Parents often seek ideas on activities and events that they can utilize to spend quality time with their children and teens. However, when financial situations are tough within the household or money is limited for certain reasons, parents tend to get discouraged with the activities that take place around their local area. Here are some fun and engaging activities that you can perform with your child or teen to build a special relationship with them. These activities can be performed using items that you may already have around your home, requiring you to spend little to no money to partake in them.

1.  Create a scrapbook by writing stories of favorite memories that you and your child have. Allow your child to cut out magazine photos or draw pictures to display with the story. This will be a treasured gift for both you and your child throughout the years.

2.  Start your own vegetable and fruit garden. You can build a stand to sell your produce items to neighbors in your area. Money that you and your child raise on your bounty can be used to fund a summer vacation or other activity that you can your child want to share together.

3. Plan a neighborhood potluck barbeque.  Allow your child to help prepare some of the dishes that you want to serve and create fun invitations to give to your neighbors, family and friends.

4.  If you have a video camera available, allow your child to make a workout video. You can conduct sections for stretching exercises, yoga, Pilates and other engaging activities in the workout video. You can substitute a  Mexican blanket for your yoga mat needs for an appealing workout foundation.

5.  Build a fort in your front room and house a camp-in night with your child. You can watch movies or play board games together during this time. Have plenty of healthy snacks available for those little tummies.

6. Visit a local petting zoo to get your child interested in animals and their habitat. You can create a fun story with pictures that you take or allow your child to illustrate to go along with the story.

7.  Volunteer at a local animal shelter with your child. Make sure that your child’s safety is not jeopardized while performing these activities.

8.  Plant flowers for a local neighbor that may enjoy having a flower garden around their home.

9.  Have a tea party and invite friends and neighbors to join the fun. You can create fun and interesting invitations to your big event.

10.  Take an outdoor camping trip right to your own backyard. If your zoning ordinance allows, you can have a small campfire and toast marshmallows while still having the comforts of home right at your fingertips.

11.  Bake cookies that you can share at local food banks and homeless shelters. People will be very thankful for you and your child’s generosity and consideration.

12.  Visit historical places in your area and create a scrapbook about  the fun facts that you and your child have learned.

13.  Build a bird feeder using a disposable pie tin, peanut butter, bird seed and a variety of nuts.

14.  Create stepping stones using a homemade clay recipe that can be hardened. These stepping stones can be displayed around your yard, garden area or given as gifts to grandparents, neighbors or other loved ones.

15.  Use ice cube trays to make fun finger treats such as kool-aid ice cubes for hot days and finger Jell-O. Make sure if you are making Jell-O that you spray the trays thoroughly with a non-stick cooking oil.

16.  Take your child on a fishing trip in your area. You can plan a picnic to enjoy during your adventure and may even bring home some dinner if you have a good day.

17.  Make a Jell-O cake for dessert. You only need to bake a regular white cake, poke holes in the cake and fill them with a package of Jell-O right after you first mix it. After allowing the cake to set for an hour you can top with whipped cream and fresh berries. Your family will enjoy the special treat you made together.

18.  Allow your child to read you a story. Even if the child is not yet able to read, they will enjoy their time entertaining you.

19.  Give old t-shirts a new design by tie dying them and gluing sequins and beads to create fun and interesting new shirts. You can do the same thing with old jeans, shorts or sweatshirts.

20.  Paint flower pots and plant flowers in them to present to grandparents, elderly neighbors or other loved ones as a gift.

21.  Decorate a barbeque apron for dad. You can use a cheap apron and fabric paint to create a fun design that will show Dad how much he means to you. Finish the apron by attaching his favorite grilling tools to the pockets of the apron.

22.  Teach your child a new sport such as baseball, soccer, kickball, basketball or other event that they may find to be rewarding and is appropriate for their age. You can even invite other neighborhood children to get involved to make the game more exciting.

23.  Create a recipe book using some of your favorite recipes. You can use a binder and construction paper or an empty photo album to create the cookbook. Your child will treasure this book throughout the years and can easily add to it when they want to.

24.  Collect flowers around your yard and make floral arrangements for neighbors, grandparents, nursing home residents and other friends or family members. If you have extra silk flowers around your home you can choose to use these also.

25.  Create a time capsule filled with memories that you and your child have shared throughout the summer. You can include photos, pictures drawn by you and your child, as well as other mementos that you have collect through your adventures.