Inexpensive Entertainment

It's not free, but it is cheap. Chuck E. Cheese. My 4-year-old loves it there. We don't eat, just play. For $10 you get 50 tokens, each game/ride only takes one token... so 10 bucks goes a long way.

For mine, we love nature, so for a short drive north (25 miles) Fernandina Beach, located on Amelia Island has a great state park called Fort Clinch. If you wish to enter the fort, which has soldier reenactors, daily, then it's like $5 a car, but to walk the park itself is free.
Right next to Fort Clinch is Main Beach which has a basketball/roller hockey court thats free. Also a Gym climber.
At the south end of the island is the Plantation. Theres a nature center that has creatures from local areas and information about sealife, wildlife and miles of paths nearbye; all free. If you chose to bring your own bikes, they can provide a map - otherwise, bikes are rental.
Believe it or not, Jacksonville has alot to do that's free.
There's a Family Guide thats issued monthly for free things, and it's carried in most churches and daycare centers.

We do the following when it's a nice day outside... go to a park and feed the ducks leftover bread. We take walks and collect "treasures" (rocks, leaves, etc.) and play on the playground. I put my 3 year old girl in the bike seat on my bicycle and take her for a bike ride. We go into Mommy's (or Daddy's closet) and play dress up with "adult" clothes, shoes, purses, jewelry, hankerchiefs, ties, socks, etc. We paint with water colors and washable Crayola paints (we paint pine cones, pumpkins, gourds, paper, paper bags, construction paper, leaves, whatever we can fine)... we put a trash bag that we've cut open on top of the dining room paper with plain brown Kraft paper over that so as not to ruin the wood. We play with Play Doh... we buy small puzzles for $1 at the Dollar Store or Target's $1 Spot. We kick a blow up or small rubber ball (about 12" in diameter) around the back yard. We go to the mall and play indoors on rainy weekend days with other kids at the indoor "play area." We pretend to be leaves and roll down the hill from the wind. We watch the birds and then look them up together on the Internet to find out what kind of bird it is. We talk about how lightening and thunder happen and why. Or clouds, or rain or planets, stars and moons. We play games on Noggin.com (free). We play the memory game with fewer cards at a time, to make it easier for the youngest. We go to the Cummer Museum on Tuesdays, which was always free admission day (not sure of MOSH has one, but that's another good choice).

Have fun,
K.

Besides the library, many of the major bookstores also have story time (like Barnes and Nobles and Borders)at least once a week for preschoolers. We usually show up early and play on the Thomas train tracks. Totally free.

Check with your local YMCA for activities (many are under $5 and include craft supplies). They are too young for the crafting on Saturdays at Michaels craft store or Lowe's and Home Depot on weekends - but I thought I'd mention them for someone else with kids a little older (and keep it in mind for the future).

We also will drive to different malls play areas just for a change of scenery when the weather is bad outside. When it is nice outside, we do a short road trip to a new park on the other side of town. Bring a picnic lunch and make a day of it.

Dear K.,
There are several activities available in the Jacksonville area that can get your family outside. You simply need to check a listing of events/activites that are available through the local chamber of commerce. However, for some VERY inexpensive entertainment, you can check out DVDs and the like from the library. The library may also be able to alert you to community events that may not be published in guides for tourists/visitors. Good luck and have fun!

My husband and I take our 3 to the park almost everyday, as long as it's not raining! It gets them out and some excercise!

Hi K.,

Kids Campus is an awesome place in Jacksonville. Check it out at http://www.coj.net/Departments/Recreation+and+Community+S.... My son's class went there recently after a fieldtrip to see the Nutcracker. The kids had a blast eating their lunch at the picnic area and then playing on the wide variety of equipment they provide for children. Excellent and FREE!!

K.
www.LovinLifeHome.com
800-841-5821

Hi, K.. I would suggest doing craft ideas with them. There are wonderful books about crafts you can do with your kids or things they can do by themselves if they're older. One of the titles I remember was something about what to do on a rainy day.

