How to Cheaply Entertain the Kids During a Recession

Fall is in the air, and you can really feel it on Wall Street.  Everything is falling: stocks, bonds, even banks. Many experts are now saying the dreaded R word: recession.  Everyone is cutting their spending, driving less, and looking for a hundred ways to limit their expenses.   So what does this mean for parents who want to entertain their kids for cheap?  

Parents know that telling the kids that "there's no money" for toys this Christmas just is not gonna happen!  Still, sacrifices have to be made, and video games and other favorites cost more than ever before.  

My advice?  Go Retro.  Parents have plenty of creative ways to entertain the kids without dropping a Franklin on the newest gizmo.  Some of the best ways to amuse children have been around for decades.  And for some, you don't even need to spend a dime.

Classic Toys are Cheap and Reliable

Some classic toys for less than $10 are still on the market.  These include Pay-Doh, building blocks, LEGOS, the Rubik's Cube, and classic dolls.  What separates these toys from more expensive toys besides being light on the wallet?  They all encourage kids' imaginations rather than mindlessly entertaining them.  Building, playing house, and solving puzzles keep children occupied for hours on end, leaving parents a chance to get some rest.  

5 Really Classic Diversions

For even cheaper ways to entertain the kids, we have to dip back into our collective memory of the Great Depression.  Here's some great toys and activities that you can build from household items and recycled "junk."

Bubbles!  All it takes is some dish-washing soap diluted to three parts water.  You can use some wire from the garage to make a "bubble wand," or even a paper-clip will do the job.  

Making paper airplanes.  I admittedly spent countless hours in my youth making paper airplanes, and there are so many great designs that are easy to learn.  You can make planes that go the distance (great for competitions) or ones that do tricks such as "loop-de-loops." 

Sardines.  You'd be surprised how many kids these days don't know how to play this classic hide-n-seek game.  It's great for rainy days or for large backyards too. 

House of Cards.  I'm not trying to make a sly joke about the economy here, really.  Building card houses takes skill, patience, and a lot of time.  Many kids don't know about this because card decks are, in many homes, a thing of the past.  Bust out your pinocle decks and let them compete for the tallest card house.  A Guaranteed nap time for Mom!

Cardboard Boxes.  The classic toy made from nothing!  For little kids, appliance boxes can seem like whole worlds.  Let them set up their sleeping bags inside for a special sleep over in the living room. (Just make sure you punch out a few windows for good circulation!)  Older kids also can use boxes as impromptu snow sleds.
There are many other ways to turn entertain the kids without breaking the bank.  I encourage parents to reach back, waaay back, into their memories about how they passed the time when they were young.  This modern expectation that kids need new toys is merely a fad, and no doubt it will pass if the economic slowdown continues.