1. Learn about Columbus Day

There are lots of crafts and activities for the kids to enjoy in honor of the day. To learn more, check out Columbus Day 2009. Or see if your community is having a Columbus Day parade.

2. Get outdoors

Go for a hike, go camping, rake the leaves and take turns jumping into the pile, go for a walk, explore nature, go for a bike ride — you get the idea. There’s so much to do during this wonderful season when the weather is cooler and the great outdoors beckon.

3. Stop procrastinating

Where have you been wanting to take the kids, but haven’t yet? This is a great time to visit the zoo, the children’s museum, the art museum, story time at the library, the craft store, and more.

4. Make a big screen at home

A sheet or a wall can serve as the canvas for an in-home movie fest. Rent Christopher Columbus: The Discovery on DVD or for a different “journey”, rent movies by Chris Columbus, the director.  A projector rental from Projector123.com makes it fun, easy, affordable and sure to please the whole family.

5. Talk to the kids

Here’s a great conversation starter: What do you think would be the most fun thing we could do on Columbus Day? Their answers just might surprise you — and it pays to get some input from the participants before you go planning something too elaborate.

What will YOU do? Post your comments below or share ideas.

1. Go back to basics.

Think about the things YOU enjoyed doing when you were a young child. Odds are, most of the activities were either free or practically free — and your kids will like to do the same things, too. Whether it’s making a collage out of macaroni, using letters cut from magazine clippings to create a “ransom note” style letter for a friend, or going on a nature walk, often the simplest, most basic activities are the most entertaining. Simple art projects and craft activities teach your children to settle down and focus for extended periods of time. Creating word and letter projects allows children to use the right and left hemispheres of their brain, stimulating creativity and focus. Even games as simple as “I Spy” and the “Alphabet Game” (where you take turns coming up with words that start with each sequential letter of the alphabet) can keep kids and adults entertained for hours.

2. Go for a drive.

Sure, the price of gas is currently fluctuating (and always increases during the summer months) but how often do we hop in the car without a plan? There’s a great wide world out there, just waiting to be discovered, and sometimes the best way to find something new is to pile the family into the car and drive around unfamiliar territory. Who knows? You might discover a new park or playground, a new family restaurant, or a new entertainment venue that you never knew existed. Don’t be afraid to get out and explore together — it teaches your kids to step out of their comfort zone and explore the world. (Exercise common sense and good safety precautions, of course)

Stay tuned for more installments of money-saving family fun — and be sure to post your suggestions and comments, we love hearing from you.

1. Rethink your idea of “free” and “low-cost”

Unfortunately, many people believe you “get what you pay for” but this isn’t always true. After all, haven’t you had the experience at some point in your life where you’ve paid far more than something was worth? Then surely the opposite must be true — sometimes you really can get more value than cost. Begin by realizing that you really can get great value from something that is either free or low-cost. Shifting your mindset in this way opens you up to find low-cost opportunities for fun that you wouldn’t have seen otherwise.

2. Do your homework

Hop online and see what’s available in your area. Even if you’ve lived in the same area your whole life, odds are you haven’t “been there, done that” with EVERYTHING of interest. Try these searches on Google (or your favorite web browser) for inspiration and new ideas:

[name of your town] + “day trips”
[name of your town] + “free family fun”
[name of your town] + “discount coupons”
[name of your town] + “events calendar”
[name of a nearby ] + “affordable family fun”

You can also try combining the name of a nearby town with all of the above.

If you prefer to do your research in person (rather than over the web), visit your local tourist information office (even smaller towns tend to have one of these — and rarely do local residents take advantage of it!) Additionally, visit your local chamber of commerce, your local library, and a hotel in town (to check out their “brochure wall” — which many times, offers coupons and other types of discounts).

That should keep you busy between now and part 2 of this post. Enjoy!