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Simple Ways to Create Memories with Your Kids

September 22, 2022 | Leave a Comment

Ways to Create Memories with Your Kids

Sometimes when your kids are little, every day might seem so LONG. The kids have endless needs you have to meet, and they might fuss, cry, or have tantrums. However, smiling older women look at you in the store and compliment your beautiful family and reminisce about their now-grown children. People tell you, “The days are long, but the years are short.” Yet, while you try to enjoy the days, sometimes you struggle. As your kids grow older (and it happens so quickly!), you realize that the time you have with them is fleeting, and you want to create memories with them. Here are some suggestions to do just that.

Simple Ways to Create Memories with Your Kids

Creating memories with your kids doesn’t have to be expensive. You simply need to spend your undivided time with them.

Actively Watch Their Sports

How often have you gone to kids’ sporting events and seen parents not watching the game but instead giving all of their attention to their smartphones? Put the phone aside and watch your kids. They notice, and they’ll appreciate that you spend time on them, not on the internet.

Have a Dedicated Movie Night

One fun family tradition is to have a dedicated movie time. In our family, we watch a movie on Sunday afternoon. This activity may not seem like much, but your kids will likely enjoy this tradition and remember it fondly when looking back on their childhoods.

Play Board Games

Likewise, you can have a family game night. Or, if you can’t play board games with the family that often, make a habit of playing a board game with your child at least once every two weeks. Your kids will enjoy playing the game and the time you gave them.

Read Aloud to Them

Ways to Create Memories with Your Kids

This family tradition is best started when your kids are young, though you can begin any time they’re in elementary school. When my kids were babies, I started reading aloud to them, and we never stopped. My younger kids are now 13 and 12, and I still read aloud to them every day. I’m sure this is one activity they’ll cherish and hopefully repeat with their children.

Have a Yes Day

Too often, we parents say no because it’s more convenient than saying yes. Challenge yourself to say yes one day and see how different the day will be. “Mom, can we go to the park?” Yes. “Can I bake a cake?” Yes. If the activity the children propose isn’t dangerous or out of your budget, try saying yes and see what happens.

Take Them on Vacation

Finally, if you have the means, take your children on vacation. Getting out of your element and exploring new places leads to family bonding, especially when you reminisce about your adventures years later.

Final Thoughts

Kids grow up too quickly. The older women in the stores are right—the days are long, but the years are short. Cherish the time you have by utilizing simple ways to create memories with your kids. You’ll be glad you did.

Read More

Vacation Before Your Kids No Longer Want to Hang with You

5 Ways We Inspire a Love of Reading in Our Kids

4 Road Trip Tips When Traveling with Tweens

Melissa Batai
Melissa Batai

Melissa is a writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her homeschooling her kids, reading a good book, or cooking. She resides in Arizona where she dislikes the summer heat but loves the natural beauty of the area.

Filed Under: Family Time, Growing Up, Parenting, Parenting Blog at KidsAintCheap Tagged With: board games, family vacation, kids in sports, read aloud, spending money, Sports, time with kids, Vacation, yes day

I’m So Glad I Spent Money On…

May 6, 2015 | 1 Comment

Being good with money does't mean being cheap. Here are three things I'm so glad I spent money on. What about you?There have been many instances in my life where I kick myself for wasting money. Sometimes it’s not really a big deal but there have been times I’ve wasted hundreds on crap that I either didn’t need or wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. I’m happy to report though there have been times that my husband and I have spent a few extra dollars on something and it’s been well worth it. With a family to look out for we’re especially cautious with our money.

Our Mattress

We were sort of fortunate that when our apartment flooded we were given a substantial replacement cheque for certain items, including our bed. The bed that was ruined in the flood was purchased for $100 off a friend. When we were handed a $3,000 cheque to buy all new bed and bedding we were excited. When we went bed shopping we didn’t look at price initially but went by feel. Thankfully the bed we fell in love with was on sale and rang in at $1,200. It’s worked out very well for us.

After owning it for about three years we noticed some deformation on one side of the mattress but because it was covered under warranty they replaced it zero questions asked. Many years later and we’re still happy with the purchase.

Engagement Ring Warranty

I’m so glad I wasn’t with my husband when he bought my engagement ring, though I would have talked him out of it, I’m so glad he got the extended warranty on my ring. I think he paid an extra $140 for the lifetime warranty and I have used it at least 10x over this price. The warranty includes all sizings, repairs, scratch removals, lost diamonds, you name it and it’s covered. In the last eight years, I have had my ring sized (no joke) probably six times, rhodium plated (redripping in gold to remove scratches) probably 10 times, repaired twice and cleaned a bazillion times. All the work I had done would have cost me at least $1,000 and thankfully I paid zero dollars. It’s been a huge help!

Treadmill

About five years ago my husband and I were trying to decide if we wanted to re-join a gym. Instead of joining we decided to save our money and buy a good quality treadmill instead. We looked for sales and in the end found a $3,000 treadmill on sale for less than $1,000. It has worked out very well for us and it gets used regularly, especially in the winter! I was worried it may become a place for clothes to hang but I’m happy to report we use it. Especially with a young child it’s nice to have the ability to get some exercise in without being required to leave the house.

I love looking at a purchase and knowing we made a good decision. We work hard for our money so it’s nice to see it being used and enjoyed.

What are some of the best purchases your family has made?

Catherine
Catherine

Catherine is a first time momma to a rambunctious toddler. When she isn’t soaking up all that motherhood has to offer, you can find her blogging over at Plunged in Debt where she chronicles her and her husbands journey out of debt. You can also follow her on Twitter.

plungedindebt.com

Filed Under: Money and Finances Tagged With: Frugality, spending money

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Basic Principles Of Good Parenting

Here some basic principles for good parenting:

  1. What You Do Matters: Your kids are watching you. So, be purposeful about what you want to accomplish.
  2. You Can’t be Too Loving: Don’t replace love with material possessions, lowered expectations or leniency.
  3. Be Involved Your Kids Life: Arrange your priorities to focus on what your kid’s needs. Be there mentally and physically.
  4. Adapt Your Parenting: Children grow quickly, so keep pace with your child’s development.
  5. Establish and Set Rules: The rules you set for children will establish the rules they set for themselves later.  Avoid harsh discipline and be consistent.
  6. Explain Your Decisions: What is obvious to you may not be evident to your child. They don’t have the experience you do.
  7. Be Respectful To Your Child: How you treat your child is how they will treat others.  Be polite, respectful and make an effort to pay attention.
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