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Smart Mom

Enjoy familiy fun ... ... without blowing the family budget by Maria Bailey and Jennifer ArnoldPublished: July, 2010

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In the past several years, most every family can relate to struggling to plan fun times while trying to maintain financial goals. The summer months can be extra challenging. With the kids out of school, things like summer camps, swim lessons and an impromptu trip to the bounce house can send your dollars sailing right out the window.     Even the most resourceful parents feel the strain by July, when creativity and finances begin to wane. If there’s a well-worn path from your house to the pool or library, it’s time to recharge your batteries!     Remember that fun doesn’t have to equal high cost, but you can almost guarantee it will equal good memories. Here are some fresh ideas to help you amp up the fun factor this summer – without breaking the bank: > Start new traditions. This is a great way to make lasting memories for your kids. Serve up a different sundae every Saturday night. Spice up the middle of the week by picking one family member to be a celebrity chef each Wednesday. Or start up Make-It Fridays, when everyone has the challenge of making something by 5 p.m. that day; it could be dinner, something constructed out of blocks, a fort, a new invention or some kind of artwork. Anything goes, as long as it’s homemade. After dinner, everyone can reveal the day’s creations! > Turn your house into a summer hang-out. If the thought of sticky hands at your table and a little sand in the family room sends your blood pressure soaring, then this idea might not be your cup of tea. But if you’re game, it’s all in good fun. Create a flyer or calendar packed with short hour-long events, and invite friends and neighbors to drop by for some summer fun. Host a scavenger hunt or a popsicle party, make homemade ice cream, have a water gun battle or make your own pizza lunch. > Build an obstacle course. Kids love running through the series of challenges in an obstacle course. With some hula-hoops, jump ropes, beach balls and buckets or cones, you can make a fun course that will help the kids stay active this summer. Make it adaptable for all ages, and use a stopwatch to track official times. Switch it up each week by changing one part of the course. > Choose a summer project. Decide on a project that you all can work on throughout the summer. Perhaps the kids would like to give their bedrooms a makeover. Hit the local flea market for cool finds, and see what a new coat of paint and some furniture rearranging can do. Maybe everyone works on a family scrapbook that chronicles the summer. Your project can be as simple as a jigsaw puzzle that stays out for anyone to work on when the feeling strikes. > Host a summer movie/game swap. Whether the forecast is calling for rain or your kids just need a day to chill indoors, it’s always good to have a stash of movies and video games on hand. One way to be sure your kids get some new entertainment is to host a movie/game swap. Ask neighborhood friends to prepare whatever media they’d like to swap by labeling it with their name, address and date to be returned. Then everyone meets – and let the trading begin. > Create a camp. If your neighborhood or network of friends has a lot of stay-at-home parents, you can save money while creating fun for the kids by developing your own summer camp. Choose a week or two that works for everyone, and have each parent select a day to host. It is up to each host to create some events for the day: Perhaps you have a former art teacher who can help the kids get crafty for the afternoon, or an adventurous one who is up for a day at the park. It may take a little planning, but the other parents get some free time in exchange for their day as “camp counselor” – and the price is right. How can you beat that? > Have family dinner dates. Summer is great for spending relaxing evenings outside with friends without the school-night clock ticking over your heads. Pick three or four families and start dinner dates. These are great nights for socializing while the kids catch fireflys and secretly hope that your adult conversations last well into the night. > Go help someone. Every mom knows that at some point she will hear the lament, “I’m bored!” So be ready with this boredom buster:  Tell your kids to “Go help someone!” In a glass jar, keep small scraps of paper noted with helpful things your little ones can do. Maybe Mr. Smith next door needs his flowers watered or his dog walked. Find a younger child to read to, or write a thank-you note to the lifeguard at the pool. Doing something nice for someone else will help your child be less self-centered and focus on being of service to others. Hopefully, after a few times this thinking will come naturally.  > Make a video of the day. Wouldn’t it be great to capture idle or exciting summer moments on camera? If your kids are old enough, assign a Videographer of the Day. She can make all the creative choices. At the end of the summer, you will have a wonderful movie to watch and memories to share. 'GREEN' YOUR BARBECUES > If you have a charcoal grill, look for organic or natural- lump brands. Natural gas is the most energy-efficient. However, solar or infrared grills are the greenest, as they heat quickly and use the least amount of energy. > Send e-vites. If your guest list is long, don’t waste paper on invitations. In addition, request that your friends carpool, if possible. > Minimize the use of bottles and cans. Use pitchers for beverages and filtered water. > Pack up leftovers in reusable containers and send them home with guests. Compost all plant-based scraps. > Break out the good stuff! Using real dishes, silverware and cloth napkins cuts down on paper waste. •> SOLUTION OF THE MONTH:      SUNSCREEN SECRET This time of year, the sun can be scorching! So having a regular routine to get everyone’s skin protected is a critical step in the pre-pool game plan. Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure to be effective, so apply it before packing your bag and cooler.     For toddlers, this process can be a challenge. Most kids fear getting sunscreen in their eyes and know the sting that can go along with it.     Try this: Have your kids suit up and put their swim goggles on. Take them outside for best ventilation.     Have them hold their breath, and then spray them with sunscreen. This will prevent any sunscreen from getting in their eyes, and kids will love that they can watch it all happen.     It’s always a good idea to reapply sunscreen after swimming, so give your children their own supply of lotion, so they can do it themselves or with a little help. Need more Smart Mom solutions? Go to smartmomsolutions.com or listen to Mom Talk Radio: momtalkradio.com.

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