by Becky Graham

Created on: July 24, 2009

When the initial excitement of summer vacation has worn thin, and children begin to get bored, trying to offer alternative activities to pull them out of the "technology abyss" can become exhausting, but it doesn't have to be completely overwhelming. Occupying children doesn't necessarily have to be an expensive, intricate, or over the top adventure. Major outings or vacations are great every so often, but let's face it; The majority of parents in today's tough economy don't possess the financial ability to spend consistently, at will, throughout an entire summer. There are plenty of fun and constructive things to do for children without over spending. Just taking some extra time, and using a little creative thinking can go a long way in curing the "summertime blues".

Take a day to visit a local park or lake.

Frequently, state regulated recreational sites are absolutely free. Visitors can swim without fear of waves, jellyfish, or irritated eyes from overly-chlorinated pool water. Parents and children can build sandcastles together, or take a walk through virtually untouched grounds to observe wildlife in its natural habitat. As an added bonus to a day based on fun, this also provides an educational experience. As long as the children are in plain view, parents might even be able to steal a few minutes for their own sanity to catch up on reading, and some much deserved relaxation time. All it takes is packing a few lunches, plenty of water, towels, sunscreen/bug spray, and a sheet. The only real expenditure is the gas to get there.

Explore your own back yard.

There is an abundance of stimulating activities that can be done in addition to the benefits of soaking up the healthy vitamins acquired by soaking up the sunshine. If parents are excited about an activity, chances are high that children will be intrigued also. One activity to try is making a pretend clubhouse out of cardboard boxes and tape. Sure, it won't look captivating at first, but then the children can use acrylic paints to make it their own style. This can keep them entertained for hours, and it also allows them to put that cardboard to extra use before throwing it in the recycle bin. That, in addition to bringing out the best of their imaginations, teaches them a valuable lesson about frugality, and is yet another way to respect the environment.

Allow them to get dirty sometimes.

As a society we have become so petrified of dirt and germs that we've allowed our children to miss out on the

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