We try to spend money judiciously on things that we can't borrow from the library or friends, can't be salvaged from recyclables, and can't be found for free online, but which will - we hope! - give the kids pleasure for many hours over the summer.
MUSIC
Our kids want to learn to play music, but there's no way around it - we simply can't afford to spend money on in-person lessons for all our kids. We're also daunted by the fact many families invest considerable money in lessons and instruments, only to have the kids lose interest and give up quickly.
A computer game that teaches basic piano skills came out a few years back. Called Piano Made Easy, it supposedly teaches actual skills in a fun way. Four different users can log into the game, and they can share a single instrument. At $120, I figure it's worth the investment to see if any of my kids really will persist, practice, and maintain their interest in the piano. If they finish the game and want to continue, we can re-explore the piano lesson issue.
CALLIGRAPHY
We're also going to do calligraphy this summer. I learned how to write using calligraphic pens as a kid, myself, and it remained a hobby of mine even into the early years of my marriage.
We're starting with old, lined notepads my mother-in-law gave me, and we'll only progress to fancy paper after they've gained some mastery. We got a calligraphy book out of the library geared specifically towards kids. However, I did have to spend about $10 on money on calligraphic markers. That's not much, but if they do well with those, I might splurge on a real nib pen and ink later in the summer. Together, the heavier parchment-style paper and fountain pen with ink would cost about an additional $50 or so.
I gave the kids their first calligraphy lesson today. We focused on holding the pen properly, using the lines to guide us, and then made zig-zags across the page. I emphasized pulling the pen instead of pushing, as well. Only one kid didn't like it - but he's the one going to camp anyway, so I'm not particularly concerned. My youngest is struggling a bit - they're just 6 years old and a lefty, to boot - but still wants to continue. The other two are fascinated. I expect I'll have to spend hours overseeing this activity and teaching them techniques during the first month or so of the summer, but hopefully - hopefully! - it will become an independent activity by the end of the summer.
SPORTS EQUIPMENT
We'll have to get new swimsuits for the kids later this week, and I signed two kids up for lessons today at the local public pool. We've tried to teach them all to swim on our own, and we haven't been entirely successful. This was the cheapest option for lessons, and close to home. For families that qualify, there are even scholarships at L.A. City Pools, which would make this an even cheaper option.
We also purchased rollerblades for the one kid who didn't have them yet. Technically, it was a birthday present, but we had them in mind for summer use. The kids love rollerblading in the late afternoon sunshine. It's excellent exercise and super-fun.
ART SUPPLIES
I went to both Blick and JoAnn's last week to pick up a few items in addition to those aforementioned calligraphy pens. I got some items for needlework and beading, as well as a new exacto knife for yours truly. Last summer, I couldn't find my exacto, and I used scissors or paring knives, which were nowhere near as effective as the real thing for cutting out inset areas.
The aisles were packed with tons of prettily boxed sets for making birdhouses, models, dollhouses, jewelry boxes, and so on. A lot of those pre-packed projects looked really cute, but I steered clear of them because they are often far more expensive then making them from separately purchased materials. I suppose you pay for the convenience, so they might be practical for some people.
I also bought a book for each kid about drawing, and we'll probably get some cheap coloring books, too.
SCIENCE PROJECT MATERIALS
My kids really like science, so I got a few odds and ends like a kit to build your own robot and a prism. I might have to buy some items for additional projects later, particularly one about circuits that caught my kids' eyes, but I'm hoping most of our supplies will be normal materials you can find around the house.
Readers, what items will you invest a bit of money in this summer?