About House & Home: Free (and Nearly Free) Kids' Activities

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House & Home From Diane Schmidt, your About House & Home Editor Even though the countdown to school has begun (at least in the households I know), there's still at least four weeks left of the holidays, a time when little ones start uttering that repetitive phrase grown-ups dread: I'm bored. Free and Nearly-Free Kids' Activities In addition to your patience, the other thing that starts wearing thin is your summer budget. Fortunately, there are lots of things you can do on the cheap (and sometimes free!) that will keep your kids off the streets, entertained and glad that school is still a distant memory. Riding Lessons for Children Summer is a good time for kids to develop a new skill. Riding lessons are that perfect combination of having fun outdoors while teaching kids responsibility, respect for animals and the joy that comes with learning something new. Summer Crafts and Activities As a kid, I used to spend days elbow-deep in flour mixed with water, slathering endless pieces of dripping newspaper onto balloon. Only I could see the exotic animal that balloon would become (usually a pig). Ah, the good old days. And you can relive them (with your kids) by checking out this great article on summer crafts and activities (including paper mache!). Host an Outdoor Movie Night Each summer, our neighbors erect a home theater system in their backyard, inviting the entire street to attend. It's a great tradition that everyone in the neighborhood looks forward to. I once asked Dave how this tradition got started. He glanced at his five kids who were busy coloring posters for the upcoming event and said: "You really need to ask?" Nope, I guess not. House & Home Ads Fun Kids Activities Garden Decorating Kids Art Cars for Kids Preschool Kids Featured Articles Garden CSI Short Sale Without a Hardship 30-Minute Organizing Painting Tips and Tricks Green Lawn Mowers Veterinary Care for Cats   More from About.com Plan a Unique Vegas Wedding The minister, music and champagne are just the beginning -- why not get married aboard a helicopter or have a pirate swing in to deliver your rings? Arrrr! More> Join About.com's User Panel! Share your opinions and help us make About.com more relevant, informative and enjoyable to use. More>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About House & Home newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2010 About.com   Advertisement