How to Entertain Your Kids for Next to Nothing

Even though our children seem in constant need of entertainment, most budgets will not support weekly trips to Disneyland, Six Flags, or the latest Characters on Ice show. Below are some ideas on how to entertain those restless offspring when the wind seems to be whistling through the void in your wallet.

1. A Day in the Park - Every subdivision in America has at least one neighborhood park that comes complete with swings, slides, and other playground equipment that will entertain your restless child for an hour or two. Most of the modern equipment-back in the day we called them "jungle gyms"-are built with safety in mind and you can either join your child in the climbing, sliding, and swinging or you can set up a playdate and watch your child scamper with a friend while you sit on the bench, listening to your iPod or fiddling with your Blackberry.
   
   Similarly, every city usually has some larger, more dramatic park that is typically in some historically significant part of the city and sports such attractions as carousels, petting zoos, botanical gardens, trains, or other rides for younger children. These activities may cost a few dollars, but they always work as a special treat. Check on-line or in local newspapers for details in your area.
   
   
2. The Library - While sitting with your child and sharing a story can be incredibly gratifying, most public libraries are about so much more than books these days. Most have separate children's sections with age appropriate furniture, games, crayons, paper, books, and toys. Other sections have PC centers with internet access, computer games, and word processors. Interestingly, many libraries also offer hundreds of videos, DVDs, and audio CDs that are available for check out. Today, going to the library is truly a multi-media experience and-except for those pesky overdue fines--it usually doesn't cost a dime.
   
   
3. The Airport - Take your children to the big city airport, sit by the arrival and departure gates, and make use of their imagination. Who can find the most exotic arrival or departure destination on the monitors? Who can find the tackiest souvenir in the gift shop? Make up backstories for the travelers. Is the Parisian woman in the trenchcoat a European spy? Is the bearded man in the parka a dog sled racer for the Iditarod? And what about the old lady knitting the blanket-senior citizen or bank robber in disguise? Only your children will know for sure. For some quiet time, stand at the window and watch in awe as planes roar down the runway and soar into the sky.
   
   
4. Swap Meets and Farmers' Markets - Wandering through a local swap meet or farmer's market can be a fun time for you and your children, and it doesn't have to cost you a penny. At the swap meet, you can play "who has the weirdest thing for sale" game or explain to your youngster that those round black things are called "record albums." Share an apple or some flowers or sample some organic juice at the local farmer's market. When your weekend calendar has some white space, this might just do the trick.
   
   
5. Museums - Experiencing compelling artwork with your child-whether paintings, sculptures, or photography-can be a powerful opportunity for bonding. Most cities have local museums that cater to families, either through programs that offer free or reduced admission prices on certain days. Lately, we've also seen the emergence of special exhibits at local malls. Many cities also have unique children's museums that offer exciting, entertaining, and education interactive exhibits that give kids a truly "hands-on" experience and can cover such themes as art, music, and science. These places often charge a nominal fee, but the experience can be invaluable.

Whether discussing the color and movement in a local artist's painting, observing people as they board a flight to the Ukraine, or flinging your son or daughter around the carousel for the fifth time in an hour, it is possible to keep youngsters entertained on a shoestring budget. In the end, it really doesn't matter what you do-as long as the ultimate result is quality time with your child.

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