5 Cheap (and free!) After School Activities For Fall
I stepped outside with my cup of life (coffee) expecting a blanket of humidity & heat to attack my soul. Instead, I was met with cool, fall-like air. It felt nice & I've come to appreciate fall temps, but I wasn't prepared for that kind of greeting.
Cooler temps once made me feel like I had to be inside & that is something I can't do. Winter is a different beast altogether but that's a post for another time!
When school starts & summer break gives way to carpool lines & homework, the days can seem full of busy monotony. My daughters (@2pbgirls) go into a panic-mode of sorts not wanting to spend much time at home. Even when playing sports, they get bored of the routine.
I do my best to get out as much as possible during the school year. Adventure isn't exclusive to summer for those who thought otherwise. You don't have to spend a bunch of money, buy a plane ticket, or tackle a road trip either. For us, adventure is always close by.
5 Cheap (and free!) After School Activities
1. Plan an after school date with your kids on Fridays.
When my oldest daughter started kindergarten years ago, we created a routine of grabbing a Wendy's frosty on the way home if she'd had a good week. You don't have to include that type of incentive but it was necessary for us (& it worked!). It gave us all something to look forward to.
2. Head to a new park or one you haven't visited in a while.
There aren't many times a park has failed to excite my daughters. Even if they get bored with the playground equipment, we are able to go on some kind of nature walk. Simply being outside is calming, grounding, & gives our family a break from the routine. The scenery changes so drastically in fall. It's breathtaking to witness it!
3. Take a stroll downtown.
Downtown isn't far from us nor is it super busy right after school. We like to walk the streets whether we window shop or head inside to look around. Our downtown has a "First Thursdays" artist event each month. A plethora of cool creations to see & people to meet on the sidewalks & in the stores. It's fun to participate in that as well.
What is your downtown area like? Is it close to you? Very busy?
4. Visit a bakery.
I'm not trying to turn anyone's child into a sugar addict but if your household is like mine, you don't eat many sweets. @2pbgirls love quaint, colorful places to enjoy a dessert. Be sure to sit outside if possible.
We recently headed to Reed's Coffee & Art in downtown #Mebane. It wasn't our first time visiting but the girls love their brownies & cookies. As a bonus, there's an art gallery attached. My little artists love to venture inside. Perfection!
(Oh and parents... opt for a cup of water because it's FREE & a great/sneaky way to get more into your little ones! Some places don't offer free water cups so take a bottle from home always.)
5. Check for free events/activities in your area.
Many local museums are free to enter so we do our best to take advantage! If you've followed me for a while, you know I feel strongly about our library. My daughters are avid readers like me & love to check out books. Better yet, our library always has coloring pages available & free classes to take. We've participated in many of the family Lego activities, origami, drawing, & even acrobat classes. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT YOUR LIBRARY OFFERS.
A Bonus
I can't go without offering one bonus idea I've mentioned before:
If you have access to a lake or river, head there with snacks or even dinner & eat by the water. There are less bugs when the weather's cooler & fewer people are out. The sound of rushing water, your family's laughter, or sitting in silence together is satisfying to adventurous spirits like ours. Try it for yourself.
You see... it's super easy to get your kids or your entire family out for a quick & inexpensive adventure. It's all about breaking the routine, enjoying each other's company, & giving yourselves that doing-something-different feeling. Adventure is always what YOU make it.
If all else fails, remember to get in your own backyard to explore. Allow your imaginations to run wild!
What local & inexpensive activities does your family participate in during the school year?