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Best Family Games Under $20

December 8, 2022 By: Sweet Frugal Life1 Comment

Check out these budget friendly family game night ideas.

Wondering what the best family games are???  Keep reading!

If you know me at all, you know that I LOVE to play family board games.  I love the competition, I love the laughs, and I love spending an evening with my favorite people……but I also do not like to spend a lot of money.

Our little family has Family Game Night every Sunday evening.  I brought this tradition with me from my childhood and have loved sharing it with my children.  Family game night usually consists of some popcorn, fruit and snacks while playing a pile of games together.  The focus is having fun, laughing and enjoying time together.

I also love to get together with friends and family members for game nights.  The great things about games is that there is always something for everyone.  With hundreds and hundreds of games to choose from, every personality and preference can find a favorite game to play.

Games are easy to share with others, making it so cheap for everyone involved.  Think about it!  If everyone bought just one game, and then gets together to share the games, you get to enjoy multiple games for the price of one!  Frugal win!!

2023 family games - frugal board games for families

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Where to buy family games?

There are many different places to buy board games for families.  You can buy them on Amazon or at any store that sell toys.

My favorite place to buy games though are at thrift stores.  The game section is my first stop every time I go to my local thrift store.  Most times I don’t buy anything, but some times I find some great games for only a few dollars!

I have also seen used family games sold on Facebook Marketplace, so make sure to check there!

The Best Family Games Under $20

Here are a few of my recommendations of the best family games under $20.  You do not need to spend a lot of money to enjoy a fun game night with your family!

Strategy Games

Strategy games are my very favorite games to play!  I love being able to use my mind while playing!

Skull King

I honestly love every game made by Grandpa Beck and Skull King is at the top of that list!  It requires strategy, bidding, with a little mix of pirates and mermaids mixing things up.  This game is a fun to play over and over again!

 

CodeNames

Codenames is a very popular game, and for good reason.  To play this game you form two teams and use word association to try to get your teammates to guess which words you are thinking of.  It feels a little complicated when you first open the box, but it is actually really easy to learn.

The Chameleon

Another fun family game is The Chameleon.  It requires a small amount of strategy to track down the chameleon and win the game.  But it is very easy to learn and play!

 

Forbidden Island

We play Forbidden Island very regularly in our house.  Forbidden Island is a different than other games because you do not compete against each other, instead you work together on the same team to beat the game.  Together, as a team you try to “save” the island before it sinks.  It can get a little stressful, but I love when our little family is forced (encouraged???) to work together.

Forbidden Island Card Game

Kingdomino

Kingdomino is a fun strategy game for families.  This game is similar to dominos, where you are trying to connect certain tiles, but it has a fun twist and strategy to it as you try to build your kingdom.

 

  • Related:  Cheap At Home Date Night Ideas

Party Games

If you are looking for some laugh out loud games for groups to play together, here are a few that we love.

Watch Ya Mouth

Watch Ya Mouth is such a fun party game.  It is impossible to play this game without laughing the entire time.  Promise.  It is probably one of the funniest games I have ever played.

Mad Gab

It’s easy for all ages to play Mad Gab.  The game play involves scrambled words that you sound out to try to guess the correct phrase.  It’s so funny to listen to your teammates trying to guess the phrase while they sound the words out over and over.

 

  • Related:  25 Completely Free Family Winter Activities

 

Pit

Pit is fast paced, interactive, and loud.  The game works by trying to convince others to trade cards, or “crops” with you while they are trying to convince others to trade with them.  It is a race to be the first to collect all of your crops.  My kids love playing this game and it’s a great way to bring others out of their shell.  It is currently on sell for less than $15!

Telestrations

Telestrations is a mix between Pictionary and Telephone.  Everyone draws a word, then passes their drawing to the next person who guesses what you drew, this continues through everyone.  It’s so funny to see what the end product is and how the pictures change.

 

Easy to Play Games

If you are looking for some easy, quick games to learn and play here are a few of my favorites below!

Cover Your Assets

The game Cover your Assets is fast, easy to learn and seriously addicting.  It’s honestly one of my faves ever!  I’ve always loved money games and the ability to feel like a “quick millionaire.”  This is a great game for families!

Exploding Kittens

Kids love Exploding Kittens!  It’s simple to learn and so much fun to play.  The idea behind the game is so unique and original.  There is a little bit of strategy involved, but not necessary to enjoy the game.

Hedbandz

Our family loves to play Hedbandz!  It’s really easy for everyone to play and keeps you laughing!  To play this game everyone wears a headband with a clue card inserted.  You take turns asking each other yes or no questions to try to correctly guess the clue on your headband.

 

Anomia

Anomia is a fun group game and works well for all personalities, even those normally quiet will start shouting and laughing while playing.  You do need to be able to read, so it is geared towards older kids.  Anomia is small and compact which makes it easy to carry around on trips or over to someone’s home.

Everest Toys Anomia Card Game

Bananagrams

I absolutely love Bananagrams, or as my family likes to call it, Speed Scrabble.  It has the same strategy as scrabble, use your letter tiles to connect words together in a grid.  But, it is fast paced and has an extra element of stress (in a very good way).  If you are a fan of word games, you will love bananagrams!

Bananagrams Party Edition

Farkle

Farkle, or The Dice Game as I grew up calling it, is a game of luck and risk. The more you risk, the more lucky you might get.  It’s very easy to play, just simple rolling the dice and keeping score.  Farkle can turn into a lengthy game or played as a quick time filler.  Plus, it’s a great deal at less than $10!

Spot It

There is really no game like Spot It!  It is easy for all ages to play, has many different game play options, and each round goes quickly.  My kids can seriously play Spot It for hours!  We absolutely love it and I recommend it to everyone!

  • Related:  20 FREE or FRUGAL Family Christmas Traditions

Spot It!

Classic Games

Clue

Clue is a classic, and for good reason!  It’s a good old fashioned mystery game as you make guesses trying to guess who committed the crime.  My kids love getting to go from room to room and write their suspicious in their “clue notebook.”

Sequence

I grew up playing Sequence and it’s been fun to introduce it to my kids again.  It’s a very simple strategy games, easy enough for young kids to follow and enjoy playing.  The goal is to get your tiles all in a row on the game board.

Sequence Game

Qwirkle

Qwirkle is a game for all ages!  The game is played by matching tiles together based on shapes and colors.  It’s a fun game to play while visiting with your friends and passing time.

Taboo

You just can’t go wrong with Taboo!  It’s such a fun game where you try to get your teammates to guess the word on your card, but if you say one of the “no-no” words then you will get buzzed by the buzzer!  This has been a popular game for years for good reason!  You can get it for less than $20 on Amazon!

 

Enjoy your next family game night!

It is possible to buy games, enjoy a game night as a family without spending a lot of money!  I hope your family will enjoy a few of our game recommendations!

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Cheap family games - best games for families

best family games to play - family game night ideas

I hope you loved these family game night ideas of the best family games!

Free Virtual Field Trips for Kids

April 13, 2022 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Free Online Field Trips For Elementary School Kids!

Are you looking for some fun, free virtual field trips for kids?  I’ve got you covered with this list of free online field trips perfect for elementary school kids, preschool aged kids, or anyone who loves to look at awesome places!

