Entertainment can get costly for families and the travel required for many is not so green. If it just isn’t practical for your lifestyle or budget to make frequent trips to the movies, to the zoo, or too local museums it may be time to take another look at low impact, cheap entertainment ideas for the whole family. Spending time together and having fun are the most important objectives right? Neither objective requires a lot of money thankfully.

Family Game Night – You most likely have some good old fashioned board games lying around so why not get them out and start a family game night each week. If you don’t have any games you can buy one or two for $20 or less and they will provide fun for months to come. For younger kids you might try Disney Monopoly, Candyland, Life, or Operation. Older kids would like Sudoku, Risk, Trivial Pursuit, and Clue. There are many interactive DVD games that are fun for the whole family where you are quizzed on movie clips or famous faces and quotes. There are even dancing games that can provide fun and exercise.

A House of Cards – Card games are another great way to pass the time. Older kids would love to learn and play Poker, Hearts, and Gin Rummy. You can even invite extended family members or friend over for a monthly cards night. Younger kids can play Go Fish and War.

Movie Night – There is no need to go to the movies and pay $50+ for admission. Rent a movie from a local store or Netflix and have a movie night. Make some healthy snacks, prop up some comfy pillows and bean bags, and snuggle up together to watch a movie. Talk about it afterwards to get some good discussion going.

Get outdoors – Local parks are great sources of free fun. Why not make it a day trip for the whole family. Select a hiking trail that is comfortable for all and pack a lunch to eat midway. Make sure to stop several times to explore nature and maybe snap a picture or two for the family album. It you are near a park that has many different trails make it a goal to conquer all of them.

Reading Time – Kids love to be read to so why not make it a family event. Pick a book that everyone will like perhaps Little House on the Prairie, Harry Potter, Lemony Snicket, or Eragon and start reading. You can cover one to chapters a week and perhaps have an older child or one of the adults take a few notes to review before each session. This is a great way to instill a love of books and reading and instigate great conversations.

Put On A Show – Set up a puppet show using a door jam, an adjustable shower rod, and a blanket and then let the show begin! You can even re-enact the story from your weekly reading.

Another idea for younger kids is to set up a Blue Clues adventure by creating and cutting out blue paw prints and hiding them on “clues”. Give them a notebook to write all the clues down and then help them solve the mystery. This is a fun way to have children guess what you will make for dinner or what book you will read them.

As you can see, family fun doesn’t have to be expensive if you get creative.

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