101 things to do at home

[lucille]

I turned on the TV this morning just to see that oil has now hit $109 a barrel. The first thing I thought of was that any ideas of a summer vacation probably are not happening. Since we have to drive everywhere we will probably be curbing going places.

So I have been pondering what things we can do at home this spring and summer to entertain ourselves to avoid burning up more gas.

Getting the kids pool passes is sounding like a good deal.
Buying a bike to get to nearby stores.
Having everyone help with the garden.
Building some skateboard ramps for the kids, save a trip to the skate park.


Ideas for making staying home seem less like house arrest?

[indieretailer]

What a fun topic! Really got me thinking about planning ahead.

- How about a preparing for a talent show. Kids could spend some of their time through the summer learning a new skill--magic tricks, pet tricks, reciting poetry,
singing, dancing. Someone could be set designer (hang sheets up, make up lighting.)

-Do their own Oympics--

-Plan a garage sale.

I have three boys 7, 4 year-old twins, and my 14 year-old step-daughter so I have to think of things that aren't too dorky.

[Looby]

-Picnics in your garden or in your living room (I live in a very wet part of the country)

-Camping in your garden or in your living room, I loved this when I was little, cushions and duvet on the floor and a blanket across the backs of chairs or over the table, take cookies for a midnight snack and a flashlight.

-Crafts, painting, knitting, sewing.

-Have a "it's halfway to Christmas" party, get out some of your decorations, play carols, watch a Christmas movie.

-Google and find out what holidays are coming up and do something related to them, for example August has Elvis week and Clown week, lots of possibilities there.

-On a similar theme, pick a country and research it's history and plan a traditional national meal, maybe get a movie related to the country, create the national dress if you have a dress up box- wikipedia lets you search public holidays by country, you could time it to match- Russia day is June 12, eat some borscht, watch Dr Zhivago!


There are lots of things to do at home, we often stayed at home most of the 8 weeks summer holidays when I was growing up- my mother's mantra- "only boring people get bored"

[Lynnae]

Originally Posted by Looby

my mother's mantra- "only boring people get bored"

My mom said the same thing. LOL

Other ideas:
Water fights
Make a slip & slide out of a hose and and old shower curtain liner
Paint garden rocks
Have reading time every day
Make homemade freezer jam
Board games

[Gootsy]

That "Halfway to Christmas Party" idea makes me sadness. Please hope nobody does this.

Anywho, a badminton set from a garage sale can really go a long way. Or Frisbee can be fun and cheap.

Card tournament (where you keep score over a bunch of days) can be fun if it's competitive.

A garden project can be good. Even if the kids hate it, they'll enjoy everything else that much more .

[kav122]

Go to yard sales as a family. Or better yet, walk through the neighborhood on the night before trash day and see if anyone has anything cool sitting out for trash.

*sigh* My son is going to hate me! haha! He's little now, so he doesn't know any better.



Or, clean your kids room with your kids...really clean! Help them make new curtains or make new pillows for their bed. Spray paint their dresser or an old piece of furniture. Clean out the old clothes and toys and give them to goodwill. Never know, they might enjoy you helping them and if they really love how it looks, it might help them keep it cleaner!

[Drew]

My friends and I, even at 25+ still play board games on friday and saturday nights to keep us from spending. Granted, there are nights where we go out and easily have a 200.00 tab, but we still save money because we don't have that tab EVERY weekend anymore.

[lucille]

Originally Posted by Drew

My friends and I, even at 25+ still play board games on friday and saturday nights to keep us from spending. Granted, there are nights where we go out and easily have a 200.00 tab, but we still save money because we don't have that tab EVERY weekend anymore.

We used to do this quite a bit when I was in my twenties. Things like penny poker, UNO, throw in some cheap beer and soda.

[lucille]

When I was at Target today we found a cool wood bowling set in with the kids outdoor toys. It was smallish and had the balls & pins in a pack. It was about the right size to use on our patio.
My next quest is to find a set of lawn darts, some how some way....
Those are for the adults to play with.

[gt0163c]

Originally Posted by Drew

My friends and I, even at 25+ still play board games on friday and saturday nights to keep us from spending.

I'm planning on doing this with some friends this Saturday and really looking forward to it. I have a friend at work who has "game night" at his place once a month. That's always a lot of fun. And it allows me to try out board games that I've never played...sometimes never heard of.