I can’t be the only person with bored kids at home???  I’m constantly being asked, “What can I do?  There’s NOTHING to do!”  Those poor darlings just think they live in the most boring house ever!  

Well, one of the ideas I’ve started giving my kids is to take a free virtual field trip!  This way they can experience the world, without even having to leave home!  It’s educational and FUN, making mom happy and kiddos happy.  Don’t we just love a double win???  Yes, yes we do!

Virtual Field Trips For Kids

I’ve scoured the internet to find the best free online field trips for elementary school kids!  I hope your family and students enjoy them as much as we have!

Animal Field Trips

If you have animal lovers, then they are sure to love a few of the virtual animal field trips below.

AfriCam

Have you ever wanted to go on an African safari????  Try a virtual one with the live cameras in the African bush.  AfriCam offers multiple camera views so you can enjoy all that Africa has to offer.

Dairy Farm

Learn all about the Dairy Farm with this fun virtual field trip.  Kids will be able to tour a real dairy farm and learn all of the behind the scenes that goes on at the farm.

Hen Cam

Get a peek into life with chickens with the Hen Cam.  It shows the day to day life of hens living in a backyard outside of Boston.  Hens are so funny, I could watch them for hours!

Houston Zoo

Another fun animal virtual field trip is to the Houston Zoo.  They have live webcams available to watch the elephants, flamingos, river otters and more!

Marineland Dolphin Adventure

For any dolphin or marine animal lovers out there, you must attend the virtual Marineland Dolphin Adventure for an up close look at a variety of sea animals.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Take a trip to the aquarium without leaving home!  The Monterey Bay Aquarium offers multiple cams for your viewing pleasure.  You can watch the moon jelly, penguins, sea otters, sharks and more.

San Diego Zoo Cam

Another fun animal cam you can watch is the San Diego Zoo Cam.  The San Diego Zoo has multiple animal cams available for you and your kiddos to enjoy.  You can watch the apes, baboons, elephants, giraffes, hippos and more!

Zoo Atlanta Panda Cam

Watch the PandaCam on Zoo Atlanta’s YouTube Channel for a fun treat!  You can tune in live whenever and wherever to watch the panda play, eat, and sleep.

panda eating bamboo

  • Related:  Free Summer Reading Programs For Kids 2021

 

Historical Field Trips

Teaching your students a lesson about an historical event or place?  Use one of the virtual field trips below to help bring that history to life.

9/11 Memorial Museum

Take a walk through the 9/11 Memorial Museum with this interactive virtual tour.  This tour does an amazing job of making you feel like you are actually at the memorial museum, viewing the exhibits up close and personal.  It was very moving to go through.

Anne Frank Secret Annex

Tour the Secret Annex where Anne Frank and her family lived in hiding from 1942-1944.  This is a great virtual tour to see exactly where the Frank family and others lived during WW2 and to learn more about their stories.

Buckingham Palace

Take a peek inside Buckingham Palace here!  You can virtually tour the throne room, grand staircase and white drawing room.

Colonial Williamsburg

Another fun history virtual field trip is to Colonial Williamsburg.  It’s a great look into what was life during colonial times.

Ellis Island

I love this interactive tour of Ellis Island.  They have audio, pictures, and video from passengers arrive on Ellis Island.  The tour takes you step by step through the immigration process into the United States.  It’s very informative and interesting.

Ford’s Theater

Ford’s Theater virtual tour is a great way to learn more about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the events that took place that fateful night.  Through images of the restored theater, students will learn more about the timeline and experiences of the night Lincoln died.

Great Wall of China

Go on a field trip to the Great Wall of China from the comfort of your own home with this virtual tour!

Mount Vernon

George Washingtons home, Mount Vernon, is a beautifully restored home.  This virtual tour will take you through each room of Mount Vernon so that you can get a view of what it looked like when George and Martha lived there.

Museum of the American Revolution

If you or your students are studying about the American Revolution, be sure to check out this field trip to the Museum of the American Revolution.  Lauren Tarshie, author of the I Survived series, guides the field trip, with a deeper look to the revolution, with a kid friendly twist.

National Constitution Center

The National Constitution Center offers multiple free virtual tours for elementary kids.  Each video teaches kids about the signing of the constitution, the civil war and founding of America.

National Museum of Natural History

Check out all of the rooms of the National Museum of Natural History.  This is a self guided tour allowing you to view your favorite areas however and whenever you want!

Plimoth Plantation

Visit the Plimoth Plantation with this virtual field trip to learn more about the early settlers of the United States.  The tour includes multiple videos and a slideshow.

Statue of Liberty

Tour the Statue of Liberty with this online field trip.  It’s a great way to see what it looks like from the inside and to learn more about it’s history.

Titanic Wreckage

Have you ever wanted to see what the Titanic looks under water?  Now you can with this Titanic virtual tour.  It’s a fun way to teach kids about a historical event and give them a look at what happens to an object under water.

Titanic pamphlet

  • Related:  How To Teach Kids About Money

 

Great Outdoors Field Trips

Want to see all of the beauty the great outdoors has to offer without leaving your house?  Well you can with these outdoors virtual field trips!

Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon Virtual Tour is a an amazing tour along the Grand Canyon Rim to the Colorado River.  You’ll be able to join a 2 hour tour of the Grand Canyon to see all of the sights it has to offer!

Hawaii Volcanos

Check out these amazing Webcams of Hawaiian Volcanoes!  I had so much fun viewing all of the volcano images and can’t wait to show them to my kids.  It’s a great educational virtual field trip!

Mount Rushmore

Get a birds eye view of Mount Rushmore with this virtual field trip.  You’ll get to explore the monument up close and personal, for a little taste of what it would be like to actually be there.

Son Doong Cave

Travel to Vietnam and tour the largest cave in the world, with the Son Doong Cave virtual tour.  The calming sounds and pictures transports you straight into this beautiful cave.

Yellowstone

Take a virtual field trip to Yellowstone National Park.  You can view Mammoth Hot Springs, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Mud Volcano and more!  It’s such a fun way to see all of the unique beauty Yellowstone has to offer, without ever leaving your house!

Yosemite

Yosemite is such a beautiful park and I had so much fun visiting it virtually with this field trip.  

The waterfall in Yosemite National Park

 

  • Related:  How To Save Money On Kids Clothes

 

Space Field Trips

Take a trip to space with these fun virtual field trips.

Mars

I absolutely love this virtual field trip to Mars.  You’ll get to tour the real surface of Mars that was previously recorded by NASAS Curiosity Rover.

Slime in Space

You must check out this fun slime in space virtual field trip.  Here students will get to learn how slime acts when it’s in space.  This is a really fun field trip and experiment!

Space Station

I’m always curious about life in space, and every kid I’ve met is too!  Here’s a fun virtual field trip to the international space station.  Get a peek into how astronauts live in space and what it’s like working at the space station.

Stellarium

Take a fun field trip to the stars.  Check out Stallarium Web to view the constellations, stars and planets.  You can even input your location to locate the stars right above your backyard.

Sun

I love this virtual tour to the sun.  It’s really well made and even makes stops to the moon, Venus and Mercury.

