5 Inexpensive Ways to Fill the Gap between After-School and Dinner
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- Published Nov 16, 2023
“Mom! I got the part!” my daughter exclaimed as she jumped into the front seat. Of course, I was excited for her, but that meant multiple afterschool practices. And since her younger sisters weren’t involved in the play, I would need to pick them up at the normal dismal time and then return for her. While I love where we live, our home is out in the country, and often, If I only have an hour or two between meetings, appointments, or obligations, it’s not worth going home. However, finding ways to fill the time gaps can become quite expensive.
Here are five inexpensive ways to fill the time with your kids:
1. The Public Library
Fortunately, our public library is only a mile from my children’s school. This is a great way to kill a few minutes or hours if needed. Simply looking through the books, putting together a puzzle, or playing a game on the computer is enough to keep my children entertained. However, most libraries have programs for children after school and sometimes create particular craft or project bags for children.
Depending on the size of your city, you have the luxury of having multiple public libraries. While many libraries require you to live in the county to hold a card and check out books, the programs and events are generally accessible to everyone. Suppose you have multiple time gaps to fill that week, head over to your library and see what they planned. If it’s sunny, find a park and enjoy your latest library finds. Conversely, I have found that kids are happy to sit in the car while reading and playing with their crafts from the library.
2. A Public Park
There was a time when I knew where every public park was in a ten-mile radius. The weather has to cooperate with this option, but this is one of the best options for our family to pass the time. The great thing about a park is that my children will find other kids to play with, and unlike with their siblings, the excitement of a new friend will provide hours of entertainment.
Often, I have to drag my kids away from the playground, giving multiple countdowns before we head back to the car. Many parks have walking trails or bike paths; some even have places to feed the ducks. Depending on where you live, some counties have special programs and events at the park, so be sure to check out your local community for updates.
3. The Grocery Store
I know, I know. You are probably thinking, I would rather just deal with the chaos of keeping my children wrangled in my car for an hour than venture out of the store. Most days, I feel the same. But the grocery store checks so many boxes.
First, if your kids are like mine, they always have to go to the bathroom after school, and typically, grocery stores have pretty clean facilities. Secondly, it allows us to teach our kids how to shop for groceries. I like to make a game of it. Give each child an item to find, and have them find it in the store. Having your children present while you shop allows you to explain about making lists, putting together items for a recipe, or thinking through what your family will need for the week.
It is also a great time to sneak in some real-life math problems. My middle child, who detests sitting down and working on a math problem, loves figuring out the total cost of 2 pounds of grapes. She is more enthralled with the scale, but whatever works, right?
And yes, going to the grocery store does mean that we will inevitably open up a box of crackers while perusing the aisles. We might even snag a bakery item for a special treat, but check first and see if your bakery offers free cookies for kids; many do! However, getting snacks at the local market is significantly cheaper than stopping by the ice cream shop, gas station, or fast food.
4. Visit Sick Friends and Family
Thankfully, my kids are good about visiting church family members and friends in the hospital and nursing home. However, 10 minutes of standing and talking to an elderly lady from our congregation is an eternity for my little ones. It feels like we’ve only been there for a few seconds to the woman, often making it complicated when we have to leave.
An excellent way to manage expectations with my children and the people we will visit is to utilize the time between activities. That way, I can easily say, “We have 30 minutes before we pick up sister; we will see Mrs. Jones for a few minutes. She doesn’t feel well.” When we get to Mrs. Jones's room when our visit ends, I can share that I need to pick up my child, making the transition smoother for all parties involved.
5. Keep a Busy Bag in the Car
I carry a bag in my car with crayons, coloring sheets, blank sheets of paper, activity books, a few Barbie dolls, and action figures. This “busy bag” is a great way to keep children entertained for a few minutes or even an hour or two, depending on what you are doing.
I go through the bag every few weeks, check for broken crayons, or toss books with filled pages. And the good news is that we purchased nothing in this bag! Do you ever wonder what to do with the crazy amount of things your children receive over the year? Our Sunday school teachers are precious, but we are overflowing with bubbles and chalk. But, by putting them in the busy bag, they will indeed get used and provide a few minutes of peace for mom and lots of fun for the kids!
These are just a few ways to fill those small time gaps in the day with our children. I encourage you to go on social media and type in free events or do a quick Google search. No matter the size of your town, there are often numerous free or inexpensive things for children and families to help pass the time and keep mom’s sanity!
Photo credit: Oakville News on Unsplash
She lives in Upstate South Carolina with her husband and three young girls, where she serves as director of women's ministries at her church. Her passion is teaching the Bible to women, equipping them to live with an eternal perspective. Invite Laura to speak at your next event or learn more: www.LauraRBailey.com
