4 frugal ways to entertain your kids |
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As the founder of what she calls the kindness club, Sandroff has organized many projects -- with input from children -- that
have helped others.
You can start your own kindness club at a minimal expense. If enough children participate once a week, $25 dues per child for
the summer should pay for the supplies. One or several parents can be involved in these projects for children as young as 6.
"Look around your community and you'll think of many other ways to spread kindness," she says.
Sandroff's club has worked on many projects, including the following.
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| Ideas for spreading kindness: |
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Thank neighborhood heroes. Have each child make three medals to present
to their heroes -- people like the clerk who was nice to them at the store, the librarian who helped them select a book or the school crossing
guard. |
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Give back to the community. Plant flowers at the local school or help
wash books at the local library. |
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Help those who are ill or lonely. Visit a dollar store and buy toys you
can bring to a children's hospital. Or go to a nursing home and play bingo with the residents. |
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Raise money -- or spirits. Host a car wash to give money to someone who
needs it for an operation. Or, make necklaces for women who are in a domestic abuse shelter. |
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"These are just a few ideas that you can do this summer," Sandroff says.
Get educational
Although regular school may be out during the summer, learning never
ends. Many school districts offer summer school classes for periods
of four to six weeks. For a nominal fee -- or in some cases, for
free (scholarships may be available) -- your children can improve
their reading or engage in sports, music, or arts and crafts. Classes
typically last for 40 minutes to an hour.
Don't ignore another free resource -- your local library. About 95 percent of all public libraries in the United States offer
summer reading programs, according to National Center for Education statistics.
"These programs help children to develop a lifelong love of reading, and help children to continue to improve their reading
comprehension and vocabulary skills during the summer vacation months," says Andrea Johnson, youth services manager of the Northbrook Public
Library in Northbrook, Ill.
For example, this summer, the Northbrook Public Library
will invite children and teens to "Get in the Game: READ." This
program asks participants to join a team for a fantastic relay game
in which teams compete by reading.
The program also features contests, weekly raffles,
daytime and evening story times, workshops, family programs, and
films. Last summer, 1,900 Northbrook readers earned prizes ranging
from local restaurant coupons to stuffed animals and paperback books.
The computer inside your home can also be educational
tool this summer. KidSites.com
allows parents to select educational sites from such categories
as math, history, science and more. Once you decide upon a site
in a category, set a timer and allow each child 15 to 30 minutes
to explore some of the educational information.
Vicki Gerson is a freelance writer based in Chicago.
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