Mars Rover

 

  • Related:  21 Free and Frugal Kids Educational Websites

 

Educational Virtual Field Trips

Below are some of my favorite educational online field trips.

Bright Farms

Learn more about how food is grown with the BrightFarms Virtual Field Trip.  You’ll get to peek inside of a greenhouse and watch how indoor farming works!

M&M Candy Factory Tour

Here’s a really fun virtual tour of the M&M Candy Factory.  Watch the entire process of  what it takes to make M&Ms.  It’s a really fun video and tour!

Memphis Fire Department

Here is a fun virtual field trip of a Memphis Fire Department.  Learn all about fire stations and get a look at a fire engine up close and personal.

Mount Olive Pickles Tour

Another fun educational virtual field trip is the Mount Olive Pickles Tour.  It’s an interesting tour showing the entire process of taking a cucumber and turning it into multiple types of pickles.

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

Learn more about aviation with a tour of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.  With this virtual tour you’ll be able to see different aircrafts and missiles on display, and learn a few interesting facts about aviation history.

Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy offers multiple virtual field trips for students to take right from the comfort of their home or classroom.  You can choose from multiple topics covered including, climate change, coral, ecosystems and more, there is something for everyone!

Recycling Center

Teach your kids all about recycling with this recycling center virtual tour.  They will learn all about the importance of recycling, and get to watch the big equipment sorting and packing the recycled materials.

Sawmill Tour

Tour the Collum’s Lumber Yard and learn how pine trees are turned into lumber.  It’s a really fun behind the scenes video!

Sawmill (lumber mill)

 

  • Related:  How To Listen To Audiobooks For Free

 

Art Field Trips

Do you have an art lover in your classroom?  Take a few of these fun virtual art field trips below!

Frida Kahlo Museum

Virtually explore the beautiful home of famed artist, Frida Kahlo.  Her home, Casa Azul, is full of so much beauty and original art.  It is a masterpiece that is so fun to view from the comfort of your own home.

National Gallery of Art

The National Gallery of Art has multiple video tours and lessons for elementary school kids to take to help them learn more about art.  This is a great resource for teachers and parents!

Vatican Museums

Virtually visit the Vatican Museums and get a close up look of the beautiful art and architecture in each one.  Your students will be able look inside the Sistine Chapel, Raphaels Rooms, and more!

 

In Conclusion

We are so lucky to live during a time when we can travel the world as a family or class, without even having to leave our house.  I hope you enjoy some of these free virtual field trips for kids!

 

 

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virtual tours for kids - learning activities for kids

Enjoy these free virtual field trips for kids!

Easy Science Activity For Preschoolers

January 8, 2022 By: Sweet Frugal Life3 Comments

How To Do The Magic Toothpick Science Experiment

We are in the dead of winter over here.  Which usually means trying to entertain the kids with indoor activities, one of our favorite things to do when stuck at home is science experiments..  My kids love science experiments!  They especially love the magic toothpick experiment!  It’s so easy to do and I always have the supplies on hand.  This is the perfect easy science activity for preschoolers, toddlers, and basically all the kids!

magic toothpick science activity preschoolers - rainy day activities for kids

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  • Related:  25 Completely Free Family Winter Activities

Magic Toothpick:  Easy Science Activity for Preschoolers

One of my favorite things about this easy science activity for preschoolers is that it only requires a few supplies, and I always have them stocked up in my house!

Gather Supplies

To do the magic toothpick experiment you will need to first gather all of your supplies.

You will need:

  • Milk
  • Toothpicks
  • Dish Soap
  • Food Coloring
  • Shallow Bowl

Perform The Experiment

Now that you have your supplies, it’s time to have fun with this easy science experiment!  I promise you won’t mess this up, and your kids will love it!

First, pour some milk into a bowl.  I like to use a wide shallow container.  A pie tin would work great, or anything you happen to have on hand. 

There isn’t an exact measurement for milk, I just usually pour enough milk in to cover the bottom of the container

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Next, choose a few colors of food coloring.  This is a fun part for kids to help with!  They love choosing their favorite colors!

Today my son chose red, green, and blue.  Now, drop a few drops of the chosen color of food coloring into the milk.  Try to spread out the spots where you put the food coloring, so that it covers different areas of the milk.  But, don’t drop in to many that it covers to much milk.

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Now comes the fun “magic toothpick” part!  Pour a small amount of dish soap into a small, separate bowl. 

Get out a toothpick and dip the toothpick into the dish soap.  With the dish soap on the toothpick the science experiment is ready!  I like to tell my kids the toothpick is now magic…..but, really it’s science!  So you choose how you want to explain this next part!

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Using the soap side end of the toothpick, lightly touch the drops of food coloring you have in the milk. 

The colors will spread and make beautiful designs.  Keep touching the food coloring until it is completely spread throughout the bowl.  Your kids will be sure magic is happening right before their eyes!

Then, you can dump out the milk and repeat the process all over again!  My kids can’t get enough of this activity!


Have Fun With Your Kids

Kids grow so fast!!!!  These sweet, special memories you can make with them now will be something you look back on forever!  My daughter use to always ask me to do a science experiment with her every day…..and I got tired of it at times.  But, now that she is 13….I miss it so much!

Looking for more preschool friendly activities?

Peanut Butter Play Dough Recipe

Easy Easter Craft for Preschoolers: Egg Sun Catcher

Screen Free At Home Kids Activities

Want to try this easy science activity at home?  Pin it for later reference!

easy science experiment for preschoolers

 

Try this easy science activity for preschoolers today!

Easy Homemade Christmas Ornament

December 13, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

This is the perfect Christmas craft idea for kids!

Are you looking for a fun craft to do with your kids this Christmas?  You have to try this easy homemade Christmas ornament!  I bought all of the supplies at the Dollar Tree, making it a very budget friendly activity!

I always add a craft to our Christmas bucket list each December, and these are the perfect Christmas ornaments to make with kids, because they only take a few minutes, and the kids can easily customize the colors however they want.  Plus, there is nothing better then getting to see your child’s art hanging on the tree each year.  Every piece is full of sweet memories and make me so happy!

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Gather Supplies

The first thing you will need to do is gather your supplies.  I bought all of my supplies at Dollar Tree, but you can also get them on Amazon or any craft store.

Clear Christmas Ornaments

Craft Paint

And that’s it!  Such an easy, budget friendly project!

Craft supplies for homemade christmas ornaments

 

How To Make This Easy Homemade Christmas Ornament

Now that you have your supplies, let’s get crafting!  One of my favorite things about this Homemade Christmas ornament is that it is fast and easy.  If you worry that you aren’t a “crafter”, do not worry anymore!  This craft is perfect for you!

The first thing you will need to do is take the cap off of the ornament (easy enough right?)

Next, take one of your paints and squeeze a small drop into the outer rim of the ornament.  Allow the paint to pour down the sides.   Remember, you can never add to much paint.

Then, take another color of paint and do the same thing, squeeze a small drop into the outer rim and allow it to pour down the sides.

Continue dropping paint into the ornaments, alternating the color each time.  I recommend 2-3 colors in each ornament.

Make sure to add plenty of paint so that it will cover the entire ornament.

 

And you are almost done!  See, I told you this was easy!

