Inexpensive things that will keep your kids entertained

Crafts all day!  

One thing I absolutely love to do is craft! Kids can easily do so many things themselves. Some ideas are taking an old sheet you won’t use any more, hanging it up outside and allowing the kids to paint it to their liking. If they love the masterpiece they have created, allow it to dry, then hang it in their rooms. Also, mason jars are great for decorating, then using to organize in kids’ rooms. 

Slime all the time!

This idea is a bit messy, so I recommend parents help younger children. All you need to make slime is glue and laundry detergent. Put the glue in a bowl and then slowly add small amounts of laundry detergent and stir until the slime is no longer sticky! Of course, you can use other formulas to make slime, but this one is the simplest and quickest. Also, some recipes use borax, but I would stay away from those because borax is toxic if eaten. 

Code, code, code!

Although something educational doesn't sound that fun, coding is one of my favorite things to do. There are many apps you can use, but there are two that stand out to me. For younger children, try ScratchJr, an app where kids can create stories and then watch them! For older children, Hopscotch is the way to go! This app lets children make anything their hearts desire. There are tutorials on how to make things, but children also can go off on their own and make whatever they want. Coding is also great because it gives kids early S.T.E.M skills, which help prepare them for school and even jobs for the future. 

Got to go build!

When kids think of building, they probably think of the men in the yellow hats and bright vests. But building can be very fun! Just find any items from your house, such as straws, card stock, ribbon, tape, etc. Then tell the kids they can build whatever they want using those materials only. Now watch as their creative juices start flowing. To make it even more challenging, tell them what to try to build with those materials. See their impressions of what they were supposed to construct!

Upcycling old clothes!

Do you have any plain t-shirts sitting in the back of your closet? Well, give them to the kids and let them help pump up your style! First put cardboard in your shirt, then give the kids markers, paint and other art supplies. Let them do whatever they want with the shirts, and they will have a blast! I suggest doing this outside to prevent a huge indoor mess. 

Baking fun!

For kids who are a bit more independent, baking is a great idea! Give them a recipe and allow them to make delicious treats. Although this might leave the kitchen a little messy, children will have a blast and learn how to follow recipes, measure food and work the oven!

These are some of my favorite things to do in my free time. You don't always have to buy entertainment. These things are fun and entertaining and don't require much money at all! Something that might even encourage the kids more to try these activities is setting up a day or two each week for the fun. The kids will anticipate the day’s coming, and you will have some free time on your hands!

Ally Sarver is 12 and will be in seventh grade next year. Her mom, Margaret, is the editor of  KC Parent. When asked whether she wanted to write an article, she came up with these ideas—enjoy!