Winter Break without Overspending- Websites & Activities for Kids

Today we have a guest post from a new friend Billy at Billy.com.  Check out some of these great ideas of things to do with your kids while they are on Christmas break.

“Whether you’re staying at home this winter break or enjoying the long-awaited getaway, you’re probably already running out of ways to entertain your children. There’s always the usual kids’ activities- ice skating, the movies or a trip to the mall. But two hours and a good amount of money later, your children will still be looking for things to do- and you’ll still be looking for activities for kids that don’t cost a fortune.

This season, I had an idea- as I embarked upon my holiday shopping, I decided to informally poll mothers who I saw shopping with their children about what activities they had planned for winter break. Here are the top results I’ve compiled:

Ages 3-6

- Free websites for children (parent’s favorites): pbskids.org, highlightskids.com, sesamestreet.org

- Print free coloring sheets, hidden pictures and connect the dots pages

- Head to a new park, sledding or the beach (depending on your geographic location)

- Trade movies with friends and make popcorn

Ages 6-10

- Favored art activities for kids- scrapbooking, learning to sew, creating collages

- Winter gardening- children can plant their seeds or bulbs in pots and move them outdoors in the spring or summer

- Baking- parents I spoke to claim there’s never been a better time to practice kitchen skills and work on the gingerbread house their kids have been begging for

- Puzzles (though I’m incredibly curious how many children will actually finish the 500 or 1000 piece puzzles that their parents have picked out during the holiday sales)

There were, of course, a handful of parents who considered endless hours of playing Wii (or other video games) as a viable activity for children during winter. The majority of parents, however, were interested in finding something more interesting and educational for their children, preferably without spending a fortune. I hope that these practical suggestions will help you pass the time, and that when possible, you’ll enjoy spending time with your children as they begin these new activities.

Whether you’re shopping online or at a brick and mortar store, there are always ways to save on your favorite items- you just need to know where to find them.  I enjoy scouring the web, newspapers and advertisements for the latest steals so that you don’t have to.  My goal is to identify bargains, deals, coupons and freebies and to share this information with my friends and fans so that together, we can spend less while enjoying more. 

You can check out my website for more information about how to save money: Billy.com.  I look forward to seeing you there!

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