Entertaining Your Kids At Home: Our Top Tips For Frugal Parents

It’s a well-known fact that we’re all struggling for money right now, due to raging inflation and ever-increasing prices for almost everything.

Out of the entire United Kingdom, Wales has been hit the hardest by the cost of living crisis, and almost a quarter of households are in serious financial difficulty right now.

Parents are among those who are bearing the brunt of the crisis, as rates for childcare, food, toys, and clothes for children keep rising.

As such, Welsh parents are dealing with significant financial issues, and are probably looking for ways to cut back on spending.

If you’re among them, then you’ve probably noticed that one of the most expensive aspects of having children is keeping them entertained.

Days out can run to hundreds of pounds, especially if you need to pay for equipment and food. While you can cut down on the cost by taking your own food and limiting the activities that the adults take part in, the cheapest option is to keep your kids at home.

Spending time at home with your kids is cost-effective, but it can also be difficult to keep them entertained without using screens.

We all know that kids are already spending too much time staring at electronic devices. Too much screen time can cause development problems for young children, so you need to find ways to entertain your little ones offline, or at least with minimal use of technology.

For parents who are stuck for ideas, we’ve listed some of the best ways to keep your little ones happy at home and save cash, while making sure they have a great time.

Try Home Science Experiments

Learning can be fun and easy to do at home with the things you already have in the cupboard. So, you can entertain your children easily with fun science experiments with everyday household items. You can make a volcano with baking soda and vinegar, create a rainbow with a glass of water and a flashlight, or grow crystals using salt or sugar. These practices can be fun and exciting for your kids, and help them to get a taste for learning and science in particular.

Create An Outdoor Play Area

Playing outdoors can be good for your kids, and a great for you get some time to yourself while your children clamber about. Taking them to the park can be difficult if there isn’t one nearby, or if your kids are very young and it’s hard to take them on long trips. Instead, consider setting up an outdoor playground in your own back garden using playground equipment from PlayEquip. This durable equipment is fun and easy to store away when it’s not in use so that you can make the most of your garden and have a great time outdoors with your family.

Make A Home Obstacle Course

The weather isn’t always great in the UK, so if your kids have a lot of pent-up energy, but it’s raining and cold outdoors, then you could try using the space in your home to hep them to have fun. You can do this by creating an indoor obstacle course using pillows, cushions, and other household items. Challenge your kids to complete it as fast as they can, to make a game out of it. If you have pets, you could try getting them to navigate the course too, to make it fun for all the family. It might take some time to set-up and take it all down, but it’ll be worth it.

Get Your Kids To Help With Home Improvements

Kids often love crafts and painting, so you can make the most of their skills and passions by getting them to help you to transform your home. To do this, involve your kids in DIY home improvement projects, like painting a room, gardening, or building simple furniture. This can be a great way to bond with your little ones and teach valuable skills, as well as save you time by getting extra help with your home improvement projects.

Check Out Local Community Events

Sometimes, it pays to leave the house, but that doesn’t mean you have to pay for expensive days out. Instead, keep an eye out for free community events or activities like local parades, fairs, or free museum days. These can provide a change of scenery and entertainment at little or no cost, so you and your kids can have fun without paying through the nose. Don’t forget to check how far the events are from your home, as travel can quickly make a free event become more expensive.

To wrap up, the key to entertaining kids at home on a budget is to be creative and open to new experiences. Children often value the time and attention you give them more than expensive outings or toys, so enjoy these moments together while fostering their creativity and learning by using these tips.