Lastly, just turn your homemade Christmas ornament upside down and place it in a plastic cup.  Let it sit there for 24 hours.  Do not skip this step or shorten the time.  The bulb needs to let all of the paint drain out and fully dry.  Gravity is an important step in this craft!

Finishing Touches

After letting your ornament dry for a full 24 hours, pick it up from the cup, admire the beautiful, colorful design you made, attach the cap and then proudly hang it on your Christmas tree to enjoy.

So pretty, right?!?  I love experimenting with different combinations of colors, and especially watching what my sweet kids come up with.  No two ornaments ever turn our the same, and that’s the best part!

 

More Christmas Activities:

Easy Cinnamon Candy Recipe For Christmas

Best Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas

Christmas Tree Cookie Recipe

 

 

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homemade christmas ornament for kids -christmas craft idea for kids

I hope you love making this easy homemade Christmas ornament as much as we did!

How to Make Ice Cream in a Bag

July 19, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life1 Comment

How do you make ice cream in a bag?  I’ve got the answer for you!

One of our very favorite summer activities is making ice cream in a bag.  It’s easy (the kids can do it all by themselves!), cheap and fun!  I almost always have all of the ingredients on hand.  And, who doesn’t love ice cream on a hot summers day????  I know we do!  So, I knew I needed to blog about how to make ice cream in a bag so you can all enjoy it too!

I’ve always said that I was born in the wrong decade!  I truly yearn for the simple life of the early 1900s, I think that’s partly why I love being frugal.  There is just so much satisfaction from growing and making my own food; and living a simpler, less materialistic life.

When we make our own ice cream it reminds me of simpler times.  It’s a way for the entire family to have fun together, no need to go to an ice cream parlor or the grocery store.  We can do it on our own!

Making homemade ice cream in a bag is such a fun summer activity for kids!  Try this recipe out with your kiddos, you will not regret it!

ice cream in a bag

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How To Make Ice Cream In A Bag

Making ice cream in a bag is so easy and fun for kids to help with!

Gather Supplies

The first thing you will need to do is gather your supplies.  For this recipe you will need:

  • 1 cup half and half
  • 2 Tbsp sugar
  • 1/2 cup ice cream salt
  • Ice
  • Favorite mix ins:  chocolate syrup, caramel, sprinkles, vanilla extract, fruit, chocolate chips, etc.
  • Gallon Ziplock Freezer Bag
  • Quart Ziplock Storage Bag

Ice Cream In A Bag Instructions

Now that you have gathered all of your supplies, it’s time to make the ice cream!  AKA:  The best part!  😉

The first step is to pour the half and half, sugar and one or more mix ins into the quart sized bag.  (we chose to add cocoa for our mix ins because….I mean…it’s chocolate! ;))

Seal the bag shut tightly, taking care to get out all of the excess air.  It’s very important that the bag is shut all of the way so that the salt doesn’t get into the ice cream (nobody likes salty ice cream!).


Next, take out your gallon size Ziploc freezer bag and dump in a lot of and about 1/2 cup ice cream salt (I never measure this, I just kind of guess).  It doesn’t need to be exact.

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Now, just place the quart size bag inside of the gallon size bag.  Close the gallon size bag and seal it tight.  It’s time to start shaking, this is the fun part!


 

You will need to shake the bags for a good 5-10 minutes.  It takes a lot of hard shaking to get the ice cream to thicken and it’s important to be shaking constantly.

The kids usually get a little tired of shaking the bag so much, we like to turn it into a game.  We turn on music and have a shaking dance party, throw them to each other and take turns shaking everyone’s, etc.

ice cream in a bag

Keep shaking the bags until the milk mixture looks frozen, take the quart size bag out and rinse it under cold water.  This helps to wash off any excess salt.

Pour your ice cream into a bowl, top with sprinkles if you’d like, and ENJOY! 

I love the simplicity of this activity, and the excitement the kids get out of making their very own personal ice cream!


 

Ice Cream in a Bag

Make homemade ice cream and enjoy a fun activity with ice cream in a bag!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 mins
Course Dessert
Servings 1 person

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Cup Half and Half
  • 2 Tbsp Sugar optional
  • 1/2 Cup Rock Salt
  • Ice

Optional Mix Ins

  • 1 Tbsp Vanilla
  • 1 Tbsp Cocoa
  • Chocolate Syrup
  • Fruit
  • Sprinkles

Instructions
 

  • In a quart ziplock bag mix half and half, sugar and one or more mix ins.
  • In a gallon ziplock bag mix ice and rock salt together.
  • Take the quart size bag with the ice cream ingredients and get out all the air and seal it shut.  Make sure the bag is sealed tight so no salt will get inside.  Place the quart size bag inside of the gallon size bag.
  • Now for the fun part.  You shake it!  This takes about 5-10 minutes of HARD shaking. It’s important to be shaking it constantly. I will usually help my little kids to make sure it gets nice and frozen.
  • Once the milk mixture looks frozen, take the quart size bag out and rinse it under cold water.  This helps to wash off any excess salt.
    Pour it into your bowl, top with sprinkles if you’d like, and ENJOY!  I love the simplicity of this activity, and the excitement the kids get out of making their very own personal ice cream!
Keyword homemade ice cream, ice cream recipe

In Conclusion

I hope you love this recipe as much as we do!  It’s so fun to try to make different flavors and experiment!   My daughter had the idea to use a little mint extract and chocolate chips in our next batch for our own chocolate mint flavor!  There is really no right or wrong combo!

Let me know if you have any questions about how to make ice cream in a bag.  I promise, you will love this recipe and easy summer activity!

 

 

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Easy Rock Painting Ideas For Kids

May 5, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life1 Comment

Check out the best idea for painting rocks for kids.

Are you looking for some easy rock painting ideas for kids?  I have you covered with this fun twist on painting rocks for kids.

If you have been reading for a while you know that I am all about simple and frugal activities for kids.  Mom life is HARD and BUSY and did I mention HARD.  So, if I can come up with fun activities for my kids that require very little prep, I am all for it!  Which is exactly why I love this easy rock craft.  It checks off all the boxes for a fun, cheap craft for the kids.

This activity of “painting” rocks is one of my favorites.  It gets the kids outside and lets them use their creativity at the same time.  Plus, it’s totally free!


How To Make Hot Rocks Craft

This easy rock painting idea for kids starts with an old fashioned rock hunt.  I encourage my kids to find a large and smooth rock, they usually just grab whichever one catches their eye first!  Either way totally works.  (See, simple right?!?!)

After finding the perfect rock, it’s time to bake it!  And yes, I totally mean you bake it!

Place the rock into a hot oven and let it “cook” until the rock gets hot.  I usually turn the oven on to about 400 degrees and bake them for about 15 minutes.  There really is no science here, you just want the rock hot.

  • Related:  50 Free Screen Free Summer Kids Activities

Once the rock is hot, take it out of the oven using a hot pad and place it on a paper plate, paper towel, newspaper, etc. 

Now, let your kids color on the hot rock with crayons.  The crayons will melt as they are colored onto the rock.  It is so fun to watch the colors mix together, they make such pretty designs.

