Frugal ideas to entertain the kids this summer

The last day of school for kids on P.E.I. is Tuesday, so now might be a good time to think of inexpensive ways to keep them entertained for the summer.

Frugal columnist Liz MacKay, who has five children between the ages of four and 16, stopped by Mainstreet P.E.I. to share a few ideas for parents.

Young children

"Smaller children are easier to entertain and keep entertained.," MacKay said. "They don't have as high expectations and don't have their attention span needing to be switched as quickly."

• Water: You can do a lot with a sprinkler and a wading pool.
• Picnics: Even in your backyard with a blanket and peanut butter sandwiches.
• Campfires: Just keep a watch on the fire index.
• Festivals: There is always a festival of some sort going on.

Teens

"The older a child gets the more money they seem to need to have to be able to entertain themselves," MacKay said.

She suggested saving money by putting them to work.

"Let them start learning their budget for how much things actually cost," she said. "If your teen wants to go to the movies, get them to pay for it."

• Movies: Matinees are cheaper and since they have all summer, they don't have to wait until Saturday night.
• Bowling: The Alley at the Murphy Centre lowered its prices this summer to $5 a game from Monday to Thursday.
• Outdoor pools: There are free swim times and others cost just a loonie or two. You can bike or walk there on your own time.
• Organize a 3-on-3 basketball game or tournament: They could raise money for themselves or for a charity. Plus it gives them leadership skills to be able to plan an event.
• Library: The library has its own teen space.

Family

It's not always easy to find an activity that will excite everybody in the family, but it can be done.

• Beach: There are plenty of free beaches on the Island.
• Camping: Could be just one night or the whole weekend.
• Geo-caching: Or some other type of scavenger hunt.
• Craft courses: Some stores, like Michaels and Home Depot, offer craft courses.
• Amusement parks: Look for discount days, or get enough friends and cousins to tag along to qualify for a group discount.

Despite your best efforts, there will likely be days when your kids complain to you about being bored. MacKay has the answer for that, too — a Boredom Jar.

"It can be something fun they accidentally pull out or a chore that they pull out, but my children have learned to not tell me they're bored too often."

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