FRUGAL AND FUN

FRUGAL AND FUN, connecting with your family, connecting with yourself. We can all benefit from participating in some of our favorite childhood activities like flying a kite, blowing bubbles and yes, even coloring.





Ask yourself this, when was the last time you colored with your children? Did you know coloring is beneficial not just for children but for adults as well? 
De-stress- Coloring a bit of time each week is a great way to slow down and spend time chatting with your children. I find that my children and I have the most quirky chats during this quiet activity,  Even taking that half hour or so to not worry about money, or work, or the stressors in life will give your mind quite a boost from all that clouds it. It can also give your body a boost in that coloring and losing yourself has been compared to Meditation. One of the benefits of medication is a natural way to lower blood pressure. I see this happen whenever my husband sits down with our children and colors with them. He normally has high blood pressure but I can see the shift in his posture after just a few minutes.  Co-ordination, Grip and strength all of which are great benefits for children who are working on their fine motor skills. But for adults with Arthritis or related issues working on coloring a few times a week can help improve your grip and strength , it also strengthens your mind, and sparks creativity. Team work-Yes I know what does teamwork have to do with coloring? Well if you have ever shared a coloring page with a child you will understand it takes teamwork. We as adults are programmed,  an elephant is gray not red. We have a hard time even though it may just be a picture letting children color a picture the way they see the world, especially if we have a stake in it because it will be "wrong". Children are much more creative then we are , and their imaginations are not limited to seeing anything in one way, they might make that elephant blue, or purple. The challenge for us as adults is too just stand back and let them but still be an active participant in the team. A great lesson on letting go of control.

I recycle lots of goodies for our craft bins, sometimes its a free for all , at times its organized with a specific goal.  We love crafts in our home, and not just the kids, me as well. Its one of the things that I don't need to force participation in, especially with the age span of our children it's getting more challenging to do things as a family , and that won't break the bank.  

I'll be linking tons of pages that I've come across ,some of which We've tried, but all are inexpensive and fun ideas to help you interact with your children and learn from them.