Kids stuff/activities

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Last Updated: Saturday, 13 April 2024 14:09
Published: Friday, 19 November 2021 01:15
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Kids stuff/activities:

Here I'll list kids specific stuff to buy or activities to participate in. I will list toys, video games, arts and craft and other kid's game equipment.

 

 

Skating:

I believe Skating is a fun thing, and kids just learn it themselves without any training. Wish it was true for adults too.

A few skating places participate in "Kids skate free" pgm for kids < 12 years of age. Here's the link: https://kidsskatefree.com/

A lot of places used to be on this list before the pandemic, but now I see just a handful of them. If you find one near you, sign up on the website. You should buy your own skates from ebay, amazon, etc so that you don't have to pay for renting them. It's really cheap to buy them.

 

 

Bowling:

Similar to Skating, there's free bowling too. Bowling is a fun thing too, though not physically exerting.

Quite a few skating places participate in "Kids bowl free" pgm for kids < 12 years of age. Here's the link: https://www.kidsbowlfree.com/

A lot more places participate in free bowling compared to free skating. During summer, you can find even more on this list. If you find one near you, sign up on the website. You should buy your own bowling shoes from ebay, amazon, etc so that you don't have to pay for renting them. It costs around $20-$30 to buy them.

 

 

Toys

I believe Toys are one of the most junk things that modern humans have come with. In old times, everything was a toy for kids. Anything around a kid that aroused his curiosity was a toy. Now we have specialty made items that are shipped from factory, that have no other use than to entertain a kid. Of course if mankind could invent such a thing that would entertain a kid forever, then we would be done with just one master toy. But kids are curious, and their curiosity gets them bored with one thing, and they move on to other things. And so goes on the business of toys. A toy is not bought for kids entertainment, but for parents satisfaction that they got something for their kid by spending their hard money money, and that shows their love for their kids. Somehow marketing for toys is so strong, that everyone is sucked into buying thousands of dollars worth of toys a year, which can probably feed a family for a year. For 2021, Toys revenues worldwide were $100B, something to ponder over.

I'm a sucker of toy ecosystem too, where I trade toys during Birthday events. Just not possible to escape it if you are happily married with kids (i.e not married to kids, but having kids from the marriage)

Popular toys

Some of the top inexpensive toys are:

  • Hot wheels cars: If you go to any grocery store, you will find these "hot wheels" branded small cars which sell for slightly under a dollar. With tax, it's usually a dollar for each car. If you have a kid who is into toys, and he needs to get a toy, everytime he's with you in a grocery store, there is nothing more economical than buying him/her these cars. They last for ever, and cost just a dollar. Every Thanksgiving, some of the Dollar store chains have sales on these cars "Buy one get one free". Buy it using such events to save even more. Matchbox cars
  • Matchbox cars: This is another brank cars, which are very similar to Hot wheels. However the quality is not that good, and they charge thesame as Hot wheels. So, no pint in getting Matchbox cars.

 

 

Lowes/HomeDepot Free Workshop for Kids once a month => on 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month from 9am to 12pm

Lowes and HomeDepot used to have Kids DIY workshop once a month on Saturday before the pandemic. They stopped doing this during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. However, they allowed you to pick the free Kit starting 2022. You had to go to the Customer Service and ask them about the workshop and the free Kit. Both the stores had enough supply where if you went within a week or so of the workshop, you would still get the free kit. These kits sell for $7-$10 in store, so it's good to get them for free. It asks you to register on the website for each workshop. I've never regeistered for any of these workshops. I just show up there, and they give free kits and the tools for the kids to start working. You don't have to do the work there. Your kids can just bring the kits home, and do it at their leisure. However, my advice is to make your kids build the thing over there, as after coming home, they will never do it.

Here are the links to register:

Lowes Kids workshop: https://www.lowes.com/diy-projects-and-ideas/workshops => Scroll to the section that shows "Kids" towards the bottom of page to regsiter. It's on 3rd Saturday of each month from 9am to 12pm.

Some past events:

 

Home Depot Kids Workshop: https://www.homedepot.com/workshops => Scroll to the bottom of page to register for Kids workshop. It's on 1st Saturday of each month from 9am to 12pm.

Some past events:

 

 

 

Deals:

 

 

2024:

 

 

 

04/11/2024: Walmart - Water Bead Blaster for $12

https://slickdeals.net/f/17401746-lightning-blaster-pro-led-red-full-semi-automatic-water-bead-blaster-kit-11-60-free-s-h-w-walmart-or-35

This was originally $80. It came down to $20 during Thanksgiving 2023, and then came to $12 on clearance. Very good reviews on slickdeals, and easily $10 worth of material. You can always return it within 90 days if you don't like it. Good to buy few for having kids party in your yard. Once gone, they won't come back at this price.

 

 

 

2022:

 

 

 

09/11/2022: Walmart - 7 feet diameter trampoline for $67

https://slickdeals.net/f/15995431-7-bounce-pro-my-first-trampoline-hexagon-blue-green-67-free-shipping

Very good price for trampoline with good reviews. You can always return it within 90 days if you don't like it. Good to buy one for having kids party in your yard.

 

 

2021:

 

 

11/16/2021: Dollar General - Hot wheels cars for 50cents/each => valid 11/18/2021 - 11/20/2021

https://slickdeals.net/f/15406018-bogo-free-hot-wheels-and-matchbox-cars-dollar-general-11-18-11-20

This is a yearly ritual at DG. They have BOGO offer at thanksgiving. Make sure to buy an even number of cars.bond