Ten rainy day activities for the Frugal Family

Ask a group of first graders about what their favorite memory with their family is.  Most of the answers had nothing to do with Disneyland, Hawaii, or riding helicopters in the Himalayas.

Every memory shared by the group is likely to be simple and heartfelt; memories like finding shells at the beach, riding bikes until the sun went down, or having a water balloon war in the front yard with Dad. 

This is great news to any Frugal Family, because money doesn’t buy good memories after all.  This week and next are supposed to be quite damp. 

We all know that if kids don’t get out and move, they tend to go a little, well, crazy.  Rain gives us a new opportunity to think outside the box and get creative with the kids.  Here are some free or cheap ways to keep your kids moving this week.

1. Make a Movie.  If you have a camera that shoots video, you can make a cooking show, create a newscast, make an instructional video, or make a superhero movie.  Any little point and shoot camera will work.  You can easily edit your video using Windows Movie Maker or Mac’s iMovie program.  Both are user friendly, even for the technology challenged.  Making a movie can be an all-day activity, depending on the age group.  Keep it short if you’re working with little ones, and make it look nice by adding in lights, sound effects and music.  Maybe you can be the next youtube sensation!  Check out my wild cooking show video that I shot one day with my little cousins, "Emotional Cooking with Olga".  It's a little bit embarassing but makes me laugh everytime, and hopefully will give you a tiny dose of inspiration to make a fool out of yourself too.
2. Cardboard Camelot-This afternoon activity takes a little bit of preparation but is totally worth the effort.  Go to your local grocery store and collect several cardboard boxes.  I got mine from and   Give your kids packing tape, a sharpie and several pictures to look at from medieval times for inspiration.  Let them go to town on building their very own cardboard Camelot and then lead them into battle or a jousting competition.  You can help them cut with scissors or box cutters.  Here's an incredibly descriptive article on fort-building.  
3. Ride bikes to get hot chocolate-One of my first memories was concocted by my father.  On a cold, wet, rainy day, he packed up his family of three kids under the age of seven and took us all on a bike ride to McDonald’s.  I was about four years old and cried to him as to why he was forcing us ride our bikes in the rain.  I still remember his answer to this day.  “We’re making a memory!  You’ll never forget this bike ride!”  And you know what?  I never did.  My point to the story is to do something exciting that will get your children's blood running and stick out in their brains for years to come.
4. Library-Last week, Ann Carranza brought us the idea of for entertainment.  Not only can you rent DVD’s and books for free, but they offer tons of group activities in the mornings for smaller kids. 

• On Monday mornings at 10:30 there is Babytime full of songs, bouncing rhymes, fingerplays, and stories until Feb. 28.
• Every Tuesday morning at 10:30, the library has Preschool Storytime for ages 2-5 and features free songs, stories, movement and fun until Feb. 22.
• Children can also boost their reading confidence by reading with specially trained dogs on Saturdays mornings at 11:00.

Wednesday night, Feb. 23 at 6:30 is Noche de la Familia or Family Night at the library, where families can come and experience a story time in both Spanish and English.

5.  Charles M. Schulz Museum-This incredible museum is only minutes from Healdsburg and has ongoing special events for little or no cost to your Frugal Family.  Some events going on now or getting started soon are:

• "Mommy and Me Mondays,'' ongoing. Mondays, 10 a.m.-noon. A drop-in program featuring stories, games and drawing lessons, topped off with a snack and a movie. $5.
•  "First Friday Film Series,'' ongoing. 7 p.m. each Friday. This popular series showcases Charles Schulz's favorite films. $3.
•  "Meet Professional Cartoonists,'' ongoing. Second Saturday of the month, 1-3 p.m. Meet and discuss cartooning with a professional cartoonist from the Bay Area. Watch the cartoonist work, ask questions, and learn about the field of cartooning.

And of course, there’s always ice skating.  The cheapest times to go are Mon.-Thurs. from 12 pm-2 pm and Saturday Nights from 8:30-10:00 pm.  The price is $5 per person and includes skate rentals and admission.

The museum is $5-$8 and free to children ages 3 and under. It's open Mon.-Fri. from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sat.-Sun., from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Visit www.schulzmuseum.org for more information.

6.  Make edible play dough

1/3 cup margarine or butter

1/3 cup light corn syrup

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 lb. powdered sugar

Food coloring (optional)

Mix the first 4 ingredients and then add sugar.  Let your kids mix and knead the dough. Divide all the dough into even portions and knead in food coloring.  Chill for twenty minutes in the fridge.  Now your kids won’t have to worry about eating their play dough!

7.   Volunteer at the -Our local animal shelter regularly needs volunteers to help take care of their adorable animals.  If your kids like dogs and cats and have hearts for service, they can give some love and attention to Healdsburg Animal Shelter’s precious pups or kitties.  Healdsburg Animal Shelter requests that youth volunteers are nine years old or older.  Visit their website or call 707.431.3386 for more information.  

8.  Bay Area Discovery Museum-This interactive and engaging museum is only an hour away and has plenty of hands-on exhibits that are great for younger kids.  The first Wednedsay of every month is free.   
Specific exhibitions include the "Lookout Cove,'' an outdoor area featuring natural icons of the Bay Area including a sea cave, a shipwreck with clues to discover, the Golden Gate Bridge under construction and tide pools. 

The regular prices are $8 children 1-17 and seniors; $10 adults; free for members and children under 1. It is open Tues.-Fri., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and is located at 557 McReynolds Road, Sausalito.  Call (415) 339-3900, or visit www.baykidsmuseum.org.

9.   Indoor Camping-To prep your family for the upcoming camping season, take them on a practice run inside your living room.  Set up a tent or build one out of blankets, roast marshmallows to make s’mores on the stove or oven, and build a “campfire” using a small fan and red and yellow tissue paper.  Little kids especially love this idea.

10.  Create homemade instruments and write a song together.  Are your kids musically inclined?  Homemade instruments are actually quite easy to make and can be made using every day household materials.  Create a kazoo using tongue depressors and rubber bands.  Make a tambourine out of paper plates and bells.  Or fulfill your secret lifelong goal of playing lead guitar in a rock band and make a guitar out of a shoebox, rubber bands and a ruler.  Once you have your instruments, take your band on tour and perform at Healdsburg Senior Living Community. 

Join us next week on Frugal Family as we explore childcare options for money saving families.  If you have ideas or suggestions for Frugal Family, please email Rika Meyer at rikagemmell@gmail.com.

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