More Learning and Working Together

The Cost of Fun (all ages)
Establish a Family Fun Fund of a certain amount each week. Use the family budget to decide TOGETHER on your fun maximum: $2, $5, $10?  Then make it a competition to plan a family evening activity at the lowest cost possible. If age-appropriate, allow each child to invite one friend to join in the fun each week. Take turns among ALL family members creating the activity. The organizer plans the budget, purchases any materials needed, writes up the Cost of Fun index card, and explains and conducts the activity on family fun night. Keep a shoe box for completed Cost of Fun index cards, each with a quick summary of the activity, the cost, and any family reactions or suggestions for changes. As the costs get lower and lower, use the extra family “fun” budget funds to “purchase” more options from the box or to donate to a local cause such as a Y or a park so other families can have fun together.

Grateful Journal (all ages, including adult)
This idea is adapted from an ABC News Story.
As a family, take the time to write in a family Grateful Journal. Instead of whining about things your family no longer buys or cannot afford, give everyone a chance to write (and draw?) about something for which he/she is grateful. You will be surprised at some of the responses. Keep the Grateful Journal very handy and be sure to contribute to it yourself. If your technophile teens prefer, use a family blog space to host the Grateful Journal. Grateful can turn to seeing your life as, “Great! Full!”

Refrigerator Reminders (all ages, including adult)
Avoid allowing your refrigerator to become a Food Museum of ancient artifacts (and wasted money) and stop using up valuable meal ingredients. Post reminders on the refrigerator, telling family members which items should be first at snack times. Your children will get very creative if they know they are allowed to combine the lone meatball, spoonful of rice, and handful of carrots into a clown sculpture for an afterschool snack. Give kudos for the most creative use of the refrigerator reminder foods.

Cash from your attic? (all ages)
Have a family yard, tag, or garage sale. Spend a weekend pulling together unwanted items from the attic, toy chest, and closets. Set a realistic goal for your family sale, then splurge on a family Want (see Wants and Needs) from the proceeds. If you don’t reach your goal, consider adding the proceeds from another family saving activity, such as Coupon Cleverness. Make sure that every family member agrees on the purchase decision.

Heal by Helping (all ages)
Helping others helps your family, too. Make sharing a family effort. When your grocery or department store has BOGO (buy one, get one) promotions, set aside the one you “get”  to donate to an area food bank or charity closet. Set aside good hand-me-downs to donate to a needy family through a church, charity, or school clothing drive. Before you BUY one of anything, GIVE one first, making a new kind of BOGO. Area thrift shops will appreciate both your donations and your business as you buy one and give one.

Download a printable version of the full article from NASP

Download a printable version of the TeachersAndFamilies Learning and Working Together Activities

next

Parenting Start