Kids Activities on Extended Weekend

So, it is an extended weekend for you and your children and you are wracking your brain to think of what to do. Although for some people, lounging at home with popcorn and movies sounds great, this can all too often turn into a catastrophe. Kids, just like adults, need to be out and about sometimes and an entire weekend at home can turn into non-stop sibling rivalry. One of the easiest things to do is have play dates. This one, in particular, is my favorite since we have a trampoline in our backyard and we can just invite a neighbor over. The kids can play for hours on the trampoline while I can relax and drink my tea or coffee. If my husband is home, this is a great time for me to run errands. When the kids are entertained, mommy can get stuff done. It is a win/win. Also, playdates don't always have to be with neighbors. Anyone within a 5-10 minute radius makes a perfect playdate companion and some moms are completely fine with me dropping off my child. Just make sure you trust the mom that you are dropping your child off to. As a mom, and a very protective mom at that, I always like to make sure that the mom and I are on the same page. Keeping kids safe is my number one priority and anyone I leave my children with has to be parent-approved by me before I leave my child in their care. 

Free museums! Many museums are free and although you might have to spend a little extra for movies, etc., you save money by not having to pay an entrance fee. Another tip for going to museums, try and bring a few friends alone. Life is always better and more entertaining with friends. I'm a big fan of taking the kid's friends along since I feel it does tend to reduce fights among siblings as the focus goes away from how mom is treating each kid and over to, "I want to sit next to my friend at the movie." MLK weekend I took my kids with my friend and her two kids to the California Science Center. All the children were exhausted when we got home after the entire morning at the museum, and suffice to say, I had no trouble at all getting everyone to sleep super early that night. The Broad, the Getty Center, the Hammer Museum, LACMA, The California Science Center, Travel Town, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, and La Brea Tar Pits are all free museums in the Los Angeles area and super fun for kids.

Beach Picnic! This is an all-time favorite of mine and one I love to do with friends or family! What can be better than everyone getting together at the beach and there are so many beautiful beaches in Southern California to choose from. For some cost savings, prep the food yourself and transport it. And although the beach is lovely, it does tend to get really sunny at the beach so don't forget to pack umbrellas for shade, sunblock and if the weather is warm enough, bathing suits! On a beach picnic with some coworkers, I found an EZ-up and fold up tables and chairs really useful. 

How about pot luck? Is anyone you know a great cook? Are you a superb chef in the kitchen? How about letting everyone know about your tasty dishes by arranging a pot luck? Just choose a location, it can be a park, someone's house, or your own house, and have everyone bring their favorite dish! This is a great idea for getting together with your friends or getting to know the parents of your kid's friends! 

Hope you enjoy these ideas for your next 3-4 day weekend! Enjoy!