Peace,
syl

Okeeheelee park is nice and completely free! They have a nature center that has a few displays of animals and such and then there is a nature walking path behind it that is really nice.
If you are willing to invest some money now that will have huge payoff later, you can get annual pass to Lion Country Safari. You don't have to go through the drive thru part, you can bypass and go to the back section that has a great sprinkler park, a petting zoo, animal demonstrations, mini-golf, carousel and other kiddie amusement rides, paddle boats, feed the giraffes, etc.
If you live in the southern part of the county, I hear Sugar Sand Park in east Boca is wonderful and has many activities for kids. I am not sure if there is a cost to get into the park, others here may be able to tell you.
Now that is is holiday season, try to find neighborhoods that go all out on their outdoor decorations. I know years back, I went to a neighborhood in Jupiter off of Military trail that was phenomenal, just park and go walking around.
Hoffman's chocolate in Lake Worth has a holiday lighting display behind their shop that you can walk through and it is completely free.

Hi K.,

I don't live in Jax(we are north in Brunswick) but here are some ideas. Find a local Moms group. I think you can locate one online at momsclub.com. They always are going great things cheap or free. In Jax there has to be alot. Also check into the zoo's annual membership. I think it is $75.00 for the family and you can go as much as you like. You get discounts on ther train ride and maybe food. I know of the museums there so see if they have free admission. Also see if your local library has "free passes" to local state parks and museums. We do a lot of park/picnic in good weather and any free festival or shows here.

K.,

What about going to a number of parks. They have nature trails, bike paths, play grounds and some parks even having fishing spots. Then there is the option of just bike riding around your own neighborhood.

Good luck.

S.
35 y/o SAHM of 3 boys 14, 6 and 3

Hi. The parks, beach and libraries are "free" (because we pay for them with our taxes...)and wonderful places to go to. But there is the backyard, if you have one...pack a picnic basket and turn the hose on...it was one of my favorite activities as a kid and with my kids... We're in a safe place, the children are having fun, the adults are relaxed...Have fun in your own backyard!

Advice from a Grandmother. I suggest that you get the AAA trip book for Jacksonville for ideas Although I am not familiar with the area, I am sure you will find a childrens museum for the colder days. You can bundle them up and take them to the public parks. There are many and the kids would love playing there. Many shopping malls have childrens play areas (just don't go into the stores!)

Join the zoo and go often (take a picnic lunch). The animals will entertain the kids for you. Zoo membership may also give you discounted admission to museums.

Visit the relatives. Make play dates with other Moms. The toys are always better at someone else's home.

About me: Mother of 2 adults, grandmother to 2 wonderful grandchilden (9 mos & 2 years old), married 39 years.

Now that the weather is a bit cooler, the number of people crowding the beaches has probably dropped dramatically. That makes it IDEAL for flying kites! You can pick up a cheap one (or 2 or 3 for later) at the dollar stores, usually. Or Walmart. Then just go out there and let it fly. The kids will love it. You might get a little sand in your shoes, but so what? They might get distracted after a few minutes of it, but they will find shells on the beach (maybe) and see lots of gulls. They will love it. And you don't have to spend a LOT of time at it, just going as a family will get the "memory" juices flowing...

The beach is a totally different experience in the cooler months than in the summer.

even just walking around the grounds at an office park, hiospital, government center, etc, is an adventure! make sure to point out EVERYTHING you see (talk talk talk)..

sidewalk chalk and bubbles are good to bring on your adventures and even a pail to collect shells, pebbles, leaves, flowers, acorns, etc...

There are a couple of moms groups thru meetup.com in the Jacksonville area. If they are anything like my moms group there will be tons of ideas, playdates and such for free. We have lots of craft play-dates, meetups at parks so the kids can play together and other creative ideas for outings. Today we are going to a cookie decorating party at one of the mom's houses and tomorrow is a craft project in the park. :)