Keeping children active, stimulated and entertained can hit the wallet pretty hard. But kids don’t need a lot to keep happy – not to mention they don’t usually care how much stuff costs. There are plenty of free activities for kids a stay-at-home dad can find. Here are a few ideas:
Get a library card and get instant access to thousands of books, music selections and movies. Those obviously will help tackle boredom at home, but even heading out to the local branch with the kids can be a fun activity. Not only will they get wrapped up in deciding what to check out, there are tons of scheduled story times, movies, interactive activities and workshops constantly going on at any given library.
Visit the Zoo or a Museum
Many zoos and museums have free days throughout the year. Some small museums or local attractions don’t charge a fee anytime. Do a little legwork and find out if and when the local cultural centers offer these no-cost looks at their exhibits and plan on taking advantage of them.Hit the Mall
This may seem an unusual choice to do something free, with all that capitalism taking place, but the mall is a great place for activity. Many malls open their main doors well ahead of individual stores for mall walkers and the like. Take advantage of the smaller crowds and go for a stroll. Then visit the indoor play area. It may not be a lot different than the average playground, but it will be a change of pace for the kids and give you an extra play option if it is too hot, cold or wet outside.Soak up the Outdoors
Visit an area state park or local recreation area. Go for a hike, climb some rocks or play by a trickling stream. Then have a picnic. Some state parks charge for cars, so hike or bike in to avoid the cost (if you decide to pay, the fee usually is reasonable for a carload). If these options aren’t feasible, simply find a larger park than the family usually visits for the change of pace and scenery.Sporting Good
A trend in sporting goods and outdoors stores is to build big, fancy outlets where the retail products are almost secondary to all the eye candy. Take the kids to a Cabela’s or Bass Pro Shops. These are virtually theme parks. There are aquariums, animal displays, boat and camping shows, demonstrations and much more going on at any given time. It is easy to spend an hour or two looking around and talking about the wildlife exhibits they see. Just be careful if you don’t want to spend anything. Arcades and food courts will surely tempt the youngins.Grab a Bite
Numerous restaurants offer free kids meals with the purchase of an adult meal. Most of the time these deals take place during the week. So find out if that favorite diner offers the freebie and take the kids out for a special lunch.
