Summer Projects

Making a summertime memory doesn't have to be done in a day. Taking on a family project like a garden or a family craft that can be used as a gift later in the year can be a great way to bond together as a family.

We would love to hear about your ideas for taking on a project with your family. Your ideas contribute to the Vacation Planning Guide!

Disney has a website with some great family fun activities. From building a clubhouse to starting your own pumpkin patch there are some great ideas to start your family project. Combining learning and play family activities can be designed with a larger purpose in mind!

Crafts can also be a great way to let your children explore their creative side while having a barrel of fun.

Backyard Nature Crafts Who needs to purchase craft supplies? Nature can provide them just by exploring your own backyard!

Backyard Forts: Is building in your plans? Find all the how-to's here with lots of great ideas from forts to playhouses!

About.Com offers a great list of fun ideas to try for crafts and summer projects. Check it out!

Tell us about your fun projects!

Back to Vacation Guide

Great Summer Games for the Whole Family

They say the family that plays together stays together. Remember the games you used to play as a child? As a culture, we have become so accustomed to being entertained, that we have lost touch with all the great interactive games of old. Here are some ideas we found on various game sites to get you started; we encourage you to share yours as well:

Ring Toss - All you need is a stake and some "rings" to toss. Horseshoes would work just as well.


Mother May I? - The adult can play the part of the "Mother" who instructs the children to take steps, or hops, towards her. For example the "Mother" could say "Take five baby steps towards me." or "Take two bunny hops towards me." Meanwhile the child she speaks to must reply with "Mother may I?" before proceeding, otherwise they are kicked out of the game. The last child standing or first child to reach "Mother" wins.


Treasure Hunt - In the mood for some summer adventure? Organize a game of treasure hunt. You draw up a map and burying the treasure throughout the yard. You can leave small mounds of dirt where each treasure is buried to make it easier for the kids to find the buried treasure. Or you could mark the area around the buried treasure as another way of giving your kids a hint. The actual treasures can be things like marbles, beaded necklaces, quarter machine toys, coins, and other small objects.

Scavenger Hunt - What could be more fun than going on a scavenger hunt? Scavenger hunts can be simple or hard depending on the "clues". Simple clues would be "Find something blue.", "Find something soft.", or "Find something shiny." Harder clues could be made up using a combination of two easy clues "Find something blue and shiny." You can divide the teams up with one adult and one child per team. Whoever finds the most items or finds them all first wins.

Hide and Seek - The ultimate hunting game has always been "hide and seek". One player is the counter who must cover their eyes while the others hide. The player who is found first becomes the counter during the next round. Adults can easily participate in a game of hide and seek, either as an individual game or as a team game with their child.

Kick Ball - With just a ball and a few family members you can have hours of fun and competition playing this variation of baseball. Instead of hitting a small ball with a bat, you kick the ball and then run the bases!

Relays:

Egg Relay - Two spoons, one egg, are the basics of the classic egg relay game. To play a game of egg relay with adults and children you can have the adults line up in a row and the children line up in another, facing each other. Give each child a spoon with a boiled egg and have them race to their adult partner meanwhile trying not to drop their egg. The first one to reach their assigned adult wins. Then you play again allowing the adult to carry the egg on the spoon back to the child.


Three Legged Race - The three legged race is a classic summer barbeque game where two people tie one of their legs to the other and race to the finish line. This game can be played by both adults and children though I would not recommend mixing the two unless the child is older or the adults understand that they need to keep pace with the child and not the other way around.


Water Balloon Toss - Looking for a way to cool down at your summer barbeque? A game of water balloon toss may be just what you need to cool off during the warm summer months. Two people stand within feet of each other and one tosses their water balloon over to their partner who in turns catches the balloon. If they are successful they each take one step back and repeat. If they aren't successful the water balloon bursts and someone has just managed to cool themselves off meanwhile being kicked out of the game. The last dry pair is the winner. Kids and adults can play this game together or separated by age group.

Tag Remember how much fun it was to play a simple game of tag? When kids of decades past wanted to play something fun outdoors, tag was always at the top of the list.

Hide-and-Go-Seek A favorite outdoor game from yester-year. Find a good hiding spot where no one else would think to look, and to make the game even more challenging, move to a new hiding spot after the seeker begins searching.

Ghosts in the Graveyard This outdoor game that kids loved to play on a moonlit night. One person was chosen to be the ghost, and everyone else hid in the yard. The ghost would begin counting, one-o'clock, two-o'clock, three-o'clock, and so on until shouting midnight! At that point the ghost would search the yard for kids to run after and tag. Once they were tagged they also became ghosts who went in search of those hiding in the bushes and elsewhere in the yard.

