by Donna Mccay

Created on: June 11, 2008

Affordable Entertainment For The Family

1. Put a jumbo 350 piece jigsaw puzzle together. Find a spot on the floor and race to see who finishes first. We did this as kids and was really fun to be competative and beat your bigger sisters and brothers.

2. A day at the beach. Find a spot along the side of the road and park free. Then walk to the beach for exercise.

Put supplies in a backpack like blanket, towels, suntan lotion, a small kite, blow-up beach ball, and fresbee.

Another small backpack with paper plates, cups, napkins, plastic silverware, wet towelets to wash hands.

Another small backpack with sandwiches, chips, 2-quart container with your favorite drink. We liked orange or grape tang. You can bring a small jug of water too to stay hydrated.

Use the blanket as an umbrella by putting sand along bottom to hold in place. Then tie 2 corners around 2 walking sticks and move forward and stick in sand. This gives a slant and protection from the sun.

3. Have a New England Yankee Swap. Have the kids go through their toys, stuffed animals and wrap in comic paper from the Sunday newspaper. Adults can give nick-nacks, coffee beans, jewelery, extra tools etc. and wrap in comic papers. Buy a few gifts at the dollar store so there would be gifts that the kids/adults didn't give.

Invite a poor family for dinner and have a Yankee swap afterwards. You don't have to buy extra food just make a little extra.

For the Yankee swap you put numbers in a basket for the number there. Whoever chose number one chooses a gift from the wrapped gifts in the middle of the table. Then Number 2 chooses a gift and if he doesn't want it he can take number ones gift. Number 3 gets to choose from 1 and 2 gifts or keep the gift they chose and so on. Then after all have chosen number 1 gets to chose from all the gifts unless he likes his own gift. This is fun and brings lots of laughter especially if there is one gift that everyone likes and keeps having it taken away.

4. Family board game night at your church. This is so much fun and you get to know the people.

5. Have a family tallent show and record with a movie camera. They can read or recite a poem, sing, dance, stand-up comedy, tricks, imitate movie stars etc.

6. Go to a State park and load up van with 2 families and split the cost to get in to the park. Bring horseshoes, badmitton, volleyball, swimsuits and a picnic lunch.

7. Go on a mystery ride to the beach, park, playground, McDonald's, Dairy Queen but do not tell them where they are going. Have

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