Guest Author - Kelly Aveiro
There are so many family-friendly, fun activities that you can probably do something different every weekend. But somehow it isn't always easy to come up with ideas that suit you, your children, your budget and your geographic location. So where do you come up with budget-friendly, family-friendly ideas? I suggest that you look no further than your local library. (And I'm not suggesting that you get some books to read, although that's lots of fun, too!)
The local library is a fabulous source of information about family friendly activities in your area. Your library probably has dozens of regional publications - books, pamphlets, maps and so forth - that are a veritable treasure trove of things to do and see right near your home. Spend a few hours digging through these resources and make notes of those you find interesting. Depending on your area, you could find enough activities to keep you busy for a very long time.
Repeat this process every 6 to 12 months because new resources are being added constantly.
The travel section of the local library is another useful section if you intend travelling out of your region. You're sure to find books with travel ideas for all budgets, no matter where you want to go. Keep an eye out for books that focus on family-friendly vacation and travel ideas. It's not much use reading about backpacking through Europe if you have a two year old! If your primary aim is for the whole family to have a great time, then stick to vacation and travel ideas that kids of your age will enjoy. If your children's ages vary try to look for a vacation that will offer a variety of activities for all members of the family to enjoy.
If travelling to exotic locations or even out of your city is beyond your budget, or you have limited time, then don't despair. Your local library will still be a tremendous help in helping you come up with creative, fun ideas that your whole family will love. Your library will probably also have pamphlets and advertisements about current events happening right in your city. If you don't see them displayed ask your librarian where you can find the information on current events in your town or city.
The library itself may also host events such as puppet shows, movies, story hours, art and craft activities and so on. Many libraries have a special program over the holidays and vacations. Get these schedules, choose the events you want and mark them on your calendar.
So what are you waiting for? Hop on over to your local library and get ready to have some serious fun!