Looking for more great fun? Check out 50 Ideas for Old-Fashioned Summer Fun

Summer Vacation Planning Guide

Take a Break without breaking the bank!

Vacation is a time for taking a break from our routines of life to reconnect with the important things in life, like family and friends while taking time to unwind and get rejuvenated. Virginia Saves is here to help your family create a vacation to remember!

• MAKE A MEMORY
• TRAVEL SAVINGS
• PLANNING FOR VACATION COSTS
• STRENGTHENING FAMILY TIES

Fun Doesn't Have to Cost Money

One of the best things that has come from our economic reality has been that people are rethinking their priorities and getting connected to those things that are most important.  We all need a bit of fun in our lives, but we don't always need the gadgets, the game systems, the expensive tickets to enjoy a bit of relaxation. 

Virginia Saves is here to help you find some great ways to enjoy some fun without busting the bank.  This is also a great opportunity to teach children to prioritize their spending choices and to think in advance about activities they can do that don't cost a money.

Here are some ideas that we have collected, but we would love to hear yours as well:

Fun for Free Box: is a fun parent activity sheet that you can use with your children to plan ahead for activities that don't cost money.  You can create a box of activities you can do as a family and then an individual box of ideas that the child can use when they are bored and looking for something to do.

Libraries:  Check out your local library for fun free activities.

Money Bunnies:  Integrating a little learning as you plan your vacation can be a great opportunity to communicate to your children the things you value most.  To get you started, take a look at Money Bunnies Take a Vacation.  A fun story with some underlying principles that you can introduce to your children.  Parents can download a presenter's guide and additional activities to follow up the story here.

Parks: You might want to look into what local Parks and Recreation facilities have to offer.  Even state and national parks frequently offer some great free or low cost activities for kids.  Plan a picnic and a day of romp and fun.  Look to some of our family games section to integrate some fun with the great food.

Clubs: Have children become involved in a local kids club.  Churches and civic organizations often offer free fun things to do for kids in the summer.

Local Free Activities: Look to your local community calendar to see if there are activities offered in your city http://www.americantowns.com/ is a great website to check out activities not only in your town but also in other towns you might visit.  During the summertime you will find that these calendars can fill up with great fun.

Movies and Entertainment:  Do you enjoy concerts, ball games and plays?  Ask the management if they don't have volunteer usher positions that would allow you to enjoy the event without having to incur the costs!  Also check out Free Summer Movies: Regal Cinemas offer free family movies during the summer time.

More Ideas: Disney Family Fun Page: Great ideas for making summertime fun.

Share your favorite ways to enjoy free summer fun.  If you try out some of our suggestions tell us what you think.

Summer Projects

Making a summertime memory doesn't have to be done in a day.  Taking on a family project like a garden or a family craft that can be used as a gift later in the year can be a great way to bond together as a family.

We would love to hear about your ideas for taking on a project with your family. 
Your ideas contribute to the 2013 Vacation Planning Guide! Send us a tweet or email. Contact Virginia Saves.

Disney has a website with some great family fun activities.  From building a clubhouse to starting your own pumpkin patch there are some great ideas to start your family project.  Combining learning and play family activities can be designed with a larger purpose in mind!

Or, if you want to stay a little closer to home, Virginia has a lot to offer.  Check out the summer festivals, beach and local community events.

Tell us about your fun projects you have planned for the summer, and we will post some of our ideas on Facebook.com/Virginiasaves.

For more ideas, check out these ideas at:
Parenting.com: 101 Fun things to do in the summer.

Plan to have FUN and SAVE this summer.

Kids in the Kitchen

Summertime can be a great time to introduce kids to fun recipes that are easy to create.  The extra time afforded as kids are out of school is great to begin training them to create snacks and meals on their own.  As parents, we want to see our children learn the life skills they need to succeed. 
Here are a list of websites we found.  If you have some favorite recipes, please share with our readers!

Easy Kids Recipes  Check out their suggestions for great fun foods for the fourth of July!

Kids Health Has a lot of great healthy recipe ideas that kids can create for themselves

Kids Recipes A-Z has fun ideas from Bunny Salad to Octopus dogs.  Great cooking with a little whimsy!

Recipes from Disney Family Fun:  Disney has some great fun ways for kids to get started preparing snacks and special foods. 

Nick Jr. has a wealth of recipes that are fun for kids.

Great Summer Games for the Whole Family

They say the family that plays together stays together.   Remember the games you used to play as a child?  As a culture, we have become so accustomed to being entertained, that we have lost touch with all the great interactive games of old.  Here are some ideas we found on various game sites to get you started; we encourage you to share yours as well:

Ring Toss - All you need is a stake and some "rings" to toss. Horseshoes would work just as well.


