Entertaining your children does not cost a lot... only your time!!! (Inexpensive Home Made Toys and Activity Ideas)

Member Name: KELLY170980

Product:	Inexpensive Home Made Toys and Activity Ideas
Date:	27/10/08 (250 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: They can learn and play at the same time

Disadvantages: There are no disadvantages when it comes to children

I am a working mummy as you can see if from my other reviews I hate it, but unfortunately there is nothing I can do at the moment or can change about the past, but I try and make sure that the time I spend with my children is quality time and that they remember these times for the rest of their lives.

As a family we are ok for money as in we can pay our bills, buy food and clothes etc but we do not have lots of surplus money in order to do a lot of outside activities, so I have to think of things to do that do not cost a lot of money.

Here are some of the things myself; my husband and my children have done in the last few months.

***** Sam I am Day******

We love the Dr Seuss books, and one his books Green eggs and ham shows children how you may say you do not like something but if you tried it you may like it.

So I spent 5 gbp on lots of little bits and bobs like colouring books, pens, bubbles, yoyo's, a little car, some cards etc all from the pound shop and Tesco value etc. I then wrapped them in some brown paper I had left from wrapping my eBay stuff, I then drew a picture of a particular fruit or vegetable that my children had not tried before or would not try.

I read green eggs and ham and then went on to explain the meaning. For tea I made a chicken and did a platter of veg, and put it in the middle of the table, for every different vegetable they tried they could have the present which had that picture on, I then did it for pudding as well with a platter of fruit with ice-cream.... they loved it!!!
My daughter tried every single thing and now actually eats all of the things she tried apart from kiwi.
My son tried all of them also apart from sprouts which I think he probably would have if it had not been for his daddy not trying them and calling them Satans testicles!!!!
But this was a cheap and exciting thing for the kids to do and they also tried new things and ended up liking some of them - Win Win situation for a fiver!!!!


****** Cookery*******************

My children love cooking like most children I suppose, there favourite is chocolate crispy cakes.... and they love to put white chocolate mice in the middle to make it look like the mouse is in his home..... Silly idea I had, that they seem to love and it's sort of stuck.

But even things like letting them make their own lunch, they love, my daughter and son love to make up their own lunch and put a blanket down in the kitchen and have a picnic...my son makes me laugh though as he always puts too much butter on and ends up heaving...but he'll never say that they are horrible. I like the fact though that this gives them a really good sense of responsibility and independence.

My daughter loves these types of things, she always gets a plastic knife on a Sunday as well and helps me peel the veg's and potatoes.... takes her all day but keeps her happy and quiet!!!

******Making a dolls house****************

My husband and my son often go and watch our local football club on a Saturday (they are rubbish so it's well cheap!!hehe!!)
So myself and my daughter have some really nice girly mornings, one of my favourite things was a few weeks ago we made a dolls house out of an old cardboard box.
We took off the flaps and made them the sections of the house, we used a cut off bit of caret to carpet the rooms, some old wallpaper and border to decorate the walls and then used some oxo boxes, match boxes, cotton reels, bits and bobs to make furniture, then we made the people from pipe cleaners and pom poms..... was great great fun and she is still playing with it.

*********Get involved in local charities/churches**********

I want my children to grow up with good morals and I also want them to realise how lucky they are to have such a great family and although we do not have lots of money compared to some children they are very rich.

My son has helped out loads with the local dance school he attends, he has helped me sell raffle tickets, sponsored walks, shows, cleaning windows, cleaning cars etc, and he has loved it, I'm am very proud of him as he always feels a great sense of achievement from doing this and he understands a lot for a boy his age about the local community and some of the under privileged children that are around.

Even my three year old has helped out, we have been involved in a few fundraising activities with playgroup and church and she may be a little young, but I think she understands as much as she can that she is doing a good thing and I always explain to her why its important to help people less fortunate than yourselves.

I think more and more these days people hide behind their front doors in fear of being a busy body, or getting attacked etc etc, and we need more people to help our community and to get involved with local projects, its great activity for kids and its free!!! And you are not only helping other people but helping your children gain some really important life experiences.

Again I could go on and on with ideas and activities people could do with their children, but I think if you are a pro active parent, then you will find a way to do this by any means necessary whether that be take them on trips, look at the internet, read books, cook with them, read to them etc etc.
More parents need to do this as you only get once chance to do it right, and to me this is my most important job in life.

hehe...sorry to rant, but I feel so passionate about these types of topics.

Hope some of my ideas may help someone.

Summary: There is always something to do with your children if you really put your mind to it