I'm tired of trying to figure out what to do!

I think it is great that you want to give your kids a special school vacation. When my school was out for vacation my step dad just thought that meant we had more time to do even more chores. So we were always happy when school started back up. We never went anywhere or did things.So it is always great to hear of parents that try to make it fun for their children..You could always ask the kids to write things that they want to do down on slips of paper that don't cost anything or is a low cost adventure put them in a hat,bowl or large jar and pick one or a few a day so it seems fun when theirs are chosen..Have contests..sometimes that might be fun dressing up and all..like a talent contest( some kids like showing off their talent they have) have them practice a talent all week then have a contest..but the fun is when everyone wins..lol.. What about a scavenger hunt at the park? Might be fun to have a scavenger hunt with the kids.. it takes, really, only 5 minutes to make or set up! at the end of the search, put something like old toys/ old b-day favors… kids love it! Maybe yoou could type in a search of Free things to do in(insert your town/state) might give you a few more ideas. I found this list so it might be of some help...although some might not sound like something you might not do..there might be a few that are interesting enough to try. 60 Fun Things to Do for Little or No Money: 1. Enjoy a concert in the park – Spring and summer begin free things to do in the park season. Concerts and movies are just the beginning. 2. Go camping – Still one of the cheapest vacations one can take, especially through the US National Parks system. 3. Go for a hike in the woods. 4. Go for a swim – Many lakes and oceans are free for swimmers, others require a small fee. It’s still a good, affordable way to spend a day. Better yet, find yourself a good, old fashioned swimming hole. 5. Go fishing. 6. Have a picnic. 7. Take the kids to the park. 8. Visit a museum -There are lots of free museums and many others take a donation. 9. Work on an arts and craft projects 10. Play board games. 11. Dig for fossils or gems. Find out where to dig in your area. 12. Build sandcastles 13. Have a barbecue. 14. Run through your garden sprinkler. 15. Play a pickup basketball or volleyball game in the park. 16. Visit the library. Take out books, movies, music or take advantage of some of their great programs. 17. Take a free online class. 18. Find a fireworks display. 19. Go canoeing or kayaking. 20. Do some birdwatching. 21. Make a kite and take it for a ride. 22. Go for a bike ride. 23. roller blade. 24. Ride your scooter. 25. Visit the zoo. Most zoos are affordable and if you get a summer zoo pass you can visit as often as you like for one price. 26. Read 27. Sell lemonade 28. Watch a play at a local theater 29. Visit a vineyard – some tours are free while others are affordable. 30. Visit a street fair. Food is cheap, plus craft displays, flea market finds and entertainment abound. 31. Tour a college campus 32. Lounge on a hammock 33. Adopt a pet – Actually adoption fees aren’t as cheap as they used to be but it’s well worth the cost. 34. Tour a fire house or police station 35. Bowling – A night out for the family really doesn’t cost much, especially if you bring your own snacks. 36. Tour a brewery 37. Bake 38. Make a chalk mural in your driveway. 39. Tour a television or radio station 40. Attend a tv show taping 41. Shakespeare in the Park – If your area has it 42. Make a birdhouse 43. Stroll through a public garden 44. Work on your own garden 45. Visit the state or county fair. 46. Join a book club at the library, Borders or Barnes & Noble 47. Browse the flea markets. 48. Find a drive in movie theater in your area. 49. Take advantage of local cultural events. 50. Visit a dairy farm. 51. Visit historic battlefields. 52. Take a day trip to Washington DC where most of the museums are free. 53. Volunteer at a soup kitchen or another place that feeds meals to the homeless. 54. Have a scavenger hunt. 55. Teach yourself a new language using online tutorials and materials from the library. 56. Start a scrapbook and fill it with items found outdoors. 57. Jigsaw puzzles! 58. Make a working volcano 59. Have a campfire in your backyard, roast marshmallow and tell ghost stories. 60. Clean out your house and have a garage sale. Add to the list. What are some great things you can do with little or no money?

Don't worry I feel the same way about my own kids being inside the house. We live in a an area where it's either too hot or too cold to go out. I was telling my husband last night that we don't have those so so days. This summer we have done some things but like yesterday it was just going to the market and the optometrist then heading back. In the evening the kids went to play outside but then it was still hot, the neighbours were having a family reunion and my kids were bugging to go. To me the day wasn't fun but to them running around the house or outside in the heat was fun. I usually plan to attend museums that are free on the first Tuesday of the month, or go hiking, to the river, etc... but now as I get older I just am so tired lately. Have you checked out sites that offer free things to do with the kids? I know here Home Depot or Lowes has workshops for kids on the weekends. The library sometimes has events, museums might offer free days, I think you are just trying to be a good mom. I know I feel guilty when we don't do anything but I find that my sister doesn't do much with her own kids but she doesn't feel guilty.

We always went to the library at least one day a week. Those who were old enough could go to groups. We checked out educational and fun toys that we could not afford to buy. All of this was free, it was out of the weather and they kept their brains going. If you are stuck inside, you need to have a craft type day. Use the items that you would normally recycle. If you can spare the flour, make play dough or air dry clay and make things. Play board games, or just play with blocks, all together. Cook kid friendly recipes that they can help with.

I have been working so much the last few weeks I have not really had time to bring my kids to do anything, not that I would have the money to anyway. It has been so muggy out that they really do not want to go out in the yard and play either. I have been feeling a little guilty that they have been cooped up in the house too.

Hey kats! I think you are being way too hard on yourself! You have been keeping your kids busier than most moms would try to. And of course, you can't do anything about the weather. At least they get to go to the pool, some kids don't even get to do that! Stop beating yourself up, you are a good parent and your kids are lucky to have such a caring mom and hopefully someday they will realize it!

First of all stop feeling guilty. Kids need to find some entertainment for themselves also. Summer vacation does not mean you have to figure out something to do every second of everyday. There are some good activities however you can do at home that is not too costly. You can do a treasure hunt, make up maps that lead the kids around the house. Get your kids in the kitchen, make cookies or even to help you make dinner. There are some places that are free to take kids on certain days, aquarium's, museums and things like that. Also, National Zoo's if the weather is nice.

I too hate it wehn it rains especially on my day off from work and I am then stuck inside.....I already work from home so on my days off from work I like to escape as such! lol Of course bad weather is no fun but, it does get so boring being stuck inside sometimes and I sometimes go and do food shopping just to give myself something to do!

What about a nice game of Monopoly. It takes hours to play. The kids learn counting, buying and selling. It's a lot of fun.

Well, when the weather was lousy here during the summer, we made our own fun at home. One day we did a pajama day at the movies where I let all of the kids wear their pajamas and we watched movies all day. We did an indoor camping day by making a tent out of chairs and a blanket and stuff like that. You might even be able to come up with craft ideas that you would be able to do with things that you have laying around the house.