Mother May I? - The adult can play the part of the "Mother" who instructs the children to take steps, or hops, towards her. For example the "Mother" could say "Take five baby steps towards me." or "Take two bunny hops towards me." Meanwhile the child she speaks to must reply with "Mother may I?" before proceeding, otherwise they are kicked out of the game. The last child standing or first child to reach "Mother" wins.


Treasure Hunt - In the mood for some summer adventure? Organize a game of treasure hunt. You draw up a map and burying the treasure throughout the yard. You can leave small mounds of dirt where each treasure is buried to make it easier for the kids to find the buried treasure. Or you could mark the area around the buried treasure as another way of giving your kids a hint. The actual treasures can be things like marbles, beaded necklaces, quarter machine toys, coins, and other small objects.

Scavenger Hunt - What could be more fun than going on a scavenger hunt? Scavenger hunts can be simple or hard depending on the "clues". Simple clues would be "Find something blue.", "Find something soft.", or "Find something shiny." Harder clues could be made up using a combination of two easy clues "Find something blue and shiny." You can divide the teams up with one adult and one child per team. Whoever finds the most items or finds them all first wins.

Hide and Seek - The ultimate hunting game has always been "hide and seek". One player is the counter who must cover their eyes while the others hide. The player who is found first becomes the counter during the next round. Adults can easily participate in a game of hide and seek, either as an individual game or as a team game with their child.

Kick Ball - With just a ball and a few family members you can have hours of fun and competition playing this variation of baseball.  Instead of hitting a small ball with a bat, you kick the ball and then run the bases!

Relays:

Egg Relay - Two spoons, one egg, are the basics of the classic egg relay game. To play a game of egg relay with adults and children you can have the adults line up in a row and the children line up in another, facing each other. Give each child a spoon with a boiled egg and have them race to their adult partner meanwhile trying not to drop their egg. The first one to reach their assigned adult wins. Then you play again allowing the adult to carry the egg on the spoon back to the child.


Three Legged Race - The three legged race is a classic summer barbeque game where two people tie one of their legs to the other and race to the finish line. This game can be played by both adults and children though I would not recommend mixing the two unless the child is older or the adults understand that they need to keep pace with the child and not the other way around.


Water Balloon Toss - Looking for a way to cool down at your summer barbeque? A game of water balloon toss may be just what you need to cool off during the warm summer months. Two people stand within feet of each other and one tosses their water balloon over to their partner who in turns catches the balloon. If they are successful they each take one step back and repeat. If they aren't successful the water balloon bursts and someone has just managed to cool themselves off meanwhile being kicked out of the game. The last dry pair is the winner. Kids and adults can play this game together or separated by age group.

Tag  Remember how much fun it was to play a simple game of tag? When kids of decades past wanted to play something fun outdoors, tag was always at the top of the list.

Hide-and-Go-Seek A favorite outdoor game from yester-year.  Find a good hiding spot where no one else would think to look, and to make the game even more challenging, move to a new hiding spot after the seeker begins searching.

Ghosts in the Graveyard  This outdoor game that kids loved to play on a moonlit night. One person was chosen to be the ghost, and everyone else hid in the yard. The ghost would begin counting, one-o'clock, two-o'clock, three-o'clock, and so on until shouting midnight! At that point the ghost would search the yard for kids to run after and tag. Once they were tagged they also became ghosts who went in search of those hiding in the bushes and elsewhere in the yard.

Looking for more great fun?  Check out 50 Ideas for Old-Fashioned Summer Fun

Computer Games

If you have a child that is "plugged in", finding computer games that are age appropriate and child friendly can be a challenge.  Check out some of these free locations for games that can be entertaining and sometimes educational too. 

Free summer fun computer games for kids to mix up some of the activities in the summer. 

From Scooby's Rippin' Ride to Mower Mayhem to puzzles and word games all appropriate for kids.  Check out this summer games selection from Primary Games!

The US Mint has a great selection of fun games that teach about money, art, history and just plain action games.  Play When Pigs Fly to build your own plane an see how long you can keep it in the air.  The Lewis and Clark Adventure can inspire the explorer in you.  Join the journey into the old west and overcome the challenges that were faced by Lewis and Clark.  Many more games at H.I.P. Pocket Change 

The FINRA Investor Education Foundation has a website Dollars from Sense a beginners guide to getting started with money management, saving and investing.  Great information for the whole family.

Learn for Good is a great website with a great array of fun online games for kids.  Some educational and some just plain fun.

