What are some frugal things I can do with my kids during the day? Where can we go to get out of the house for very cheap? Help me out here. I am out of ideas.

What are the ages of your kids?

1. Craft time at the library
2. Story time at the library
3. See what other programs are available at the library (puppets, movies)
4 Park
5. Is there a Children's Museum or Science Museum close to you.
6. Rake leaves and jump in them
7. Is there a play area at your local mall
8. Family bike ride
9. Hiking
10. Take classes through the recreation department (art, basketball, music)
11. I've even taken the girls to Petco just to look at all the animals.
12. Is there a zoo or family farm close by?

1) Check your local bowling alley. Mine has $1 games from 9-4 on Fridays.
2) Blow bubbles. Use different things as wands for fun (spatula, large bubble wand, metal hanger bent into a shape, etc)
3) Hang a sheet on the clothesline and let the kids go to town making a masterpiece. Use washable paint and you can hose it off and start again.
4) Make bean bags. Grab some felt (25 cents each), a few bags of beans or some dried corn (few bucks) and some tacky glue. Cut felt to desired size, glue 3 sides and press with heavy books until dried. Add beans. pin all the beans to the closed side of the beanbag and glue the last open side. press with book to dry. use any container (box, pot, etc) or even draw a target on the sidewalk with chalk. I did this yesterday and only had time to make two beanbags, but my son had a riot with them..
5) Have a picnic - inside or out. Make a snack for dessert (cookies, rice krispy treats, ants on a log), sandwiches, finger foods.
6) Grab a package of chunky plastic fish from the $1 store and some magnets. Super glue a piece of magnet onto each fish. Tie a string to a stick and attach a magnet to bottom. Let the kids go fishing in the bathtub. (Even cooler? if you have those color bath tabs, put green in so they're fishing in a pond!)
7) Here is a site with a TON of games and activities. FAMILY FUN

__________________
~~Amanda~~ Mommy to one Little Man (3 1/2 yrs old), TTC #2

1. Libraries are a godsend - storytimes, craft projects for toddlers & preschoolers. Also check with them for passes to local museum - they sometimes have discounted passes.

2. The park is always a good time.

3. Check out local malls. A couple around here have some play areas and arcades that are geared toward the younger (under 7) crowd.

4. Some theaters offer free or discounted movies during the school year (usually on Tuesday or Wednesday mornings).

5. I'm not sure what your kids are into, but before my son was in school we used to park behind Kmart near us and watch the trains go by. I'd pack a snack and juice and we'd sit there and watch the subway and commuter trains go by.

6. Nature walks - we still do these and I have DS point out the different birds, leaves, trees, etc.

These are all great ideas. I have taken my kids to our town's Soldans (which is like Petco) they loved it and we only spent a tiny bit on gas, it is right in town.

Visit different playgrounds and parks. We always go to different ones, mix it up a bit.

Take these with you to add more excitement:
Sidewalk chalk (dollar store)
Bubbles
Cheap bread for the ducks

I pack a cooler with cold drinks and snacks, to eliminate the snack shack or a run into the store.

This time of year is great for apple orchards.

Ours has free hay rides, Pick a few apples for your snack and ride back up to the Mill. Cider that you drink there (out of the huge barrels is .50 cents) and doughnuts are chaper by the dozen. They have different things for the kids to do outdoors for free. But for about $5 you have an few hours of fun. My girls love it!!

Today there was a harvest festival at the County fairgrounds. FREE you can't beat that.. Check your local paper to see what's out there.

__________________
Kenny Chesney~
Everything gets hotter when the sun goes down!!
I think your tractor's Sexy!
Don't Blink!!

Not only do many libraries offer discounted or free passes, but oftentimes there is a bulletin board with activities, dates and times. Keep an eye on your local paper as well--I've discovered many things to do with my kids that are very cool that way.