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by
Catherine Pruissen
Mustering
up enough energy to get through another evening takes
everything most parents have. So when a child zealously
asks to have us join them in a game of Candy Land
or a colouring session on the livingroom floor, they
are usually greeted with a reluctant groan.
We
accommodate their ceaseless requests with the enthusiasm
of an overfed cat, only to find that when it is over,
we actually had fun. A lot of fun.
In
so doing, we learned about the neighbour kid's "really
neat" electronic race car, the new frog at the
daycare, and that Susie likes it when we sing together
in the car. It is family fun at its best, and it doesn't
cost a penny.
For
many families, the cost of outside entertainment for
such things as bowling, going to a movie or out for
dinner, is simply not an option. The question of finding
affordable, quality ideas for creating family-time
is a major one.
"What
a child really likes best is time and attention,"
says Marguerite Kelly, author of The Mother's Almanac
II.
"They
create a sense of security that enables them to rise
to the challenges of the world."
Children
don't care if we take them to Disneyland, or down
to the river for a walk. What matters is that we share
a piece of ourselves, hold hands, laugh a little,
even cry a little if that's what the moment dictates.
"Every
day is another day of love, a deeper investment for
parent and child," says Kelly. "Some play
must be shared. Whether it's a game of checkers or
a walk in the woods, or cheering for your favorite
team on TV, it makes your child know he or she is
important to you."
Affordable
Family Activities
Some affordable activities that can be shared as a
family include:
- bicycling
- hiking
- canoeing
- tobogganing
- softball
- football,
or
- soccer.
Rainy
Day Activities
Rainy day activities such as:
- board
or card games
- puzzles
- putting
together a family scrap book or video
- cooking
- working
on crafts
- story
hour
- even
lazing in front of the fire just talking, make for
cheap but rewarding family fun.
Other
Family Fun Activities
More affordable family fun activity ideas include:
-
bird-watching
- gardening
- going
to the local farmer's market
- arm
wrestling
- attending
local free outdoor shows and festivals
- visiting
museums
- or
arranging tours of local businesses such as candy
factories, printing plants, silversmiths, and so
on.
Spontaneity
and silliness add a whole other dimension to family
fun. Fooling around together, playing tag, or making
silly faces has a charm all her own. Just as we love
to tickle a baby to hear its unresistable giggle,
tickling and roughhousing with other children puts
us on their level, creating a buddy system unmatched
by other forms of play.
As
for planning family time, the best advice is to keep
it simple. The fewer the plans, the more enjoyable
it will be for everyone.
In
a nutshell, "Families that play together really
do stay together," says Kelly. "No one wants
to miss the good times.
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