Cheerful Frugality Splashes
Several of our pool buddies have dropped their YMCA memberships. Thanks, economic downturn!
We'd still love to meet our friends in a cool environment. Here are some of the free or cheap water play ideas I've been brainstorming:
Backyard pools: We keep an inflatable kiddie pool for easy play. I'm amazed at how relatively cheap the DIY above-ground pools have become.
Slip N Slide: I found one at a yard sale, and we've grown to love it. There is less drowning risk if you have little ones underfoot, and kids stay active by running nonstop. Downside: higher water bill.
Water guns: so cheap, so classic. I find these all summer at yard sales, but even a new 2-pack costs $3 at Kmart.
Public fountains, spraygrounds, and splash pads: I love these new trends located outside shopping centers, public buildings, and parks. Meet up with a picnic lunch.
Rivers and lakes: check the US Corps of Engineers for beach access charged by the carload. State or city parks may also have streams perfect for wading without charge.
How does your family stay cool without a pool? It's June, and we have 2 more months of sweltering heat to go!
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9 Responses to “Cheerful Frugality Splashes”
June 15th, 2009 at 7:33 am
I’m fortunate that my parents have an in-ground pool that we can go over and use anytime we want, but there are still times that you want to see your kids in your own yard enjoying the summer and the water and whatnot.
At our house, I’ve used a combo of a cheap plastic wading pool, a slip-n-slide, and a crazy sprinkler for kids that has heads that spray in all different directions. It does raise the water bill a bit when we break out the slip-n-slide and the sprinkler, but compared to the cost of driving somewhere to a water-park, it’s still much cheaper.
Another cheap alternative I’ve found that my mom used to let us do way-back-when….if it’s a light summer shower and no lightning is involved, let the kids go play in the rain! I absolutely loved it when I was a kid and have wonderful memories of it because it seemed so magical, so on the occasions that it’s just a summer rain and not a storm, if my son wants to go out and play, I see no harm whatsoever in it! And it’s even more fun to let the kid come out in me and go join him! I promise, you’ll smile more than you have in ages!
June 15th, 2009 at 8:24 am
It’s June and you only have 2 more months of sweltering?
We have at least 3 here in South Texas.
We keep cool around the house by keeping our hair damp throughout the day; keeping a kiddie pool on the deck to splash water on our arms, legs, and faces; and using the hose to spray down the deck periodically.
We’re also trying to get our outside work done early or late in the day so we can have a lazy siesta during the hottest hours: lots of reading for this homeschooling family!
June 15th, 2009 at 8:57 am
The sprinkler has made a big come back at our house! LOL I forgot how much fun running through the sprinler can be! Now that I have a little one, I don’t even have to come up with an excuse! LOL
June 15th, 2009 at 9:28 am
We set the kiddie pool up on the back deck so the kids can be outside even when I can’t (they’re easy to watch from the kitchen, my “office” or the living room) and we love to put the sprinklers by the swings – you get a little breeze from swinging and a little splash:)
June 15th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
When I was a little girl we’d take our baths with the cool water hose, out in the yard.
We’d also hook the sprinkler up to the hose and run around in it. No fancy dancing daisy sprinklers. We had plenty of fun!
There is a lot to say about wasting water these days though.
There’s always going to matinees or the cold library.
June 16th, 2009 at 8:22 am
I have an old clawfoot bathtub sitting in the back driveway. I only need to put the hardward on it plug the hole. Then fill it up & soak MaryJaneFarm style. I’m hoping to finish it next week.
June 16th, 2009 at 11:34 am
Our local dollar store has 4 packs of splash balls. I got several packs for the kids!
And we slip n slide, too.
Something else we do – eat frozen veggies (snap peas in the pod, or green beans). They make a great snack on hot days!
June 19th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Hi Meredith,
I was just wanting to know if your blog was having problems as I haven’t been able to access it for quite a few days! Sorry to ask here!
Thanks, Wilm in NZ
June 20th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
When my children were smaller they sometimes thought it a great treat to put on their swimming suits and play in a bathtub full of cool water- inside. We didn’t need sunscreen.=)
Instead of squirt guns, you can buy cheap squirt bottles and just fill them up with ice-water.
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