Frugal and Energy Efficient Living

Plan ahead and you can put together a fun box from free instructions found on the web for making all kinds of weird and wonderful doodads. I keep one ready for when kids come over to keep them occupied while we grown ups chat.

Lots of free coloring pages to be printed out for kids or adults to decorate with no muss colored pencils or gel inks. There are tons of websites with all kinds of word games and puzzles that can be printed out for use when needed. I store them in manilla envelopes kept in the box. One of the best games I have is an old Bingo set that I found at a thrift store for a couple od bucks. Even the adults still like playing bingo.

Include needlecraft things for kids, like large plastic needles and some coarse fabric to sew on big buttons and make pretty yarn or felt flowers. Lengths of cotton rope for tying knots or practicing braiding. I have one of those old looms to make potholders, all the kids like making potholders.

I also like to do group projects, like cooking where everyone gets to help putting together a big chef salad, making cookies, or tearing up veggies for dipping as a snack. Storybook reading is popular, and the favorites are a couple of wonderful popup books I've had for decades, one about bugs, and the other is on sailing ships, the kids love the giant bugs.