SUMMER TIME BLUES? NOT IF YOU FOLLOW THESE CUES!

ENJOYING A DAY IN THE SAND!

At the beginning of summer...as sure as the sky is blue I am asked the same question over and over again...from familiar friends to complete strangers...SO WHAT ARE THE KIDS DOING THIS SUMMER? As much as I would love to send them to camp, to the local pool, or some kind of attention getting club...the fact is that we can't. Money is tight and I am not currently working. So they're spending their summer at home...in the backyard in a pool my husband is still trying to level, in the basement where their favorite Barbies live, and in the local library which doesn't cost $425 dollars to join. I often joke that they're spending their summer at DEYO CAMP....that's when I bring out the creativity and craft ideas I learned from working with Martha Stewart--such as dying beads and making necklaces, or baking homemade bread, or drawing on the dry erase board i found at a flea market for a dollar. The fact is there are lots of things to do that are cost free--or of little cost to keep the kids busy this summer. Here are some of our standbys.

LIBRARY--most towns have a local library along with a reading club. Kids sign up and after reading a certain amount of books win prizes. Every so often we declare BOOK NIGHT in our household--TV is off and we all read.

BAKING--if given the chance to make pizza from store bought bread or make it yourself dough--the answer is always the latter. They love getting their hands dirty and making dough. (I don't like the clean up part--but it keeps them occupied--and helps create dinner at the same time--so I can't complain). The ingredients are easy--flour, water, yeast--then your favorite topings. The kids love sitting around and waiting for the dough to rise.
Pizza is fun to make but any kind of baking can be fun. Try making something from scratch instead of box mixes...the kids will feel a sense of accomplishment...and math fractions come in handy too.

ZOO--we haven't hit the local zoo yet...and while its not free, its a whole day of entertainment and watching animals--and many local zoos have discount days or nights. Check the internet for coupons which help.

CRAFT STORES--many local craft stores have free programs for kids...its their ploy to drag you into the store...while the kids get to create some fun projects.

If you have other fun free ideas...email us at www.threepluskids@aol.com and we'll be sure to post them soon.

Thanks...