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Parenting

25th Jan 2017

20 Easy Ways To Make Your Family Weekends AWESOME (Without Blowing The Budget)

Amanda Cassidy

Ah, weekends; the lie-0ns, the breakfast in bed. Wait, that was before I had kids.

Now our weekends are spent chasing fairy’s, searching for playgrounds beside good coffee places and keeping three little monkeys amused while we also enjoy our time together.

But just because we have a large brood doesn’t mean we can’t plan really fun weekend activities. An interesting study carried out by *Laya healthcare found that 77 per cent of parents who want a big family actually decide against it as they felt they “couldn’t afford it”

So, to make everything that bit easier – we have come up with a list of 20 fun and cheap activities to do with your children that are efficient but fun (before they get too big to want to play with you!)

It’s a great checklist to get kids outdoors and engage them in good, old-fashioned fun. It is also a reminder that kids do not always have to have structured play nor do you have to break the bank.

Remember, the free and simple ideas will provide the greatest of memories!

1.Make a family scrapbook

2. Plant a tree

3. Camp in the garden

4. Make a pizza from scratch together

5. Create a nature table

6. Hold a family talent show (yes, even Dad)

7. Catch a sunrise/sunset

8. Watch a local match together

9. Create a vegetable/herb garden

10. Go shell hunting on the nearest beach

11. Update your family height chart on a wall

12. Draw portraits of each other

13. Stage a treasure hunt

14. Fly a kite on the beach

15. Make a video together about your family life

16. Create a fairy-house

17. Drive through the Irish countryside

18. Have a movie night every week

19. Make handprints and frame them

20. Host a snail race

It won’t be long before your children prefer hanging out with friends so put down those gadgets and get planning. Your kids will be delighted too!

There’s another way to save money. Pay for one, and the rest go free with Essential Connect Family #FamilyHacks layahealthcare.ie

Insurance provided by Elips Insurance Ltd trading as Laya Healthcare.  Laya Healthcare Ltd trading as Laya Healthcare and Laya Life is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.  A child is defined as a dependant aged under 18.

*Research carried out among 1,001 parents with children in Ireland between 2nd- 15th December, by iReach online survey, on behalf of laya healthcare.