It’s time for Slacker Saturday, and today’s activity is chalk outlines! Emily enjoyed doing this, and she got a big kick out of drawing a funny face on her outline. This activity kept her busy for a long time, and didn’t involve a lot of time or effort on our part. Have your child lay […]
$5 Friday — Spring Shaped Bubble Wands
April 24, 2009 by
I’ve posted previously about how much the girls enjoyed our Homemade Bubble Solution. Today after Emily helped me weed the flower beds, we made our own Spring bubble wands! To make your own Spring bubble wands, you will need: 12″ wooden dowels, thin-gauge wire, some electrical tape, and some cookie cutters. Wrap the thin gauge […]
Welcome 10 Show Viewers
April 23, 2009 by
Emily and I were very excited to do another segment for NBC’s 10 Show about green activities for kids. Here are links to the activities we mentioned on today’s show: Nature Packs Inexpensive Field Guides for Tots Pantry Art Sunflower Potato Prints Pasta Necklaces Free Printable Garden Journal Pages Starting a Garden Journal with Kids […]
Earth Day Giveaway — Target Reusable Shopping Bag
April 22, 2009 by
In honor of Earth Day, we are having a special giveaway on Frugal Family Fun Blog! If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, you probably know that I am a huge fan of Target. I am not affiliated with Target in any way — at least, not yet….. (hint, hint, Target people). However, their […]
Earth Day Recycling Craft Round Up
April 22, 2009 by
In honor of Earth Day, here are some links from the archives of our Earth Day craft and activity ideas that feature recycled materials. Enjoy! Bird Feeders from Recyclables Bird Watching Kit Frugal Fun with Music Spring Storage Boxes Spring Basket Frugal Fun with Stilts Matching Game with Juice Lids Baby Food Jar Lanterns Putting […]
Beads from Old Magazines
April 21, 2009 by
We were inspired by upcoming Earth Day to make beads from old magazines! I first saw this idea in The Complete Tightwad Gazette — a terrific resource. To make your own magazine beads, you will need: glue mixed with some water, toothpick (or straw, or bamboo skewer), old magazines, and a paint brush. We wanted […]
Treasure Box
April 20, 2009 by
This is one of those activities that keeps the kids busy, and has the added benefit of organizing tiny toys. To make your own treasure box, you will need a small fold up box from the craft store (this one cost just 30 cents), some stickers, and an empty egg carton. Have your child decorate […]
Get the most from your season pass
April 19, 2009 by
If your family makes frequent visits to a local amusement park, museum, or science center, purchasing a season pass may be a great way to save money. Whether it’s a local zoo, or an annual pass to Disney World, here are some tips to help you get the most from your season pass. Know Your […]
Slacker Saturday — Dandelion Bouquets
April 18, 2009 by
Do you remember how all the flowers seemed so beautiful when you were a kid — even the dandelions? That is the concept behind today’s Slacker Saturday activity. Today we made dandelion bouquets. Emily got to spend lots of time outside, and we have the added benefit of enjoying a dandelion-free lawn! Send the kids out […]
$5 Friday — Outdoor Tea Party
April 17, 2009 by
We have been blessed with some beautiful weather lately, so we started our day collecting twigs to make a trivet. Somehow this led to an endless tea party with Emily pretending that the trivet was an outdoor stove. I love how one project leads to another one like that. This went on for a long […]
What’s in your pantry?
April 16, 2009 by
Since I only do grocery shopping once a month, a well-stocked pantry is a necessity. Here are some of our favorite healthy and inexpensive pantry foods: Oatmeal Brown Rice Whole Wheat Pasta Dried Beans Potatoes Canned Tuna Peanut Butter Canned Tomatoes I’m very curious to find out what you keep in your pantry. Leave a […]
Pasta Necklaces
April 15, 2009 by
I know this is a classic preschooler activity, but I did not realize how much Emily would enjoy making these pasta necklaces! She was excited about every step, and loved wearing her necklaces around the house for the rest of the day. To make your own pasta beads, you will need uncooked pasta such as […]
Jar Matching
April 14, 2009 by
It still amazes me how much of our inspiration comes from our recycling bin. For Emily, this is like an endless supply of free craft materials! For this matching activity, you will need jars of various sizes with different sized lids. We used jars from apple sauce, salsa, yeast, baby food, and artichoke hearts. Wash […]
Park Love
April 13, 2009 by
Today’s visit to the park was full of activities, and it did not cost us a dime. We enjoyed tree climbing, tree hugging, dog petting, leaf studying, bird feeding, squirrel watching, leisurely walking, rock picking, and nature listening. Emily picked a few rocks to bring home from our trip. With a little inspiration from Painting […]
Slacker Saturday — Pouring Practice
April 11, 2009 by
Just before Emily went off to bed tonight, I set up a quick and easy pouring activity for her. This sort of transfer activity is very Montessori-inspired, and it was good practice for her. Start with a small pitcher and a medium sized bowl. Fill the pitcher with dried beans and have your child practice […]
$5 Friday — Bean Bag Toss
April 10, 2009 by
For $5 Friday, we made our own bean bag toss game and spent some time playing it outdoors. I indulged Emily’s love for outer space and made it a throw-the-star-into-the black-hole game. To make your own, use a star-shaped cookie cutter for a pattern and trace onto pieces of felt. Cut out the shapes. Sew […]
Spring Storage Boxes
April 9, 2009 by
Looking for some great frugal storage solutions? You may be able to find just what you need by looking in your recycling bin! Emily needed some storage for her books on CD and other music CD’s. This little baby food box was sturdy and just the right size and shape. It was easy to spruce […]
