Family Fun

It is no secret that we are in a serious economic downturn. Families in neighborhoods across the country have been affected by the downward spiral that we are now told officially began in December of 2007. Some of the worst cases scenarios involve families who have lost their jobs, their homes, or who have become buried so deep in credit card debt that they have been forced into bankruptcy. Even if you are someone who is faring a little better, chances are you have been affected in some way. Maybe you have been told you are not going to get that yearly raise you have come to depend on. Perhaps you are unable to secure a loan to replace that car that has become unreliable as of late. Whatever your individual circumstances are practically everyone has been forced to do some serious belt tightening.

So if you are struggling to make ends meet most months, that means that all those little extras have been thrown completely out the window, right? For the foreseeable future there will be no more trips to the amusement park, no new video games for the kids, and those regular trips to Chili’s have become a thing of the past. Essentially all of the things you used to do for fun and entertainment have come to a screeching halt.

If any of this sounds familiar to you, there is something important that you need to know right now. Just because you have to cut costs doesn’t mean you need to stop having fun. Fun and leisure pursuits are probably more important now than ever because they help to relieve stress. Having fun is what keeps us all sane. Maybe you can’t go on those big family vacations or go out to the entertainment center very frequently anymore, but there are still ways to create fun experiences for the whole family. Here is one idea for each day of the week. Some of them work best in summer

Family Game Night
It’s time to dig out all of those dusty old board games that have been sitting in the closet for years. Remember how much fun you used to have with old classics like Monopoly, Life, and Twister? Do you need a new game or two? Keep your eye out for sales. It is not uncommon to find board games for $15.00 or less while the average video game will usually run you three times that amount with less interaction between players. Games sold at yard sales may only cost you a couple of dollars. The same is true with a standard pack of cards, and simply typing the words “Card Games” into a search engine will bring up enough games that you could play a different one each day of the year.

Family Movie Night
This is another classic idea that can be quite inexpensive, especially if you have a large family. If you have a DVD player, you can turn your movie watching into a night of fun and relaxation. If you already have a subscription to Netflix or one of the other rental outlets that deliver by mail, you are already on your way. If not, a subscription that allows you to have 4 movies at a time will run you about $25.00 per month. If you want fewer movies, it will cost even less. Return a movie and they send you a new one from your list of selections. Many grocery stores also have movie rental kiosks where you can rent movies for $1.00.

Another option is to buy a DVD. The growing popularity or the Blue-ray player has caused regular DVD’s to plummet significantly in price. Target, Best-Buy and other big box stores sell these for $7-$20 each. Add some popcorn and drinks, turn off the lights, and a family of four can have a delightful movie watching experience for $5-25 dollars. Compare this to going out to a movie. You’ll pay double or triple that amount by the time you buy your tickets and snacks. You might have to wait a little longer for those new releases, but it will be well worth it.

Family Reading Night
The advancement of computers, cell phones, ipods, and the daily arrival of new technology is not a reason to abandon that tried and true, old source of knowledge and entertainment. All you need is a library card. Find a book you think the whole family will enjoy. Gather around the fire if it is winter or perhaps on the back porch in the summertime. Choose the most expressive reader, or take turns reading the story. A variation is to have everyone read their own book and then talk about what they read. Even the most reluctant readers will probably enjoy this when it is made into a family activity, and it might even help school performance.

Community Events
Fun community events are everywhere if you look for them. Most of them take place on the weekends, but many can also be found on weekday evenings, especially during the summer months. The cost of admission to these events can arrange anywhere from nothing to a few dollars. Libraries are a great place to find such activities. Call your local parks and recreation department to see if they have a publication listing upcoming events. Look in the supermarket for free family fun guides that list the dates and locations of a variety of activities. Private businesses such as grocery stores and bookstores sometimes hold community events as well. Look for these in the local newspaper or on bulletin boards.

Bike Ride or Walk
If your have bicycles, plan an excursion around your community. If not, go for a hike. Think about places that interest you, and choose several of those spots to visit. Parks, wildlife preserves, bike paths and even an unexplored neighborhood can all be interesting places to ride a bike or take a stroll. You can go for a short trip or pack a lunch in a backpack and make a day of it. This activity might best be left for the spring and summer, but even in the colder months you can enjoy it by bundling up. You might even discover some new places you didn’t know about before.

Volunteer
In our current economy there are a lot of people who are desperately in need. The new administration is calling on citizens to serve. Why not help to expand the volunteer effort by turning it into a fun family activity. Sign up to help clean your neighborhood park or creek. Help with special events at your school or church. Enter a walk-a-thon that makes contributions to your favorite charity. It might sound like extra work, but it can be a fun and rewarding experience if you involve the whole family. Besides, it’s a great opportunity to teach the kids an important lesson about citizenship. Another good place to look for opportunities is your local community center.

Backyard Campout
Why not set up a tent and go camping in your own yard, or just get those sleeping bags and lay them out under the stars? Grab some hot dogs and marshmallows, pull out the barbeque, and have a campfire. Play card games, throw a Frisbee, or have a sack race. Tell the kids some scary stories, or sing camp songs. Think of things that you would do if you were camping away from home. It might not be the same experience you would have camping out in the woods, but it works great for a night’s entertainment.