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 […]
$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 […]
Model Magic Magnets
April 8, 2009 by
Model Magic by Crayola is one of those craft supplies I like to keep on hand for when we have Emily’s friends over for a visit. I try to stock up on it at AC Moore or Michael’s using the 40% off coupon and get a big tub of the white Model Magic. For this […]
Secret Paintings
April 7, 2009 by
I showed Emily how to make crayon resist drawings, and she had a lot of fun with this activity. We did these at night, and it seemed like a fabulous way to end the day. Quiet, relaxing, and fun. To make your own, you will need a white crayon or oil pastel, white paper, and […]
Jell-O Finger Painted Easter Eggs
April 6, 2009 by
If you want to do finger painting with your kids, but worry about them getting the paint in their mouths, this is a great activity to try. Even my 9 month old had a turn at this, and loved it! We made our own finger paint using Jell-O and a little warm water. Mix the […]
Making Veggies Last
April 5, 2009 by
One question I get asked about regarding my once a month grocery shopping is, “What do you do about fresh fruits and vegetables?” Here are some tips I have learned along the way to keep your fresh fruits and vegetables lasting a bit longer: Fruits and Vegetables that will last about 1 month (3-4 weeks) […]
