I am looking for ideas for keeping the kids from being bored this summer. I have 4 kids
ages 16, 11, 8, 6. The two eldest are girls the two younger are boys. The challenge is that we live in Las Vegas( not exactly a kids playground) and its toooo hot to let the kids go outside to play and I do not have a pool. With four kids and a failing economy free or cheap things to do are also a concern. My 16 year old stepdaughter is staying with us over summer break and doesn't have any friends in town to keep her busy. My 11 year old also doesn't have any "close" friends because we haven't lived here too long, and the friends she does have in the neighborhood's parenrs are never home so she is not allowed to their homes. My two boys have short attention spans and will be happy annoying their sisters all day long !!! My 11 year old is always happy to see her sister but gets disappointed when all her sis wants to do is talk on the phone with her boyfriend (that i.m not supposed to know about!!!)! Any good sister bonding ideas? We already have a week at the beach planned, a couple weekenders in calif. visiting family and a camping trip in the works. I need some day to day things to keep the kids busy and happy. Or My ears are bound to blow up hearing I"M BORED all summer long! Also any ideas for hubby and I? We have been 2gether 14 years and have been alone 2wice!!! no babysitters, no family, how can we get some alone time?
An activity I plan to get my 7 year old and 3 .5 year old into is the reading program at the local library. It is free, socialize with other kids and will keep them busy all summer.
Best of luck to you. Heidi
N.,
At least you have a great sense of humor about everything. I have just moved here too and am searching for something for my 13 year old daughter. There are a bunch of rec centers around the Henderson (and possibly Las Vegas, though I haven't checked on those) that have day camp and other activities plus public pools. Most day camps are for kids 12 and under and can be a lot of fun. I have also found a bunch of public parks around here that have a water play section for your boys to run around...a lot! Maybe the 16 year old can get a summer job somewhere close to your house? You can also utilize her for a few nights out for babysitting for you and your husband. For girl bonding, maybe some window shopping trips to the mall? There are a few places around the strip that have some free things, like the big cats at the MGM Grand. Try the Friday paper. It has a weekend section and lists a bunch of activities for the upcoming weekend and week. Also, Scholastic is have a huge warehouse sale starting on Saturday. Cheap books for the kids! Go to Scholastic.com and sign up for your fast pass in. I've voluteered to work there a couple of days in the next two weeks which will give me a bigger discount, plus keep me entertained. I hope some of this helps. I've got a 3 year old and a 13 year old to entertain. They don't play well together!! Good luck.
You have a good attitude there are alot of great rec centers that hold what they call teen zone I put my step daugther in when she visits for the summers and she makes friends there and then we enjoy the evening together instead of her being "bored" then there are free water parks around for the little ones i live in henderson but you could call your town and see what they offer - also a bit of responsiblity for your older girl with some small timed baby sittingfor a quick night out with your hubby and to earn her own $ for something she might like to get, that way she has earned it that will give her some independence . Teenage girls are hard no matter what so hang in there, the library alway does some freee workshops as well I also might say for your older one to get a part time job close to home if possible at the grocery store or starbucks where she could meet some friends - My little ones love to run thru the sprinkler hopping over it putting there bodies so they dont get wet silly stuff but can be fun for a few dollars at walmart I think I got the hose and sprinker for $11 and it cools them off right at home - also the dollar stores have activity books, crayons ,craft stuff for all ages we get stickers and paper and glue and glitter whatever is there and make projects to- having them make frozen OJ pops or make a bag lunck and go on a picnic - build a BIG fort out of bed sheets that take up a whole room and have a picnic under there let the big ones help the little ones to see who does the best- sidewalk chalk is GREAT for the little ones as well they can do it on a driveway or back patio and it washes right off with the hose! we practice letters and #'s with that as well-Do a treasure hunt thru the house with clues and a surprize tresure at the end-prizes Dollar store! the rec centers also have classes for the little ones for short time periods that are not too expensive and they break up the free time - again not sure where in LV you live- or take trips to the different casinos to see the free stuff and have them turn that into what we did today at the dinner table- there is NY-NY which is all about NY and the paris- and the water show out front of the bellagio is unbelivable- the shark reef at Mandalay bay is fun but need to pay admission for that but worth it ,if they like that stuff- circus circus is fun -Also the dolphins at the mirage is a great day too,that there is also admission but they are beautiful and can stay all day once your in - Hope I gave you some ideas for a fun filled summer and more!! Good luck!
go to lird museum of adventure dome