 


After you are done “painting” let the rock cool and dry.  You will be left with a fun colored rock, we have a collection of these outside.  My kids are always eager to add a new rock to their loved collection.

Another thing that we enjoy doing with our painted rocks is to hide them around the city for others to find.  It is a popular activity in our area.  My kids love hiding their rocks and checking to see if they have been found, and we love finding others rocks in local playgrounds and areas.

 


Happy Rock Painting!

That’s it!  See how easy this rock painting idea is!  No paints required!  Let me know if you try this easy rock painting idea for kids.  I would love to hear how it went!  Your kids will love this new take on painting rocks.

 

You might be interested in these other articles:

How to Make Your Very Own Pom-Pom Garland

Yarn Hearts: An Easy Valentine Craft for Kids

Peanut Butter Play Dough Recipe

 

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At Home Preschool Activities

February 18, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

How to entertain preschoolers at home.

Preschoolers are one of my favorite ages!  They are full of so much curiosity and innocence.  I honestly miss having my little ones home with me (they all grew up!).  One thing about preschoolers is that they are a bundle of energy, always wanting to be kept busy and entertained.  Fortunately, there are many cheap at home preschool activities to keep their busy bodies active and engaged.  Here are a few of our favorites!

At Home Preschool Activities

Here are a few of my easy at home preschool activities.  I hope your kids love them as much as my kids did!

1.  Build A Fort

A fort can be a fun place for preschoolers to hide out, read books, and play.

You can easily build a fort by putting a few blankets over the kitchen table.  Or, push some chairs together and drape them with blankets.

Don’t forget to fill the fort with pillows, stuffed animals and a few books for reading.  Enjoy snuggling together inside your newly built fort!

2.  Make White Dirt

My son loved making “white dirt” when he was a preschooler.  This was a simple activity that kept him entertained for hours.

To make white dirt just mix together four cups of flour, 1 cup of brown sugar, and 1 cup of rice together in a 9X13 inch baking pan.

This white dirt is perfect for your preschooler to use for digging and playing with their small toy tractors.

3.  Play In Bubbles

Fill your sink up with water and dish soap to form a bubbly sink.  Let your preschooler play in the sink with plastic cups, spoons, and bowls.

This might make a bit of a watery mess, but it’s so fun for the little ones and a great at home preschool activity.

4.  Make Playdough

It’s so easy to make homemade playdough.  All you need is a few ingredients, and preschoolers can be the best helpers!  I’ve tried many (seriously, MANY) playdough recipes over the years.  This playdough recipe is the very best out there!

5.  Have A Teddy Bear Picnic

Preschoolers love teddy bear picnics!  To host a teddy bear picnic just lay a blanket on the floor and gather all of the teddy bears and stuffed animals in the house to set on the blanket.

Next, prepare a few simple treats or snacks to bring to the picnic.  

Now, all you have to do is enjoy a picnic with your preschooler and favorite teddys.

6.  Play Hide And Seek

Preschoolers love to play hide and seek, and it requires zero materials or planning, which makes it a quick and easy activity for a parent to throw together.

To play hide and seek, one person will close their eyes and count to twenty.  While counting the hiders must quickly try to conceal themselves in a hiding place.

Once the seeker reaches twenty they will search and to try to find the hiders.  It’s so fun to see where kids decide to hide.  Let everyone have a turn being the “seeker” and “hider”.

7.  Paper Bag Puppets

Another fun at home preschool activity is to make paper bag puppets.  Turn a brown paper bag into a puppet by coloring a face on the flap.  Make a few different puppets and then put on a puppet show with your preschooler!

8.  Magic Toothpick Science Experiment

This magic toothpick science experiment is another easy at home preschool activity.  All you need is a few ingredients and 5 minutes to prepare this experiment.  Your preschooler will love watching the pretty colors form!

9.  Caterpillar Soup

Mix up some caterpillar soup with your kiddo by pouring some water into a bowl and then letting your preschooler shake in a few spices.  I try to pick spices with different colors to help give the “soup” some variety and color.

Give the soup a few stirs with the spoon and then set it outside for the “caterpillars” to enjoy.  My kids always figured out this wasn’t really for caterpillars, but they still enjoyed pretending!

10.  Have A Dance Party

Turn on some fun Disney tunes and have a dance party.  Kids love showing off their newest moves!

11.  Form A Marching Band

Form a marching band as a family using items around the house.  Someone can shake spices, another bang two pot lids together, and someone else could use a pot and spoon as a drum.

Use your “instruments” to march around the house like a marching band.  (pro tip:  you might want to wear ear plugs for this activity!  😉 )

12.  Make A Road Out Of Tape

Use painters tape to form a road over the carpet, stairs, couches, everywhere you want!  Let your preschooler drive their matchbox cars over the road.

You can even add a town to your roads by using the tape to make a few houses, supermarket, school, church, etc.

13.  Make Ice Cream

Make homemade ice cream in a bag.  It only takes a few ingredients and Preschoolers love helping to shake the bag and of course try the ice cream!  We love this ice cream in a bag recipe.

14. Indoor Scavenger Hunt

Set up an indoor scavenger hunt for your preschooler to enjoy.  Make a list (don’t forget to include pictures) of items for your preschooler to find around the house.

Give them the list and let them find each item.  Give a snack or small price to them once the list has been completed.

15.  Peanut Butter Play Dough

A fun twist on the the original play dough is this easy peanut butter play dough recipe.  My kids love helping me make it, probably because they love getting to eat some of it!

This is a great activity for teaching the 5 senses to preschoolers.  They can taste, touch, smell, see, and even hear the play dough being squished.

16.  Play Library

Have fun pretending to have a library at home.  Set up a few books around the house and let your preschooler pick out a few to “check out”.  Pretend to be the librarian and let your child come to you to check out each book.

Then, switch places!  Allow your preschooler a chance to be the librarian while you check out books.

17.  Finger Paint

Mix up some finger paint for your child to paint with.  Give them some white papers and let them create a masterpiece!  Don’t forget to hang the painting on the fridge once it’s done!

18.  Send Letters

Teach your child to serve and send love to others by making a few cards or letters for grandparents or other loved ones.

Your preschooler can draw a cute picture inside and then sign their name if they are able to.  Not only is this a fun at home preschool activity, it’s also a great way to put a smile on someone’s face.

19.  Make Cereal Necklaces

Help your preschooler develop their fine motor skills by making cereal necklaces together.

Use some yarn or string and thread it with cheerios or fruit loop cereal until the necklace is the right size.

20.  Cut Up Magazines

Get out a few magazines for your preschooler to look through.  Let them cup out their favorite pictures.  After you have a pile of pictures use them to tell each other stories.

This is a great activity for developing fine motor skills and imagination!

21.  Play Dress Up

Let your preschooler pretend to be someone else for a day by playing dress up.  I always kept a big box of fun dress up clothes for the kids to play with.  These were usually items I collected from the thrift store, like pirate, princess, or super hero costumes.

If you don’t have a dress up box you could lend some of your clothes to your child to dress in for the day.  They would have so much fun pretending to be mom or dad for a few hours!

22.  Cosmic Kids Yoga

My preschoolers all loved Cosmic Kids Yoga.  Its a fun YouTube channel that teaches kids how to do yoga, by telling a story.  There are many different stories and videos to choose from.  This is a great way to keep your kids active and their bodies moving.

