big family, small budget: having fun - outdoors

 

as a previous childcare teacher, it was always a requirement to get the children outside at least twice a day weather permitting. weather permitting usually included temperatures below 45 degrees, code orange or higher heat warnings,  or dangerous weather like a storm. going outside on a hot day was okay as long as we provided water and rain was a great sensory activity. as a parent, these are good guidelines to follow when getting your child outside for some fresh air each day.

having a big family doesn't mean we have to have a lot of money to have fun. there are so many activities in our area that we can enjoy all throughout the year. here is a list of activities that are available in our area, around raleigh, NC. be sure to check your area for similar activities.

here are some free and inexpensive outdoor activities that can be enjoyed throughout the year: 

• parks and recreational areas
• hiking trails and neighborhood walks
• bonfires: roasting marshmallows, making s'mores
• fruit and veggie picking at a local farm
• seasonal festivals (in the community and at your child's school)
• holiday activities (fireworks displays, parades, performances, pumpkin farms & carving, egg hunts)
• seasonal activities (hayrides, outdoor ice skating rinks, swimming, beaches, spray parks and sprinklers, camping, fishing, kite flying, snow activites)

• local sporting events ( minor leagues, high school teams)
• outdoor games (tag, hide-n-seek, bike riding and skateboarding, scavenger hunts, ring toss, badminton, horseshoes, corn hole, frisbee, kickball, other basic sports)

• outdoor arts and crafts ( tie dye shirts, bleaching shirts, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, mud pies
• local outdoor flea markets
• gardening
• the zoo
• picnics

as you can see, there are so many things you can do outside with your family that doesn't cost a whole lot of money. i am sure there are so many more. carolina parent is a local magazine and website in our area that always lists upcoming events in our area. in addition the the activities listed above, we can always find a variety of activities to get us outside for some fresh air.

be sure to think outside the box when doing any of these activities. instead of just blowing bubbles in your own front yard, take them to the park with you. or create a scavenger hunt list before you go on a hike. make it fun and enjoy some time outside with your family.

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