| Hot (free) fun in the summertime |
|
|
|
She not only takes advantage of
her town's outdoor free concert series -- she walks to the performances
with her family.
"We make it more of an excursion," Long
says. "We bring a gourmet picnic and join other families."
Long says the concerts serve as informal music lessons
for youngsters, introducing them to less mainstream genres such
as acoustic or Irish music.
"Once you're out there, nature really has a way
of confirming that what you decided to do is the right thing to
do."
Long, who has a 15-year-old daughter, says she revives
some of the low-tech games of her childhood, including water-balloon
fights and flash-light tag. She received her inspiration for finding
unique children's activities from her mother, who would give the
kids big sticks of chalk for decorating the driveway.
Hike or bike
Long also hikes with her extended family, which includes children
ages 7 to 21.
"We reward little kids by looking for different
types of flowers," says Long. For the older children, "we
pull out a compass, have them guess which way we're headed, and
as they get older, pull out the topographical map and teach them
how to read it."
Long and her daughter also cruise on mountain bikes
through their neighborhood in the Colorado Rockies.
"I'm 42, and I still ride my bike everyday,"
says Long, who wrote the book, "Permission to Play: Taking
Time to Renew Your Smile," because she found most of her daughter's
teenage friends carried completely booked planners.
Getting active and spending time outdoors isn't the
only way to fit in free fun. Other programs offered at local libraries,
bookstores and museums offer mental stimulation -- often in air-conditioned
comfort.
Membership has its privileges
Troy Corley, mother of two teens, didn't plan a big vacation for
this summer. Instead, she will keep herself, her 18-year-old son
and 15-year-old daughter busy with free activities around the Los
Angeles area.
Corley, who lives north of L.A., in Ojai, publishes
no-cost activities in the guide "Free L.A.: The Ultimate Free
Fun Guide to the City of Angels."
|