23.  Build An Obstacle Course

Another fun activity to keep your kids moving is to make an obstacle course for them to go through.  This can be done in your backyard or wherever you happen to have some large space to run.

Here is an example of what your obstacle course might look like:

  • Do 5 jumping jacks.
  • Kick a ball.
  • Crawl under the trampoline.
  • Walk backyards 20 feet.
  • Swing for 1 minute.
  • Hop on one foot.
  • Carry a ball to another part of the yard.

After you make up the obstacle course for your child, let them then make up a course for you to complete!

24.  Have A Pillow Fight

Grab a few pillows and have an old fashioned pillow fight!  It’s always fun to let loose with your kids!  A pillow fight is sure to bring a lot of laughter and giggles.

25.  Art Hub For Kids

Try the fun YouTube channel Art Hub for Kids for some fun drawing lessons.  This is a great resource for making drawing easy and FUN for kids.  They even have an entire series of drawings for preschoolers.

26.  Bake Cookies

I’ve never met a preschooler who didn’t love baking cookies!  Let them choose their favorite kind (chocolate chip is always a first choice at our house) and then spend an hour baking together, and of course eating!

  • Make sure to grab my recipe ebook for a few of our favorite recipes!

27.  Play Simon Says

My preschoolers always loved to play Simon Says.

Choose one person to stand on one side of the room, this person is “Simon.”  Have everyone else stand on the other side of the room. 

Simon will then instruct the other players to do an activity by using the phrase, “Simon Says.”  For example:  “Charly, Simon says to hop up and down three times.”

The person who was instructed to do the activity then must do what was instructed of them.

If Simon does not use the phrase, “Simon Says” before giving the command, then the player should not complete the activity.  If they do the activity without the phrase “Simon Says” used then that player is then out of the game.

Make sure to give everyone a chance to be Simon, kids love that job!

28.  Make Ooblek

Ooblek is a fun, slimy activity for preschoolers.  It only takes two cheap ingredients and can entertain your little one for hours.

To make ooblek just mix 2 cups of cornstarch and 1 cup of water together in a bowl.

That’s it!  Now, just let them squish and play with the ooblek.

29.  Color Hot Rocks

Collect a few rocks from outside for this fun Hot Rocks activity.  This is a fun twist on the typical painting rocks activity that you and your child are sure to love!

30.  Play Store

Another fun pretend play for at home preschool activity is to play store.  We like to play this activity by setting out a few toys and other objects around the room, this is our “store.”

Next, get out some play money (or make some with paper) and put it in one section of the room for the cash register.  Make sure to give some money to the shopper too!

Now, let your little one “shop” at the store, including checking out with the play money at the cash register.

This is a fun activity to let them get some practice at being a grown up.

31.  Make a Sun Catcher

Crafts always make for fun at home preschool activities.  You will need a few supplies for these easy sun catchers, but if you happen to have them around the house it is a great craft projects for little ones!

32.  Play Balloon Volleyball

Blow up a few balloons and play balloon volleyball with your preschooler.  There aren’t any rules to this volleyball game!  Just enjoy tossing the balloons to each other and having fun with your kids.

33.  Play Red Light, Green Light

Red Light, Green Light is another fun game to play with preschoolers.  To play this game have one person stand on one end of the room, this will be the “caller”, and the other players stand in a line at the other end of the room.

The caller will then start calling out commands.  Commands for this game will be “Red Light” or “Green Light.”  When “Green Light” is called the players can walk as quickly as they can towards the caller.  But, when “Red Light” is called the players must stop moving.

The point of this game is to be the first person to reach the caller.

34.  Matchbox Car Wash

Preschoolers love playing in water.  One fun activity is to set up a Matchbox Car Wash.

Get out a few matchbox cars, a cake pan, bowl of water, and a pastry brush.

One at a time put a matchbox car in the cake pan and wash it using the pastry brush.  This activity is so simple, but kids love it!

35.  Make Hand Shadows

Find a dark place in your house and use a flashlight to light up one wall.  Use your hands to make shadows on the wall.  It’s so fun to see what shadows each of you can come up with.

If you are needing some hand shadow inspiration, check out this fun YouTube video!

36.  Play Will It Float

Will It Float is a fun, easy activity for preschoolers to help learn about what items float and what items sink.

To play this game let your preschooler gather a few small objects around the house, make sure to only let them choose items that are water proof.

Then fill up the sink with water.

Have your preschooler guess which items they think will sink in the water and which ones will float.  Last, drop each of the objects into the sink of water one by one.  It’s so fun to see which items float!

37.  Make a Paper Quilt

Cut up small squares of paper and let your preschooler glue them onto a large piece of paper.  They have then made their very own paper quilt!  It’s so fun to let them choose their colors and patterns and use some creativity.

In Conclusion

There are so many cheap at home preschool activities.  I hope you and your little ones enjoy some of these activities on my list. 

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How to Make Butter in a Jar

November 18, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Life1 Comment

Learn how to make homemade butter in a mason jar!

Do you know how to make butter in a jar??  It is one of my favorite activities to do with my kids!  The butter tastes fresh and delicious, and it is so easy to do!

Homemade butter is a fun pioneer activity to teach kids about how life was in the 1800s.  We have also made it for our Thanksgiving dinner!  It was so fun for my kids to serve their very own butter at the table.

I had a container of heavy whipping cream sitting in my fridge for a few weeks.  I kept looking at it, knowing I needed to do something with it, but never knowing exactly what!  My sister finally suggested to me that I should use the cream to make butter in a jar with my kids.  Best idea ever!

Making butter in a jar is so so easy, cheap, and my kids absolutely LOVED it!

It was so fun watching my kids shaking their jars and checking every 5 minutes to see if the butter had formed.  My daughter even said, “Wow!  They use to have to work hard in the olden days!  I can’t imagine doing this every time we needed butter.”  This led into such a great discussion about the conveniences we have now and how hard our ancestors had to work in order to survive.

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How To Make Butter In a Jar

All you need to make your own butter is a mason jar and a carton of heavy whipping cream.  Seriously, that’s it!  I told you this was easy!

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To make your butter you will need to pour some whipping cream into your mason jar.  I filled our jars about half full, but if you are doing this with your kids, or for the first time, I would recommend only filling it about 1/4 full.  It just makes the process easier and quicker for the kids if the jar has less cream in it.

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Once you have your whipping cream in the jar, put the lid back on, and screw it tight.

Now, all you have to do is shake the jar!  Shake, shake and shake!  The amount of shaking the butter will need will depend on how much cream you put in the jar.  The more cream, the longer you will need to shake.

When we did it today it took us about 45 minutes of hard shaking.  If I had done less cream I’m sure it would’ve been much quicker.

You can make the shaking part fun.  We turned on some music and danced around while shaking our jars.  If you are only making one jar of butter you can have everybody take turns shaking it for 2 minutes and then switching to the next person.

  • Related: 50 FREE activities to do with your kids over the Summer Break

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As you shake your jar you will notice the cream will slowly become thicker.  After a while the butter will begin separating from the cream.  Keep shaking until the butter forms together in a nice solid ball.  Once this happens, you are done!  See, so easy!

