12 Frugal Ways to Keep Your Kids Busy

This is a guest post from Janis Meredith at Jbmthinks.

Kids are expensive. First, there’s diapers, baby equipment, clothes, food, doctor visits, and eventually college. When they got in school, we face another expense: the cost of keeping them busy.

I’m not advocating that we should keep our kids busy every moment. But as they get older, their attention span gets more and more sophisticated.

At that point, you can generate your own activities to keep them busy, or get outside help: sports, music, clubs, drama, dance, karate, art—the list is endless.

Unfortunately, outside help gets expensive, especially when you have more
than one child. From soccer and ballet to piano and band, extracurricular
activities cost a bundle, putting them out of reach for many families.

Is there a way to grow and challenge our kids without going broke?

Obviously, if your child is an outstanding athlete with D-1 potential or a musical
prodigy, these ideas won’t work. But if your kids are starting an activity or are
only in it for the fun and exercise, there are ways to keep them involved
without blowing your budget.

1. Find experts. Keep on the lookout for talented piano players, swimmers,
dancers, athletes—even high school or college kids—who would be willing to
give free or cheap lessons.
2. Trade Services. Does your friend give piano lessons? Is there something you
could give her in return for free lessons? Babysitting or housecleaning or
tutoring?
3. Choose cheaper options. Club sports teams and elite musical or dancing
programs are costly and should be avoided until you feel your child is getting
serious about his interest. When I say serious, I mean I-plan-to-participate-
in-high-school-and-I-want-to-continue-in-college serious. Until they are that
serious, there are other options: city leagues; school sports teams, musical
lessons, theater classes, and language classes; YMCA; and church choirs.
4. Enroll in local camps. The cost of summer camps can be ridiculous, but if
you look hard enough, you can find less expensive options. Call area schools,
junior colleges, city parks, and see if they are putting on summer camps.
5. Ask for scholarships/financial aid. Some dance schools, art schools, sports
teams, and music schools offer scholarships and financial aid for students.
Some of it is need based and some is based on talent, but if you’re strapped
for cash it can’t hurt to apply for anything your child qualifies for.
6. Opt for group lessons. Kids like to do things with their friends anyway.
7. Cut back on lessons. From 2-3 times a week to one. Encourage your child to
do more individual practice.
8. Find computer lessons. If your child is into language, music or even art,
there are tons of software and online options available.
9. Try CDs, books and DVDs. This is no substitute for long-term instruction
from a pro, but your child can learn basic chords, musical techniques, art
techniques, languages, and even sports drills or workouts.
10.Volunteer. Many times, parents can volunteer to cut down on costs. Ask
your child’s coach if you can trade time for costs. Some teams will give a
break to parents who sell products or work at games. Ask local camps if you
can work at the camp for a week so you child can go free.
11.Save on equipment. Whether it’s buying second hand, online, at garage
sales, or trading, you can find inexpensive sports or musical equipment.
Also, check out freecycle.org for free stuff in your area.
12.Say no. I hate this option. But sometimes it’s the only one.

My older brother gave me some very wise counsel when my kids were little and
my husband and I were trying to decide when and where to spend money on
their activities.

“Invest in what you want them to become,” he said. “Spend your money on
things that will put them on the path to becoming the type of person you want
them to be.”

Following that advice won’t make the choices cheaper, but it will give direction
to the money you spend on keeping them busy. Look for ways to invest in their
character as well as in their skills!