Raising Arrows
How Do I Afford Entertainment for My Large Family?
From technology to extracurricular activities, all the extras can really add up! Get ideas to handle all the entertainment for your family!
Let me be honest here. I do not believe it is my job to ENTERTAIN my children. I am not a fan of the incessant whine of the words, “I’m bored.”
But, since the Cost of Raising a Child factors in “entertainment,” I thought I should probably address this.
So, what all constitutes Entertainment? In my opinion, it would be anything that occurs during a child’s leisure time. This would be anything from playing on the computer to watching a movie to playing outside or participating in extracurricular activities. Because of this, I will readily admit Entertaining a child *could* easily get expensive. New computers, theatre tickets, sports equipment and zoo memberships aren’t free.
But are they necessary?
Every family is going to be different on what they deem necessary. No matter what you choose for your family, let me give you one rule of thumb on which to base every decision…
NEVER PARENT BY GUILT
As parents, we often find ourselves manipulated by the media, the grandparents, the next door neighbors, and even our own children.
*The media tells us EVERY kid has the latest, greatest electronic gadget. We don’t want our kids to be behind the times.
*The relatives tell us they want to get the latest thing as a gift for our child. We don’t want to have to say no.
*The neighbors and peer groups tell us their kids are doing such and such. We don’t want to look odd.
*Our children give us those sad, puppy-dog eyes as they beg us for just this one little thing. We hate to disappoint them.
But parenting by guilt is not a good way to parent. We already know that. We have to learn to put it into practice.
So, when it comes to Entertainment as an expense of raising children, we have to decide how far we are willing it. Are we willing to be manipulated by the culture or do we have a clear understanding of what types of products and activities are worthwhile to own and do.
While I cannot make these decisions for you, here are a few of the ways we discern which “entertainment” items are worth the money and which ones are better left in the store (for a list of how we choose extracurricular activities, go to my Family First Activities list).
Child’s age
An example of a product that we would have to factor age into would be a cell phone. A cell phone is an Entertainment item until it becomes a Necessary item. And it is NOT a necessary item until my kids start working outside the home. Before that, it is a waste of money and even a potential hazard to your child’s well-being, considering how much sway social media and the internet seem to have on young children’s minds.
READ >> Do Homeschool Kids Need Cell Phones
Child’s level of responsibility
The bottom line here is CAN WE TRUST HIM or HER? Suppose you buy your child an electronic device and within a week it has been stepped on repeatedly by younger siblings. This isn’t entirely a matter of younger siblings being naughty. It is also about the owner of the electronic device being irresponsible with their property.
{Note: DO NOT set your child up for failure here. Our older children own lock boxes. They have a key and I have a key. In these lock boxes are things they do not want touched by younger siblings who have an uncanny knack for getting into things.}
If you know your child is not a responsible individual, then DO NOT give them entertainment items they will need to be responsible with.
Does it take AWAY from the family?
As I mentioned in my post on choosing activities for your family to participate in, if an entertainment item will place a wedge in relationships within the family, RUN FROM IT!
And be HONEST with yourself!
Will buying that video game player foster family relationships or create obsessed and distant children?
Will playing Little League baseball bring the family closer together or make life unbearable with endless games and practices?
Only you and your family can answer the hard questions it takes to truly discern if an entertainment item/activity is a family-builder or a family-breaker.
Is it God-honoring?
I can often be heard saying,
“It might be fun, but that doesn’t make it appropriate.”
Whether or not something is FUN is not a good way to choose what you do for entertainment. I know that sounds contradictory, but think of it this way…
Getting drunk might be fun, but it is not a beneficial way to spend an evening.
Stop thinking with your emotions and start analyzing through a better lens…a Biblical worldview. Things do not have to be overtly Christian to be God-honoring. God owns it all. It is either in harmony with Him or discordant with Him. (see the book Assumptions for more!)
Can we do it cheaper?
Some of us go out to eat for entertainment. Some of us go to movies. Some of us like to bungee jump. {not me…but I’m sure there’s someone reading this who thinks that is fun!}
Whatever it is you like to do, if saving money is the goal, then look for a cheaper way to do it. As you know from my post on eating out with kids, we have lots of ways we do this when it comes to eating out. Perhaps you could Google some of your favorite restaurant recipes and try them at home. If movies are your thing, consider a streaming subscription instead of taking everyone to the theater all the time. If bungee jumping is your cup of tea…well…please don’t try a cheap alternative. 😉
Whatever your family chooses as entertainment, realize it is a personal decision. Just remember, your children don’t NEED to be entertained by a million gadgets and a million events. Life can be plenty of fun without all the extras. But, it starts with you. Smile more. Sing more. Enjoy the life you have and quit looking for fulfillment elsewhere!
Contentment, my friends, is cheap and absolutely priceless.
Affording Kids Series:
Introduction
How do I Afford to Feed my Large Family?
How do I Afford to Educate my Large Family?
How do I Afford to Entertain my Large Family? – this post
How do I Afford to Keep my Large Family Healthy?