Vacation Savings Guide

Take a Break without breaking the bank!  

Vacation is a time for taking a break from our routines of  life to reconnect with the important things in life, like family and friends while taking time to unwind and get rejuvenated.  Virginia Saves is here to help your family create a vacation to remember!

• MAKE A MEMORY
• TRAVEL SAVINGS
• PLANNING FOR VACATION COSTS
•  STRENGTHENING FAMILY TIES

Staycation Ideas

Fun can reside in one’s own backyard!  As parents, you can use the summer staycation to help your child explore their interests  Check out some of the great arts, crafts, exploration activities right in your own area.  Staycations can provide great fun with family without the costs of travel. 

The trick to a successful staycation is to create the mood of a traditional vacation.  Breaking from routine and enjoying fun activities together as a family. 

Backyard Parties  Great ideas for connecting with family and friends right at home.

Backyard Recreations:  Having a party or just enjoying games as a family can be a great way to create summertime memories.

Explore your own Backyard:  One of my favorite things to do is to investigate some of the history of my hometown and visit historical locations.  Check out your local historical society or search for a book on the history of your area.  Roadside America can also introduce you to some oddities that might be right in your own area!  Finding that hidden treasure in your community can be a great adventure.

Family Reunions:  You don't have to wait until Thanksgiving and Christmas to reconnect with extended family.  Family reunions allow your children to connect with the roots of their family tree (and perhaps all the branches as well).  Check out this website with all the resources you need to plan the perfect family reunion: http://family-reunion.com/  From concept to the actual event, there are lots of details to cover.  The planning can become a family project with every member contributing something to the event.

Summertime Projects:  Summertime can provide the time needed to tackle some of those projects.  Doing projects together as a family can be a great way to create a memory this summer.

Random Holiday:  I enjoy this one.  Plan a day several weeks in advance for a special day to honor someone you love.  It could be a grandparent, Dad or some other important person in your life.  Spend time preparing a celebration that will show them how much they mean to you.  Because it is random, it adds to the celebration - they will never expect it, but your family can have a great time as you plan and anticipate the event!

Pitch a Tent: You don't need to leave town to go camping.  Consider camping in your own back yard.  Just the very act of leaving the house can create a sense of adventure and fun.

If you are looking for some additional inspiration check out Smart Ideas for a Summer Staycation.

Building Family Ties

You don't have to wait until Thanksgiving and Christmas to reconnect with distant family members.  Summertime can be a great way to build family ties while strengthening the relationships in your own household.  Planning a family vacation, reunion or just a gathering in your back yard can be a great way to connect family members to their extended roots.  Here are some great ideas for getting started:

1.  Host a family picnic:  Invite family to a family picnic.  You can make it as simple or elaborate as you desire.  If family are located close, you can have them bring a dish to pass and share the costs or you can provide the food and have them contribute the activities or decorations.  The more every member is involved in the planning the better.

2.  Plan a family reunion: Check out this website with all the resources you need to plan the perfect family reunion: http://family-reunion.com/  From concept to the actual event, there are lots of details to cover.  The planning can become a family project with every member contributing something to the event. 

3.  Combine a Vacation:  Sharing a vacation can be a great way to create family memories!  Choose a destination and start making plans.  To help inspire you, check out http://www.favoritefamilyvacations.com/  as a resource for ideas to build your vacation plan.  Pick a location in the middle or go to a favorite spot.  The possibilities are endless!
Check out our vacation planning tools in the guide as well.  Share your stories with us!

Back to Vacation Guide

Make a Memory

Vacation is not just about getting away, it is about connecting with the important things in life.  The pace of everyday routines can allow us to take family and values for granted.  Summer is about getting back to the essence of who we are and creating memories to last a lifetime.   Think about your happiest childhood memories, weren't they when you felt loved and connected as a family?  Summertime is a great time to make these memories for your children.  Check out some of these great resources:

Fun Doesn't Have to Cost Money

Great Free Summer Computer Games

Games Adults and Children Can Play

Summertime Projects

Summertime Recipes for fun

Back to the Vacation Guide

More Winning Pigs!

New River Valley Piggy Bank Pagent Winners!



The New River Valley Piggy Bank Pageant was a great success. There were over 100 entries! Check out the creative banks. A special thank you to the sponsors of the the New River Valley Piggy Bank Pageant!

Next year, several areas will coordinate efforts for a statewide Virginia Saves Piggy Bank Pageant. Look for details in early 2012.

And the Winners Are. . .

Virginia Saves is pleased to announce the 2^nd Annual Piggy Bank Pageant Winners!

