Keeping Kids Captivated Without Going Broke

Kids get inundated with commercials about theme parks and other super activities. The school even sends home flyers about Disneyland vacation packages. Contrary to what advertisers want us to think, it is possible to have fun without spending a lot of money on theme parks, gaming systems, expensive recreational equipment, or leaving town. Any family on any sort of a budget can find something to do as a family in the ideas I've presented here.

My children present a particular challenge because of their mental disabilities. I have found they benefit mostly from activities with educational value. As they look back on their favorite trips, they weren't to a theme park, but to a local museum, zoo, national park, or even a favorite activity at home. Because school is so difficult for them, any time I can show them that learning is fun, it's a big win for me.

But learning doesn't always take place from educational pursuits. My kids need learning in social skills, too, because of their mental challenges. If you are a parent, you know that you don't want your kids to learn all their social skills by accident from their peers. Take the time to have quality activities with your kids. Eat at least one meal a day sitting at the table with your family, whether it be breakfast or dinner (lunch is usually at school). Talk to your kids about their ups and downs. Learn to laugh together. Teach them to talk about their goals and dreams. Talk about politics and explore both sides of a debate. If you leave all this social learning to their peers and the school system, your kids may fall through the cracks.

OK, enough lecturing - let the fun begin! I have here some links to websites where I have found free and low-cost activities to do as a family. I have tried to find RSS feeds and at-a-glance calendars to ease somewhat the pain of searching. Some of the places normally offer their programs at a significant cost, but have occasional free events. These links are usually for venues in my area (Utah), but will also give you ideas of where to search in your community.

Sometimes you want to go to the expensive places. They are pretty attractive, after all. I have found some really good ways of getting discounted tickets to many of these places.

Contests: Two words - ENTER THEM. Many places will have coloring contests, guess-how-many contests, drawings, etc. There are even sponsored events where all you have to do is sign up, but due to an overwhelming response, they have a lottery-style drawing to select final participants.

The local newspaper had a coloring contest advertised in the monthly community newspaper. A friend of mine had all 5 of his kids enter. He was able to take his entire family and a couple of friends for free to a very expensive event.

Advertisements in Event Calendars and Newsletters: My kids are disabled so I search event calendars on sites related to their disabilities. I receive many organizations newsletters. I also read over the free monthly community newpaper. In these places, I have found advertisements for the above-mentioned contests, drawing, and first-come, first-served sign-ups. Many of these newletters and calendars are online, so watch carefully.

For example, I took my kids to see the Utah Symphony Orchestra for free. They put on a special presentation for children with autism and their families. It was advertised on the Utah Symphony Orchestra website and the Utah Parent Center event calendar online.

Special Offers With Purchase: Some store products will have coupons on their packaging which deeply discount admission to popular attractions. If you would buy these products anyway, or if the products would be useful, then, hey, why not?

Also keep your eye out for special offers for test driving cars, buying cars, presentations for financial or other services, signing up for services on a website, etc. Sales and commission oriented businesses are willing to offer good incentives. Even if you don't buy, you're going to tell their friends and they are going to tell their friends. Someone is going to buy.

Workplace Discounts: Big companies are often able to get group discounts rates without having to get a large group to go to an event all at the same time. Sometimes this is because of their sponsorship of or advertising agreement with the organization, and sometimes just because they buy discounted ticket vouchers in advance, redeemable for any day, and resell them at cost to their employees.

Memberships: Warehouse memberships have a lot of benefits. Next time you get a coupon book or magazine from yours, remember to check out the extra benefits you may not know about. You might be able to buy discounted movie tickets, restaurant gift cards, admission tickets to attractions, etc.

Local Public TV (PBS) and public ration stations operate through donations. If you have donated to one of these entities, and they send you a membership card, there are likely discounts that come with it. Many of the attractions I've listed on this hub offer discounts to people with such a membership card.

There are many free things to do in State and National Parks. The State Parks' Junior Ranger program is one I recently came across. Many states' parks participate in this program, offering education on various subjects appropriate to the particular locations. Kids may be presented with a certificate and/or badge or patch at the end of the program.

Another program which excites me, and I have yet to take advantage of it, is the lifetime free pass for people with permanent disabilities. Autism is a permanent disability, so I all have to do is take my son and his doctor's diagnosis, stating he has autism and that is is a permanent disability, to a National Park (this has to be done in person) and pick up the pass! This will save us considerable entrance fees to National Park venues, where we can participate in high-interest activities for him, but not worry about having to leave for one of his meltdowns.