THINGS TO DO & NEWS FOR DECEMBER 2015 | Entertain Kids on a Dime Blog

I would like to wish all of you a Merry Christmas (who celebrates this holiday). 

For those of you home with the kids and want to be frugal, here are some greats ideas you can do with your kids…

**FREE DIY ACTIVITIES**
1) ALPHABET SCAVENGER HUNT:
Write the alphabet on a piece of paper. One letter per line. Have the kids run around the house or a mall and have them find an item that starts with that letter. (Ie. A=apple, B=bike, C=couch). For smaller kids who are learning their sounds, you can write the words for them.

2) CARD BOARD PLAY HOUSE:
Take a trip to No Frills and pick up some cardboard boxes. Use strong duct tape and a pair of scissors to create a play house. If your kids are older, you can also get them to take markers or paint and decorate the house.

3) HOST A MOVIE DAY:
Turn on the fire (if you have). Bust out blankets, and make some popcorn. Put on a new movie that your kids haven’t seen. Dim the lights, and you’ve got movie time!

4) CREATE A PLAY:
Get your children to put on costumes, practice, and put on a show for you. You can get older kids to make their own props.

5) OUTDOOR NATURE ART PROJECT:
Have your kids look around your backyard or a park and have them pick our leaves, stones, sticks (etc.). When you come back home, have them glue their findings to a piece of paper to create nature art.

6) TOBOGGANING:
Take out a sled, tube or even a garbage bag and head to a park with a hill. Finish the day off with some hot chocolate.

7) BUILD A SNOW MAN: 
Elsa & Anna did it and so can your family! Bundle up your children and give them a carrot for the nose and two small oranges for the eyes. Be creative!

8) VISIT A PET STORE:
Find the largest pet store near you and take the kids for a visit. They may even get a chance to pet the animals.
My kids love going to Big Al’s Aquarium right outside Vaughan Mills Mall. They have tons of fish and reptiles to see. We usually get to hold a lizard when we go.

9) VISIT A BOOK STORE:
If you can resist caving into your children’s toy requests at Indigo, you should take a trip there. You can pick out books together and read to each other.

10) MAKE YOUR OWN PLAY-DOUGH:
For some easy NON-COOK Play-dough recipes, visit: http://entertainkidsonadime.com/2014/03/26/easy-play-dough-recipes/

**CHEAP DIY ACTIVITIES**
1) COTTON BALL SNOW FALL:
Due to our NON WHITE CHRISTMAS, this may brighten your kid’s days. Buy a bag of cotton balls from the store. Dump them over your kids train table, doll house or figurines. Make it “SNOW”.

2) BAKE:
Buy some ingredients and have your kids help you bake and decorate cookies, cupcakes or a cake. I am not a good baker, so I would just buy the cake mix and the icing pre-made. I am not a Martha Stewart!!!

3) PIZZA MAKING:
Take your kids to the grocery store and buy dough, sauce, cheese and toppings. Have your kids create their own pizzas, bake them, and eat them together!

4) MAKE HOMEMADE HOLIDAY CARDS:
Go to the Dollar Store and buy coloured paper, markers and stickers. Have your kids make cards for their family and friends.

5) MAKE FROZEN INSPIRED CRAFTS:
It took me one trip to the dollar store to create these two Frozen inspired crafts. http://entertainkidsonadime.com/2014/06/02/frozen-crafts/

6) MAKE A DEEJAY DANCE PARTY:
Go to the dollar store and get glow sticks! Dress your kids in light colours. Close the blinds and the lights and activate their glow sticks. Put on their favourite songs and have them dance. This one is good when they have friends come over.

7) PUZZLE DAY:
Go to the dollar store and buy age appropriate puzzles for your kids. Have everyone sit together and work on them.

8) SNOW ART:
Buy spray bottles, and paint or food colouring from the dollar store. Fill the bottles with water and paint. Let the children colour the snow.

9) INDOOR CAMP OUT:
Put chairs together and cover them with blankets to create a tent. Make hot dogs and smores and have your kids eat them in the tent. Sing camp songs by the imaginary fire.

10) TREASURE HUNT:
Create a Map of your home and mark the spots to find. Hide small loose change around the house. Have the kids find the change (the “treasures”) and have them put the money in their piggy banks.