Project Working Mom

• Most parents who are online students have very little free time
• Sharing quality time with your family is important
• There are a variety of activities you can do with your family

Just because you're back in school now and are probably pretty limited on time and money doesn't mean you have to skimp on quality family time. With a little bit of creativity you can make sure you time together with your children is enjoyable for all.

Below are some suggestions for great family activities that you enjoy on the cheap.

Make Use of Your Memberships

You paid for the membership, so don't forget to use it. Flip through your wallet to see if you have a membership to some of these locations:

• Zoos
• Aquariums
• Museums
• Science and learning centers
• Theme Parks
• Pools
• Sporting venues

Fun Places to Go

For a small price you can treat your family to fun outings they'll be talking about for years to come. Don't forget to check your coupon file or local Entertainment book for valuable coupons. A few fun suggestions include:

• Go-karts
• Miniature golf
• Arcades
• Bowling
• Batting cages
• Movies
• School plays or musicals
• Indoor play areas at malls/restaurants
• Riding stables
• Open gym sessions

Get Moving Inside

Even if you're stuck inside you can still run off some built-up energy as a family. Making fitness a family affair will be time well spent together. You'll be having fun together and benefiting your health at the same time. (Plus, wearing out the young ones is a bonus too!) Some fun indoor activities include:

• Dance
• Exercise
• Indoor swimming
• Indoor obstacle course
• Indoor basketball
• Martial arts
• Indoor soccer

Look No Further than Your Own Home

Open up of the closets and cupboards and you are sure to see a lot of family-fun activities right in your own home. Woo-hoo! Making use of what you have is easy, practical, and cheap. Here's a list to get you started:

• Puzzles
• Board Games
• Card Games
• Creative play toys (i.e. Lincoln Logs, Legos, playing with dolls, dress-up, school)
• Books
• Movies
• Camp indoors
• Build a fort
• Sing along to CDs
• Scavenger hunts
• Computer games
• Charades
• Watch home videos
• Look through photo albums

Take Advantage of Free/Discounted Programs

Many communities offer free or inexpensive family-oriented services for the community. Check out your local newspaper or regional parenting publication for a list or calendar of events. Some popular choices for these programs include:

• Libraries
• Metroparks
• Public playgrounds
• Cinemas
• Museums
• Churches
• Camps
• Book Stores
• Craft Stores

Take It Outside

The outdoors offers a wide variety of activities that are hard to duplicate indoors. Even with the different seasons you find something fun and free to do outside. Below are just a few possibilities:

• Swimming
• Running through the sprinkler
• Roller-blading
• Bike-riding
• Outdoor sports (i.e. football, baseball, basketball, soccer)
• Kite-flying
• Water balloon fights
• Using sidewalk chalk
• Playing with bubbles
• Gardening
• Having a picnic
• Camping in the backyard
• Nature hikes
• Feeding ducks
• Paddle-boating
• Sledding
• Making snowmen

Make the Ordinary Fun

Add a little pizzazz and creativity to your to-do list and even ordinary duties can become fun. What makes them even better is getting your children involved. Kids love to "help," so let them! Ideas include:

• Cook together
• Make bathtime fun with bubbles
• Play "Beat the Clock" when picking up toys
• Make a carpet picnic for lunch
• Play "I Spy" and other travel games when running errands
• Turn on music and sing along while folding laundry together

Get Creative

Utilizing craft items already in your home or checking out the clearance bins at your local craft store provides endless opportunities to connect with your child. Turn off the television and eliminate distractions to allow the creative juices to flow. Some fun suggestions for creative play includes:

• Play-doh
• Arts and crafts kits
• Coloring
• Painting
• Scrapbooking
• Writing letters and poems

Home Learning

Your son or daughter's education doesn't have to stop at school. Incorporating home learning into your family-fun time is a great way to further your child's education and spend quality time together. Expanding on what your child is learning at school isn't hard. It just takes a little bit of planning and creativity. Below are some suggestions. If your child is:

• Studying other cultures: Plan and create a traditional meals together that correlates.
• Learning about different animals: Plan a trip to the zoo to check them out in person.
• Reading about the history of a certain holiday: Make some crafts together that pertain to it.
• Working on understanding the use of money: play "Grocery Store" together at home.

Helpful Websites

You don't have to rely on your own creativity. There are many websites dedicated to providing fun activities for families. You can find craft instructions, book recommendations, song suggestions, online games and activities, and other family-friendly useful information. A few popular sites include:

• Family TLC
  http://www.familytlc.net/
• Family Fun Magazine
  http://familyfun.go.com/
• PBS Kids
  http://www.pbskids.org/
• National Geographic Kids
  http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
• Families with a Purpose
  http://www.familieswithpurpose.com/
• Creative Kids at Home
  http://www.creativekidsathome.com/
• ABC Teach
  http://www.abcteach.com/
• The Kidz Page
  http://www.thekidzpage.com/

Jennifer Applin is a freelance writer and will soon be the mother of six young children born within a 5-year span. Her writing focuses on strategies for busy parents to juggle it all.

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