Hello, my name is Jenn. I'm a 24 years old, married, and a work at home mom to three year old girl named 
Posted on June 6, 2008 at 2:32am
Now that Alyssa is going to be four soon, she’s definitely turning into a little social butterfly, and her mind is busy sucking up all that I can throw at her. So I am doing my best to give her new experiences every week, since every day is a little much, even for the most planned of mothers and energetic of children. We all need our rest and down time!
But with the rising cost of gas, and the rising cost of tickets, food and other things in general, it may not always be possible to do everything we’d like to do. So, based on my own personal experience, here are some fun ideas for spring, summer and any time activities that don’t cost an arm and a leg:
- The park. Going to the park seems like a no-brainer, but it’s one of those simple pastimes that a lot of people overlook because they’re so set on finding things that are new, innovative and exciting. Bring a ball, pack a picnic style lunch, or bring a camera, a few water bottles and go for a nature walk!
- The zoo. The zoo isn’t free, but zoo admissions are usually pretty cheap — less than $20 for an adult ticket, and free or close to it for children under the age of 12 or 10. A whole day can be spent at the zoo, and children and adults alike enjoy seeing and learning about new animals, and exploring a large area.
- The circus. Because the circus doesn’t have the hype it once did, tickets are greatly discount as a way to encourage visitors. A great example of this are the coupons I just picked up: free admission for children thirteen and under, and $12 per adult ticket. Not bad for a three hour circus show!
- Indoor playgrounds. On rainy, cold or very hot days, indoor playgrounds are a real treat. They offer a contained area for children to play in, while adults can relax and socialize with one another a bit. The price per child ranges from $3 - $10, depending on the day, time of day and features available at the playground.
I’ll be adding more ideas as I think of them. 
