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Summer Simplicity
Thursday, June 30, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
Ouch; the month of June hurt in our household. Why? On top of all the "regular bills," it’s the month the house and car insurance comes due. Added to that "fun," this June we were pummeled by a couple of unexpected auto-repair bills and my "bit too ambitious" tackling of the spring projects list. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.
All of that led me to have a downer day, when I mumbled about the "no money" problem of the moment.
Have you been here? Are you here?
Chances are, since parenthood, you're willing to do anything and everything to make sure your munchkin has every opportunity. For our family we've joined library times, swim/art/gym/dance classes, and more in an effort to light any and every spark she may have for learning about her world. Although there are A LOT of free, family-fun offerings, some things do come with a price. Ouch again.
Luckily for me I have two labs; I put them on a leash and take an early morning walk (combined with a cup of Starbuck's java, my "evil" addiction), which generally shakes me out of my blues and puts me on mission to create a proactive plan.
In this case the plan became about SIMPLICITY; seeking summer fun that doesn't cost much, but in the end fuels my soul and is also pretty darn good for my child's development.
What are you into these days? Looking for some cheap summer fun? Try...
1. Setting up a tent in your backyard; genius. I did this one Saturday morning and it led to a day of picnics, reading books, art-time, naptime, and lots and lots of other playtime in a tent we've had for nearly 20-years. The play that was fueled by this tent was joyful and meaningful. Got a tent? It's MUCH easier (and cheaper) to put it out in your backyard than trekking off for a weekend with the family.
2. Parks. My little one is now old enough that she can voice her desire for a swing set. Although not "that expensive," I've found, with a little looking around, I have FIVE parks within walking or easy biking distance from my house; FIVE. Seriously the equipment is WAY cooler than what I could ever afford to buy and, bonus, I don't have to maintain it. Even better we've made friends and formed play dates by simply getting out of our yard and out into the neighborhood.
3. Dirt; forget the sandbox, dig in the dirt. Oh yes if I read enough about all the junk in the ground I probably wouldn't let her touch it, but there's a pretty cool feeling of joy you get by digging in the dirt. We have found worms and potato bugs. This year we even dug up the ground and threw in a few tomato, pumpkin, carrot, and sunflower seeds. It's been a ton of fun to watch them sprout and grow; what an amazing (and tasty!) way to educate your child about the growth and development of plants.
What are YOUR ideas for inexpensive and educational summer fun?
