Summer Reading Fun 2011

Have you checked your local library to see if they are hosting a children’s reading program?  Ours starts tomorrow, and we’re ready to read. 

Barnes and Noble also has a summer reading program.  Kids can earn a free book after reading eight books.  Each book has to be recorded in the printable journal.  The program runs May 24^th – September 6^th.  Take the completed journal to a Barnes and Noble store and pick your free book from a list of selected books. 

Also check out the Borders summer reading program.  This program is open to kids ages twelve and under.  Read any ten books, fill out the printable form, and bring it in to any Borders store to choose a free book from a list of selected books.  This program runs until September 5^th, 2011.  


Do you know of any other summer reading programs?

Summer Fun List

Memorial Day has come and gone so bring on the summer fun!  Here is our family’s summer to do list:

1. Church camp
2. Vacation Bible School
3. Hike at the state park
4. Visit a science museum
5. Make a volcano
6. Shoot fireworks
7. Bottle rocket night
8. Make popcorn balls
9. Make pinwheels
10. Swim once a week
11. Have a picnic
12. Library reading program
13. Go to a library movie night
14. Hunt for fireflies
15. Go canoeing
16. Go camping
17. Go fishing
18. Visit a Cardinal’s game
19. Build a clubhouse
20. Visit family around the state
21. Go to a waterpark

Memorial Day Activity

I like to teach my children the meaning of holidays through activities.  Today as we talked about Memorial Day, we created an American flag using our own version of paper weaving.  We always try to use materials we have around the house rather than going out to buy things. 

Materials

Colored paper – red, white, and blue

Ruler

Razor knife and cutting board

Scissors

Glue stick

Foil stars (You could paint the stars or use chalk if you don’t have foil stars.)

• Draw horizontal lines on the red paper.  I used this as a ruler activity to show how to measure using eighth of an inch, but you could just draw the lines on the paper.
• Draw alternating vertical lines on every other stripe.  I used the width of the ruler to make these lines.  I tried to take a picture, but you could not see what I was doing.
• Use a razor knife to cut on these vertical lines (parents only).  You could also use scissors for this. 
• Cut thin strips out of white. 
• Weave the white strips though the red paper.
• Cut a blue rectangle from the blue paper.
• Glue the blue rectangle in the upper left corner of the flag
• Stick foil stars on the blue rectangle.

About Frugal Kids

Do you want to have fun with your children?  Do you want to create memories that will last a lifetime in the minds and hearts of your kids?  Do you want to do this on a shoestring budget?  If you answered yes then this blog is for you.  Experts state that it cost around $240,000 to raise a child.  Through this blog I will provide practical low cost strategies and activities that will provide the same experiences but at a fraction of the cost.  More money does not equal more fun.  My blog will provide great educational and recreational activities that your children will talk about for years.  I will also be giving you a heads up on any bargains or deals I find on children’s items.   

I am a Christian wife, mother, and educator.  I’ve been an educator in the public school system for ten years, I’ve working in my church for seventeen years, and I’ve been teaching college classes for the past year.  So altogether I’ve taught children from birth through adults in college.  I love learning and teaching!  So most of my activities posted here will probably have some kind of education slant to them.  Besides teaching and children I have a passion for frugal living.  Combine that together and you have frugal kids!  

I live in the Midwest with my wonderful husband and two active sons.  For the purposes of this blog, we are using nicknames.  JJ is my husband, Angel Baby is my toddler, and Luke (as in Luke Skywalker) is my soon to be third grader.   We are currently home schooling my oldest son.  In the past he has attended private and public schools. 

Our lives changed after the birth of our second son.  I decided to quit my full time teaching job, stay home more, and home school my oldest son.  With these changes also came some budget changes.  I was already a fairly frugal person, but now it has taken on a whole new level.  After becoming a stay-at-home mom, I discovered I could make my own baby food, use cloth diapers, and entertain my kids using stuff around my house.  So stick around awhile and we can learn together how raise frugal kids. 

Greetings From a Frugal Mom

Wow!  Here I am at my first post.  I am so excited about this new blog.  In today’s tough economy it’s hard to raise kids.  I’ve been a stay-at-home mom and a full time working mom.  So I going to share fun and inexpensive ways you can have fun with your children.  We’ll be discussing educational activities, field trips, vacations, teaching your children to be frugal, and ways you can save money on things you need to buy for kids.  So come along and join me, and we’ll have fun raising frugal kids together!