More ways to have fun.....

More Ways to Have Fun…..

I am constantly on the lookout, or in a state of heightened awareness, when the children are going to be with me for any length of time, and we have nothing planned. Usually I learn from them what will entertain them and not lead to the expectation that every time they visit we will be doing something that costs money. One day Owen entertained himself for quite awhile just looking in the full length mirror on the back of the living room closet door. Now we have long mirrors both up and downstairs so they can prance and mimic as much as they want. These are particularly helpful during dress up and plays.

The exersaucer has been around since the first grandchild arrived. However, I did hear a pediatrician declaim about them on NPR. He said that until he had his own first child, he did not realize that there were different models, from bare bones to all the bells and whistles. He now believes that the fewer things on it the better; the ones with all the stuff foster distractibility, and contribute to ADD or ADHD or maybe both. We certainly do not want to be responsible for that, so we try to keep that in mind when acquiring equipment for the kids.

They loved the batons, and used them for parades, twirling, riding on like horses, and all kinds of props during their performances. Bubbles also come in handy, and I am on the lookout for those giant wands that make the really big bubbles you can chase. So far I have found them only in kits which are way more money than I want to spend.

Two chairs pushed together make a great rocket ship. Draping a large blanket or tablecloth over the dining room table makes an instant fort or hiding place. We use the flagstones outside for hopscotch. When we are out and about we find things like this silly train cut out and take pictures to entertain ourselves later on.

The Sit ‘n Spin has been around for years, and the kids have found various uses for it. Emma is shown here using it as it was designed, but the others have improvised, and no one has been more than scratched or bumped so far! They have amazing imaginations, and just by observing them I have added a ton of things to my “how will we amuse ourselves today” repertoire.

Although on occasion we do go places (the zoo, miniature golfing, the Children’s Museum, etc.) that do cost money (and I plan to write about those in the near future), with 9 of them and the two of us now retired, we cannot do these things too often, which is why I seek free or inexpensive ways to have fun when we are together.

I am hopeful that many of you out there reading this will add more by clicking on the comment icon and sharing yours so we accumulate quite a treasury of activities. Two heads are better than one!

Tip #23: You do not have to spend money to have fun and provide entertainment when your grandchildren visit. Of course there are the usual coloring books, card games, board games, etc., but with a little creativity and sharply honed observation skills, you can have a veritable trunk load of things to do at your fingertips. These then become a part of the history of visiting your home, and you will not find yourself dipping into your savings to provide amusement…….nor will you create the expectation that costly visits outside your home will take place each time.