I am going to be contributing to the Parenting Column every week for the next quarter.
I have “raised” two families. The first set of children, five in all, are in their twenties now. But today, I am a single mother of an eleven-year-old daughter.
I am also a full-time student in the academic transfer program with an emphasis on psychology at SCC-Beatrice. My goal is to get a Master’s degree in Social Work so I can get employment as a family counselor. I will be sharing parenting advice and tips that have worked for me while raising my children.
For my first entry, I wanted to share with busy, stressed-out students the many wonderful activities you can do with your little ones.
Free or low-cost things to do with the kids
Free
- Take the kids to church. Whatever your denomination, there is a church for you in your area. All have children’s programs.
- Ride a bike. There are a couple of bike trails through Beatrice and a many bike trails through the Lincoln area. Pick one and go exploring with the kids.
- Go to a park. There are many parks throughout the state—Lincoln has over 100 parks listed, Beatrice has 13 parks listed, Milford has 2 city parks with amenities for children and York has 9 parks listed. Plenty of things to do with the kids.
- Gage County Historical Museum. Take an afternoon to explore the history of Gage County.
- Homestead National Monument. Saturdays are always free to go explore history and nature.
- Public Library. When was the last time you and your little one spent some time with a good book?
- Pumpkin patches are opening up all around the state.
- Get with neighbors or friends and have a cook out.
- National Museum of Roller Skating. At 48th Street and Lincoln.
- Lester F. Larsen Tractor Test and Power Museum. At 35th Fair Street on UNL-East Campus.
- The Sheldon Museum of Art. At 12th Street in Lincoln.
- The State Capitol. At 1445 K Street in Lincoln. Free Guided Tours.
- Many of the fast food restaurants in Lincoln have free indoor playgrounds for inclement weather. The only cost would be the price of a meal to be eaten there.
Low cost
- Lincoln Children’s Museum. At 1420 P Street in Lincoln. $8 – $10 will get you a full afternoon of hands-on experiences for you and the little ones in your life.
- State Museum of Natural History. Morrill Hall and Mueller Planetarium. From $6.00 up to $20.00 per person depends on age.
- The Dinosaur Museum and Heartland Haunt. 923 238th Street, Milford. From $7.95 plus tax up to $16.95 plus tax per person depends on age.
- Try Roller Skating again. $4.00 and up for several hours of roller skating fun.
- Go to the cinema. There are many theaters that charge under $10 for a family type movie. When was the last time your little one got to sit in a movie theater to watch the chipmunks?
- Plenty of chances for your little one to “act” like an animal at one of the three zoos in the area. The Henry Doorly Zoo and IMAX, 3701 S. 10th in Omaha. (Cost is $4.00 to $17.95 per person depending on age and type of ticket purchased), The Lincoln Children’s Zoo, 1222 S. 27th Street in Lincoln (Cost is $6.25 or $7.25 depending on age; train is $2.25 or $2.75 plus tax depending on age per ride; horse ride is $4.00 plus tax per ride); the Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari, 16406 292 Street, Ashland. (Cost is $4.50 to $6.50 per person depending on age).