The goal of the Piggy Bank Pageant was to inspire children to create savings goals and to develop the habit of regular savings for their future by engaging in building their own savings bank. Children tend to be early adopters of social campaigns and can be a great influence on family behavior. Money has power because it gives people (older and younger) decision making opportunities. Teaching wise spending and saving has a great impact on your child’s financial future than investing.

BB&T donated savings bonds for Virginia Saves to award as prizes in the Piggy Bank Pageant. BB&T has been an active partner with Virginia Saves. BB&T created new accounts for our Virginia Savers. These special accounts will really grow dollars that are saved.

The Savings Bonds provided by BB&T will be presented to the winners of each category.

·         $100 Savings Bond for the 1^st Place Winners

·         $75 Savings Bond for the 2^nd Place Winners

·         $50 Savings Bonds for the 3^rd Place Winners

A BIG thanks to BB&T for the prizes and their support of Virginia Saves! Eight winners will receive the Savings Bonds.

2^nd-3^rd Graders

Tied for 1^st place: Myra 

Name of bank: Piggy

Why savings is important: ‘So you can get what you want.’

What are you saving for right now? DSI



Tied for 1^st place: Brooke

Name of bank: Pepper

Why savings is important: “so you can buy a home.”

What are you saving for right now? A real dog



2^nd place: Jacob 

Name of bank: Hotdog

Why savings is important: For College

What are you saving for right now? PSXL/College





3rd place: Erin 

Name of bank: Piggy

 4^th-6^th Graders

Tied for 1^st place: McKenzie 

Name of bank: Pigy if a boy; Swirl if a girl

Why savings is important: “So you can go to college.”

What are you saving for right now? A horse



Tied for 1^st place: Shenan 

Name of bank: SD Bank

Why savings is important: “Because if you need money, you have some.”

What are you saving for right now? Phone, electric scooter and a car



2^nd Place: Paige

Name of bank: Meatloaf

Why savings is important: College, a car, a house

What are you saving for right now?  A car



3^rd Place: Hilary

Name of bank: Miss Pink

Why savings is important: “You can save for something coming when you grow up.”

What are you saving for right now? A car

Congratulations Winners!! The entries could be any style or theme. You were very creative and have great savings goals!

Parents can find more at Parent Resources for more information about instilling smart money habits in children while they are still young. By the time teens take the Personal Finance Class in High School, they have already established their 'money values'. Use fun activities like the Piggy Bank Pageant to talk about money with children!

Virginia Saves will be coordinating efforts with other areas of our great Commonwealth to include a State wide Piggy Bank Pageant in 2012.



More is 'Caught' Than 'Taught'

Virginia Saves equips Savers with the resources needed to pay off past debts, pay for current needs and wants, and invest for the future. As adults, we actually have to reprogram how we deal with stress and create a new plan. The spending plan is a powerful tool to help reach goals!!

Part of this vision is to supply ideas to parents. The next generation is watching and learning how to handle money. More is ‘caught’ than ‘taught’. If children develop healthy spending and saving habits as young people, they can avoid some of the money troubles their parents have experienced.  Take advantage of teachable moments that will instill good money habits with our children.

How can children learn the value of money?

·    Be realistic. Tell children that they cannot have everything they want. Wants will always outnumber available dollars!

·    Give commission. ‘If you do not work, you do not get paid!’ Teach children the value of work and that work produces money.

·    Have a family spending plan. Living on a budget needs to be modeled to children. This may involve telling the adults in the family that wants will not fit into this month’s spending plan.

·    Require calm money discussions. Talk with respect and without emotional outbursts or manipulation when talking about money in the home.

·    Set family financial goals. ‘When debt free, we will save to go to Disney!’ Get everyone on board to think of strategies to reach the goal.

·    Have fun while cutting back. Have a camp- out in the back yard and make S’mores. This spring break, have a ‘stay-cation’ and visit the sights close to home. Do not forget to pack a picnic lunch!!

Her are a few great resources for parents with young children:

Kids Count- many links to great parent resources

Children and Family- articles from Crown Financial Ministries to help train children (and parents) Children and Finances Part 1
Children and Finances Part 2

Handipoints- training good behavior in children through fun activities

Money Lessons for Children- Great resources for parents and teachers for financial skills

Thrive by 5- great activities and lessons you can use in your home to train pre-schoolers in financial basics

Money Mammals- website to help encourage both savings and giving for children. 

Parents are a child’s first teacher. They will learn more about how to handle money from you than from a high-school Personal Finance Class. Talk to children about smart money choices and help them develop good money habits!

Enroll at www.virginiasaves.org/enroll to receive a monthly newsletter full of saving ideas.

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