of opportunities for growing social skills and staying healthy and active, but they can also drain parents of precious time and even more precious spending money.
Here are some ideas to save money and enjoy staying active and healthy together, instead of spending every weekend on the sidelines.
Winter Fun
Snow isn’t just for shoveling. If you’ve got a front yard and some shoveling to do, help the kids get excited about shoveling the driveway by challenging them to a snow fort building contest or a sledding course if there’s enough room. Build embankments. Dig out secret compartments. All you need are the gloves and boots they already wear everyday, a couple of snow shovels and a cheap plastic sled.
TreeHugger has a tutorial on how to make a real life igloo for older kids with serious snow-building ambitions.
Invest in good gloves and everyone, including yourself, will stay warmer and have more fun. You’ll also need sunscreen and a good pair of sunglasses for the whole crew. We love these replacement lenses from Revant Optics that will save you from investing in a whole new pair of sunglasses should you scratch them on low-hanging branches.
Summer Fun
Skateboarding, bicycling, rollerblading and going for a walk are perfect ways to enjoy warm weather and each other while making health a priority for the whole family. You can include the kids by shopping for bikes or skateboards on Craigslist to teach them about getting a good deal and doing legwork to save money.
We also love frisbee golf as an incredibly inexpensive alternative to pricey golf clubs and course fees that encourage hand-eye coordination and social skills.
Around the House
It’s important for the whole family to keep health in mind everyday, not just when you can make it to the gym or have special equipment. Teach kids about different calisthenic exercises and the importance of stretching. There are a multitude of videos online. One of our favorites is “Pump It Up Playground” from Kid’s Educational Games. It’s also a great way to introduce kids and family members of all ages to yoga and meditation, which not only prevent injuries but also promote healthier sleep patterns and emotional health after just five minutes.
Doing housework and yardwork is another great way to keep the kids engaged and active while working toward a common goal. To amp up the fun and time-flies factor, turn up their favorite music for dancing while cleaning. Don’t feel like you have to bribe or pay your kids to get them motivated. Remember to bargain cleverly, offering kids options not rewards. Let them choose the next flavor of ice cream you buy for the family or the next movie you watch on Netflix. Or start a chore chart with fun stickers and longer term rewards.
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