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Drain the leftover cream, rinse your butter, and then transfer it to a plate.  Wah-lah!  You have made butter!


Now is the fun part!  You get to enjoy your butter on some fresh bread or rolls.  I am so excited for you!  This butter is delicious!

Butter in a Jar

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • Heavy whipping cream
  • Mason jar

Instructions
 

  • Pour heavy whipping cream into your mason jar. Fill it between 1/4-1/2 full. The fuller it is, the longer the butter will take to make.
  • Screw lid onto mason jar to secure a tight fit.
  • Shake jar vigorously for 15-45 minutes (the more cream, the longer you will need to shake).
  • Once butter has separated from the cream and formed a ball, you are done.
  • Take butter ball out of jar and lightly rinse with water.
  • Enjoy on your favorite bread, rolls, or muffins!

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Budget Friendly Birthday Traditions for Kids

August 10, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Life2 Comments

Fun Birthday Traditions to Start This Year.

I love celebrating my kids birthdays every year.  They love having their special day all about them.  fun to have one day just focused on helping them feel important and loved.  I try really hard to give them a special day to remember, WITHOUT spending very much money; I truly believe that you do NOT need to spend money to help a child feel special.  Here are a few of our budget friendly birthday traditions for kids.

12 No-fuss Birthday Cakes

Decorate Bedroom

The night before a birthday, I sneak into my childs room after they fall asleep, and decorate. 

I blow up a bunch of balloons and leave them on the floor and then hang streamers from the doorway.They know every night before they go to bed what will happen, but they still love it.  It’s so fun for them to wake up to a party!

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Birthday Breakfast

A birthday is always started with our traditional breakfast of birthday pancakes.  These are so easy to make, but the kids favorite.

Whip up a batch of this delicious pancake recipe and then add some sprinkles to the batter.  So easy!

Sometimes, if I’m feeling real fancy, I’ll try to make a pancake in the shape of their initials….but let’s be real, I’m rarely fancy!  😉

Your-Choice Dinner

The birthday child at our house always gets to choose what I make for dinner the night of their birthday.  If they choose pizza, I make pizza!  If they want waffles, well then, I make waffles! 

This isn’t a hard tradition by any means, but my kids think it’s fun to get to be in charge of all the dinner plans.

  • Related:  Budget Friendly Pancake and Pajama Birthday Party for Tweens!

Red Birthday Plate

Another fun birthday tradition for kids is the “Red Birthday Plate.”  I bought this red plate years ago at a home decor store.  It’s a little chipped and loved, but also full of memories and joy.

This red plate only comes out on someones birthday.  The birthday child gets to eat their dinner on this special plate. 

This is a tradition I grew up with and have enjoyed carrying the tradition on with my own children.  It’s so simple, yet for some reason, it brings so much joy to whoever gets to eat on the birthday plate.

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Birthday Love

Another fun traditions happens while we are eating dinner.

Everyone in the family takes a turn telling the birthday child what they love about them.  I love focusing on all of the many wonderful qualities in each of my kids, and getting to hear them express these to each other.

Bedtime Stories

At bedtime I lay with the birthday child and share the story of their birth.  I try to go through all the details from that special day years ago, including the highs and lows.

Of course, I always end with sharing how that day was one of the most special, important, beautiful days of my life and I talk about just how perfect my life has become because they were born.

In Conclusion

None of these traditions cost a lot of money.  Sure, I spend a few dollars on streamers and balloons, but really that’s it!  It does NOT take a “pinterest worthy” birthday to celebrate a loved one.  All it takes is a little thought and a lot of love.

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Fun activities to do at home

March 16, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Need some easy at home at home kids activities?  I’ve got you covered!

Are you looking for some fun activities to do at home with kids?  I’ve got you covered in this article!

After years of parenting I have learned that the less screen time my kids have, the better they behave.  If the kids are happy…..everybody seems to have a better day.  I’ve been collecting fun screen free activities for years, and I am excited to share them with you today!

I hope you find a new favorite activity for you and your kids to enjoy together!

Screen free kids activities - at home kids activities

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Outdoor Activities To Do At Home

1.  Go for a Walk

Get outside and go for a walk together.  This might just be a stroll around the neighborhood or a walk to the mailbox.

2.  Play in the Sprinklers

If it’s warm enough where you live, put on your swimming suits and play outside in the sprinklers.  For even more fun, put the sprinkler under the trampoline while you jump.

3.  Draw on the Sidewalk with Sidewalk Chalk

Draw a picture on the side walk using side walk chalk.  We also like to draw a game of hopscotch, make a road for our bikes to ride on, or sometimes trace each other!

4.  Sleep Under the Stars

If the weather stays warm at night, have a family camp out under the stars.  This is a great time to learn about constellations and stars.

5.  Play Catch

Play an old fashioned game of catch.  See how far apart you can get and still throw the ball to each other.  Or, you count how many times you can throw the ball without anyone missing it.

6.  Jump on the Trampoline

If you have a trampoline, use it!  If it’s warm we love to put water balloons on the trampoline while we jump.  Or play a fun trampoline game, such as Marco Polo or Crack The Egg.

7.  Have a Scavenger Hunt

Set up a scavenger hunt outside.  This is easily done by writing a list of items for your kids to find, give them each a bag and see who can find everything on the list.  After the hunt you can bring the items inside and have the kids show their findings to each other.

8.  Play Missionary Tag

Tag is a family favorite for outdoor fun.  If your family is big enough, try playing our favorite Missionary Tag.

9.  Plant a Garden

Kids can be wonderful garden helpers.  One of my favorite things to do is to be in the garden alongside my kids.  I love their excitement as we watch a seed turn into a plant and then into food we can eat.

If you are new to gardening here is my list of the best garden vegetables for beginners.

10.  Catch Bugs

Search the yard for bugs and try to catch them in a jar.  Observe and learn about them for a few hours and then set them free again.

  • Related:  15 Free At Home Spring Break Activities for Kids

11.  Build a Fairy House

Try to find items around the yard to build your own fairy house.  We use twigs, grass, moss, leaves and pebbles.  This is something fun you can keep adding to over time.  Be creative!!

12.  See What You Can Find With Homemade Binoculars

Make homemade binoculars out of toilet paper rolls.  All you need is two toilet paper tolls, staple them together and tie a string to them to go around your neck.

Take your binoculars outside and see what you can find.  Maybe a bird or an airplane???

  • Related:  Easy Toilet Paper Roll Crafts

12.  Jump Rope

Have an old jump rope lying around the garage?  Pull it out and use it!  Have a contest to see who can jump the longest without stopping.

13.  Watch the Clouds

Lay out on a blanket and watch the clouds go by.  See what shapes you can make out of the clouds….who can come up with the funniest shape?

14.  Have a Backyard Picnic

Set up a picnic in your backyard.  Make a few favorite finger foods and sit out on a blanket in the shade.  Enjoy the day together over a nice lunch or dinner.

15.  Paint The House Using Water

Fill a bucket with water and hand your kids a few paintbrushes.  They will love watching the house change color as they “paint” it with their water.  Let them paint the sidewalk while they are at it!

