| Yes, you can have the joy of raising children without | | | | Other great, inexpensive activities include |
| going broke -- although it will not be easy. We live in a | | | | - Cooking and baking. By incorporating children into |
| very materialistic society, it is incumbent upon all of us | | | | your kitchen activities, you kill two birds with one stone. |
| to teach our children well. They will feel the tug of peer | | | | They play (for free), and you get some work done. |
| pressure, the "need" to have $100 Air Jordans. If you | | | | - Music. Teaching children to love music is a reward |
| can teach them money literacy early, you will have | | | | unto itself. Whether it be listening to Mozart on CD, |
| gone a long way toward saving them years of | | | | playing the flute, or drumming that wooden spoon, |
| financial and emotional grief. | | | | music can be a compelling, wonderful, affordable |
| Kids learn best by example. If they see you buying | | | | activity. |
| new shoes every month, they will want new shoes. If | | | | - Reading. If children learn early enough, they can't stop. |
| you get the newest computer every six months, they | | | | That you can check out endless books for free from |
| will want the new Nintendo. If they see you being | | | | the library makes reading that much better. Books can |
| smart with a dollar, they just might learn that, too. | | | | also be purchased cheaply at yard sales, book fairs, |
| There are scores of ways to have fun with your kids, | | | | and church bazaars. Have children write their own |
| teach them positive values, and still save money. What | | | | books. Read to your children every day. |
| is your favorite Halloween costume of all time? It is | | | | - Computer. If you have a home computer, the |
| probably safe to say that it was not some prefab, | | | | possibilities are endless. CDs make learning fun and |
| storebought costume, but rather a homemade, | | | | can often be found in the bargain bin at the computer |
| creative masterpiece. Keep that in mind as you strive | | | | store for a few dollars. The Internet is a vast resource |
| to give your kids the best without teaching them the | | | | of fun and learning. Install an inexpensive blocking |
| worst. | | | | program, and let them go explore the world. |
| Art projects are a fine example. Children love to make | | | | - Sports. Sports can usually be played for the cost of |
| art, to express themselves with pictures when words | | | | a football, basketball, or Frisbee. |
| may be hard to find. Crayons are great for the little | | | | - Games. They need not be expensive. Puppets can |
| ones, and most newspapers sell newspaper end-rolls | | | | be made out of lunch bags. Use old clothes for |
| for a song just to get rid of it. Add some scissors, | | | | dress-up. Puzzles are pretty cheap. |
| glitter, string, markers, beads, and buttons, and you | | | | - Money. Help them start a business. The kids can |
| have an afternoon of relative peace and quiet. Why | | | | solicit neighbors for a summer pet-sitting or |
| not keep all the packaging you throw away every | | | | pet-washing service. They can wash cars or sell |
| week? Anything can be a part of a work of art. | | | | lemonade. They can baby-sit. |