A Low Cost No Cost August
August is here. The heatwaves and torrential downpour of June and July are hopefully done. Summer camps are in full swing. We’re all getting inundated by back to school shopping ads, and cringing at how little we can afford even with the ROCK BOTTOM PRICES!!!!
You’re halfway to returning to the school routine. I’m back this month with three more tips to get you through to the finish line:
#1 – When I was a big brother in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of London & Area program, there was an emphasis on Low Cost No Cost when it came to activities. This can translate to parenthood too, with a bit of mindful planning. We all could use a reprieve financially these days. We can LCNC our summer in a few creative ways. Sign up for the Tourism London e-newsletter on their website for all sorts of free summer events. Pick up a Jumbo Box of freezies from Costco and save ice cream stores for special occasions. Take advantage of London’s nine free wading pools and seventeen spray pads (your tax dollars at work, literally).
#2 – Incorporate movement into everything. Engage in the quintessential dad experience of teaching bike riding. Make tracking steps each day a fun challenge by setting a goal and rewarding meeting or exceeding it. Try pickleball. It’s like tennis, but kids can play it. Pick up a soccer ball, a football and a basketball and teach your kids how to kick, catch, throw, dribble and shoot. Movement helps all of us in so many ways.
#3 – Keep everyone’s minds engaged, even outside of the classroom. Library cards are free, and the library is a great place to learn about new things together. Add and subtract Cheerios over breakfast. Read together every night. There are all sorts of fun kids’ trivia websites. Active intellectual stimulation is a wonderful thing.
If you can keep your costs reasonable, you can keep yourself and your kids moving, and you can keep minds engaged and learning. You will create a summer to remember while getting ready to crush September together. You’ve got this!
Jeremy McCall is a married father of 3, a social services case manager, and known as “The Dadfather”, being the founder and Past President of Dad Club London.