16.  Make an Obstacle Course

Set up a fun obstacle course in the backyard.  This might include crawling under the trampoline, jumping on one foot until you get to the fence, bouncing a ball five times, etc.  Be creative!

17.  Bike Car Wash

Let the kids wash their bikes like an old fashioned car wash.  They can rinse them with the hose and dry them off with a towel.  Let them wash your bike and give them a $1 tip just for fun!

  • Related:  21 Free and Frugal Kids Educational Websites

screen free activity ideas

 

Indoor Activities To Do At Home

18.  Read a Book

Help your kids pick out a fun book you can all read together.  Maybe this will be an old favorite, or something new.  Enjoy having a little quiet time to relax.

19.  Play Board Games

Play some of your favorite board games together.  Let each of the kids choose a game and spend a few hours playing each one together.

20.  Build a House of Cards

Get out a few decks of cards and build a card house.  Try to see who can build the tallest house before it falls over.

21.  Make Puppets Out of Paper Bags

Use brown paper bags to make puppets.  The face will be the bottom of the bag so that you can control it with your hand.

21.  Play Grocery Store

Set up an area where the kids can play pretend grocery store.  Maybe a few cans of soup and boxes of pasta.  Get out play money for them to spend at the cash register.  This is a great activity to learn about counting.

22.  Do a Puzzle

Puzzles are a great way to keep the mind relaxed.  Turn on some soft music and work on a puzzle together.  We prefer the 500 piece puzzles (I get frustrated and impatient to easily….).

  • Related:  Kids Chore Chart That Works!

24.  Do a Science Experiment

My kids love science experiments!  We are constantly searching Pinterest for new ideas.  The magic toothpick experiment is a really simple and fun science experiement to do with kids.

25.  Build a Fort

What’s better than a fort??  Nothing!  Pull a few chairs together and put a blanket over top to make a covered hideaway.  Crawl into the fort and play games together or tell stories.

For a quick fort, just drape a couple of blankets over the kitchen table.  Quick and easy clean up!

26.  Paint Rocks

Collect a few rocks outside and bring them in to paint them.  We love turning rocks into animals or painting them with fun designs.

23.  Make a Sticker Book

If you have some stickers laying around the house, pull them out and make a sticker book.  This is easy to do!  Just staple a few pieces of paper together for your book, and then add the stickers.  My kids hold on to these for years and keep adding new stickers to their collections.

27. Finger Paint

Make up a batch of finger paint for your kids to enjoy.  It’s always fun to try a new way of painting!

28.  Make Play Dough

You can make your own play dough in minutes with this easy homemade play dough recipe.  The kids love helping to make it….and playing with it!

29.  Make Peanut Butter Play Dough

Want a twist on the traditional play dough?  Try our peanut butter play dough recipe.  My kids beg me to make this….I think they enjoy the eating it part best….. 😉

30.  Play Bank

Set up a game of pretend bank.  Someone can be the bank teller and the others can go to the teller to deposit or withdraw money.  Teach them how to write a check and count out money.  Give everyone a turn to play “teller,” because that’s the most fun part!

31.  Make an Indoor Treasure Hunt

Set up a treasure hunt at home, complete with clues and of course a fun box of “treasure” at the end.  Have each clue lead to the next clue, and then to the next clue, etc., until they find the treasure.  Give everyone a chance to make a treasure hunt.

32.  Matchbox Cars in Flour

Fill a cookie tray with flour and let your child play with their matchbox car in the flour.  We call this “white dirt” and my son loved this activity as a toddler.

Once they are done playing let them wash the cars off in the sink.  This makes for two activities in one!

33.  Write a Letter to a Friend/Family Member

Send a card via snail mail to someone who might need a little extra love and attention.  Try to think of those who might not be receiving many visitors at this time or could use a little extra cheer and love.

34.  Listen to an Audio Book

Sign up for a free account on the app Libby.  This app connects to your local library card and gives you access to thousands of free eBooks and audio books.  Pick out a favorite kid friendly book and listen to it together with your kids.

  • Related:  How To Listen To Audiobooks For Free

35.  Draw a Picture

Have an art day where you can draw pictures together.  We love to use these drawing books to help us learn how to draw.

  • Related:  5 At Home Kids Activities

36.  Play Beauty Salon

Set up a game of beauty salon, where you (the parent) are the client.  Let your child have fun fixing and styling your hair for you.

37.  Paint Nails

Get out the nail polish and paint each others nails.  Push yourself to see if you can do a little nail art!

38.  Matchbox Car Wash

Set up a car wash for match box cars.  All you need is a cookie sheet, a cup of water and a pastry brush.  Set the cars on the cookie sheet and use the pastry brush to wash the cars.  Kids love this!

39.  Play Dress Up

Encourage your kids to play dress up in fun clothes.  Let them raid your closet or use some old Halloween costumes.  Invite them to a special snack time with everyone wearing their new outfits.

40.  Do a Craft

Come up with a fun craft to do with your kids.  Maybe you’ll enjoy making nature bookmarks, pom pom garland, or fireworks stamping.

41.  Color on Hot Rocks

We love coloring on hot rocks!  All you need to do is collect a few big rocks from outside, bake them in the oven and then use crayons to color on them.  The crayons melt to make fun designs.

42.  Bake Something New

Kids love to help in the kitchen!  Use this time to bake a few new recipes together.  You might enjoy our Chocolate Dipped Cookies or Banana Bread recipe.

43.  Play Library

Encourage your kids to play a pretend game of library.  Set up a few books on shelves and let one child be the librarian and the other kids can walk around pretending to check out books.

44.  Play Hide and Seek

Play a game of hide and go seek around the house.  Let everyone have a turn being the seeker.

45.  Put on a Play

Help your kids put on a play.  They can make up the story, get into costumes, and get creative.  This is such a great way to boost confidence too!  Invite the grandparents or friends over to watch the production!

46.  Make Your Own Instruments

Make your own instruments using items you already have around the house.  Afterwards pretend you are in a marching band and let the kids march around the house making music with their homemade instrument.

  • Related:  A Month of Kids School Lunch Ideas

47.  Start a Journal

Encourage your kids to start a journal.  They can write about the fun things they did each day while staying at home.  These do not need to be fancy, just staple some papers together and you have a journal!

48.  Have a Dance Party

Crank up those tunes and have an at home dance party.  This is a great way to lift up the mood if someone is having a hard day.

49.  Make Slime

Homemade slime is easy and a huge hit with the kids!  We use this recipe for our slime and it turns out great!

50.  Make a Perler Bead Creation

We go through so many perler beads.  I love watching my kids sit quietly while they create a picture out of these tiny beads.  This is an excellent activity to strengthen fine motor skills.

51.  Play a Card Game

Get out a deck of cards and play a fun card game together.  We love Solitaire, Speed and of course War.

52.  Enjoy an Indoor Picnic

Set out a blanket on the floor and have an indoor picnic.  You can even have everyone bring a Teddy Bear and turn it into a Teddy Bear Picnic.

 

I know it’s hard to be stuck at home, but try to look for the positive.  This can be a beautiful time to slow down, focus on the things that matter most, and enjoy building memories and bonds with your family.

What screen free at home kids activities does your family enjoy?

 

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