GPOB - SCIENCE!

GEEK PARENTING ON A BUDGET – SCIENCE!

Geek parents love to imagine their children growing up to be chemists, physicists, astronomers, and mad scientists. We teach them about math, the elements, and wormholes. The best way to grow a love for these things is through fun science experiments. But science isn't cheap.

Have you ever looked at the prices of a chemistry set or a self propelled rocket kit? Yikes!

I love reading experiments geek parents do with their children. But I wonder how they can afford all the materials. I can do the vinegar and baking soda volcano, but after the first couple of times, my little geek is whining that he already knows what will happen.

So in the interest of science, I have found a couple of ways to play and experiment while on a budget.

1. Slime. Whether you're creating a baby for the Blob or some ecoplasm, kids love slime. It's very easy to make too. All you need is some water, glue, borax, and food coloring. You can find borax-free recipes online as well. It's easy and fun to make, and you can make all different kinds.

2. Cloud jars. Learn how clouds hold liquid. All you need is water, a jar, shaving foam, and an eye dropper with colored water. The foam will float on top of the water in the jar like a cloud. As your little geek drops the colored water into the cloud from the dropper, it will eventually become too heavy and rain.

3. Gummy bear torture. Oh yes, they're yummy and can teach us about science! All you need is gummy bears. Put them in various containers of liquid like water, salt water, vinegar, and liquid nitrogen (if you have any around!). You can eat the bears and watch as the candies bloat and explode. Researching this, I didn't realize how popular torturing gummy bears was. There are tons of videos online.

What fun and cheap science experiments have you done with your little geeks?

Christine Rains is a writer and geek mom. She is married to her nerdy best friend, and they have one adorable little geek. All of them are too smart for their own good, even their cat who knows how to flush the toilet. Christine has four degrees which help nothing with motherhood but make her a great Jeopardy player. She has one novel and several short stories and novellas published. You can visit her website here.


It was so wonderful having Christine here this week! These are terrific ideas - and almost all of these activities were done without electronics - it CAN BE DONE! Thanks, my geeky friend - GEEKS RULE!

GPOB - Family Outings

GEEK PARENTING ON A BUDGET – FAMILY OUTINGS

It's not cheap to take the family out for a day of geeky fun. The admission to comic book conventions, science museums, and zoos are high. And that doesn't even include the price of food and parking. Around here, it costs more than $120 to bring the family for one day at the children's museum in the big city.

My wallet won't even consider opening for that. But I have ways of making the poor thing feel better.

1. National and state parks. We get a park pass every year. It's more than worth it. Take advantage of their nature centers and free programs. We all get to be outside and explore nature. A great opportunity to fill your little geek's head with fairy lore and wilderness survival in case there's a zombie apocalypse.

2. Ask for adventures as gifts instead of items. Every year, my Nana gives my son a yearly pass to our small local children's science museum. We've spent countless hours there having fun learning. They have free programs for people who are members too. Last December, my little geek was on stage with a reindeer. He still talks about it. Zoo and museum memberships usually only cost the price of two or three visits. We go at least twice a month to our local museum.

3. Geo-caching. All you need is a handheld GPS and the determination to find treasure. Another awesome way to have fun outdoors. Go to the geo-caching website and find caches in your area. Punch the coordinates into your GPS and go hunting! Some caches are small like a photo film canister while others are big like old ammo boxes, and they contain items to trade. Old coins, key chains, and toys. Children young and old love the rush of finding treasure.

What budget friendly things do your family like to do together?

Christine Rains is a writer and geek mom. She is married to her nerdy best friend, and they have one adorable little geek. All of them are too smart for their own good, even their cat who knows how to flush the toilet. Christine has four degrees which help nothing with motherhood but make her a great Jeopardy player. She has one novel and several short stories and novellas published. You can visit her website here.

GPOB - Dress-up Time!

So excited to have CHRISTINE RAINS guest post with us this week! She's sharing some economical tips from her cute geeky point of view!

GEEK PARENTING ON A BUDGET – DRESS UP TIME!

Every kid loves to play dress up and pretend they're someone or something else. As a geek parent, this is one of my favorite things to do with my little geek. We pretend to be superheroes, robots, and talking cats.

Costumes are expensive, though. Never mind all the special props like a sonic screwdriver or Green Lantern's lantern. I'm jealous of those geek parents who can afford to buy the awesome outfits so the whole family can be the crew of Serenity or the Power Rangers. And those clever nerds were are talented enough to make spectacular costumes.

Every time I try to sew something, I end up with bandages on all my fingers. We also live on a budget. There are still tons of ways to have dress up fun. Here are a few tips:

1. Post-Halloween sales. Costumes, make-up, and accessories all on sale for 50%. And if you wait a week, it'll be 75% to 80% off. I stock up on the face paint because my little geek loves to pretend he's different animals. Children's costumes do sell out fast, but no worries. Buy adult ones and cut them to fit the kids.

2. Recyclables are your friend. You might only see trash, but through a child's eyes, an empty tissue box can be turned into a treasure chest and the paper towel roll into a telescope. One of my favorite recyclable-made accessories is a jet pack. Grab two 2 liter plastic bottles and tape them together. Have your little geek decorate them and use construction paper to make straps. Then blast off!

3. Second-hand clothes. Whether you get them at a yard sale, a thrift store, or from the back of your closet, don't underestimate the value of these old duds. Adult size button-up shirts make excellent robes. Black for a Hogwarts student and white for White Mage from Final Fantasy. Big t-shirts can be tied around the waist with ribbon or string to make them tunics for knights in training.

What costumes have you made on a budget?

Christine Rains is a writer and geek mom. She is married to her nerdy best friend, and they have one adorable little geek. All of them are too smart for their own good, even their cat who knows how to flush the toilet. Christine has four degrees which help nothing with motherhood but make her a great Jeopardy player. She has one novel and several short stories and novellas published. You can visit her website here.