20 Fun & Free Fall Activities for Kids
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Kids are in school again and the weather will soon start co0oling down as we welcome a new season. Fall is a perfect season to spend more time with our children and encourage them to continue to learn through fun activities that nourish the skills and knowledge they are learning inside the classroom. Use the weekend to make new memories as a family with these free fall activities geared towards kids and families.
Go hiking – Take a walk down a nature trail in your city or a local provincial park.
Go bird-watching – Head out with a pair of binoculars and a bird book and identify local birds together.
Go on a scavenger hunt – Go hunting for a list of fall items and see if you can find everything on the list.
Visit historical sites – Many library systems offer passes to local historical sites and museums completely free of charge to library card holders.
Check your community calendar – Check online for free events in your community for families.
Go geocaching
Visit your local library – Check online for free book readings, craft events and more for families.
Make a handprint tree
Collect acorns and pinecones – Use them for fall crafts or make a thanksgiving centrepiece with them!
Help the less fortunate – Empty out your pantry and donate any non-perishable items you can spare.
As you think about other fun ways to encourage your children to continue to learn about the world around them, it is also time to start thinking about their future if you haven’t already. Why not start by setting aside all that money you just saved and put it to work in a no-fee Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP).
SmartSAVER.org works with communities across Canada to make it easier for modest-income families to save for their kids’ future education. They can help you access federal government grants including the Canada Learning Bond. Since we’ve been talking free stuff, I think this one takes the cake – The Canada Learning Bond is actually a FREE kick-start contribution of up to $2000 for eligible families. Awesome right?
Give your child the opportunity to continue learning. Visit SmartSAVER.org right now and check out their government grant eligibility calculator, online RESP starter and Canada Learning Bond application.
Win it:
One Canadian Frugal Mom Eh reader will win a $50 Gift Card courtesy of SmartSaver.org. Giveaway ends on Oct 14th, 2016 at 11:59 pm EST. Contest winners will be announced with SmartSAVER during Education Savings Week, November 21-27, 2016.) See giveaway tools form for entry and T&C.
Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by SmartSAVER.org, however all thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.
Elizabeth Lampman is a coffee-fuelled Mom of 2 girls and lives in Hamilton, Ontario. She enjoys travelling, developing easy recipes, crafting, taking on diy projects, travelling and saving money!
I liked how they help you step by step and will answer any questions you have, and the site looks pretty straight forward, not to confusing!!
I like the fact that they give you information on choosing the right RESP
I learned that you can do the application for it online which is handy when you have a busy life!
I learned that they give you information on choosing the right RESP
I love their link to more information on government sites like RESP Investing Help.
I really like their link to government web sites to aid in RESP investing.
I found out that you can have a Family group plan.
I learned that you have 36 years to use it for secondary education
I like the way you can compare the different places that offer RESPs and what they offer.
I learned that you can get up to $2,000 in free education money
There is no cost to start an account.
I learned that there is no minimum contribution requirement. That’s good to know!
I learned that they give you info on choosing the right RESP
I like that they have detailed information on each group plan so that you can compare them.
I visited their site and learned that you can get up to $2,000 in free education money. WOW!
How to Start My RESP on SmartSAVER.org
I liked how they help you step by step and will answer any questions you have
I am so happy they direct where to start your RESP.
I like that the information on choosing the right RESP is available right on their site
I learned that SmartSAVER partners exclusively with RESP providers who offer RESPs with no account set-up, enrolment or annual fee and no minimum contribution requirement.
I learned that You don’t have to be an existing customer of any of our financial institution partners to complete the Start My RESP application. You can open an account with any RESP provider to receive the Canada Learning Bond.
There’s no cost to start one
I learned You don’t have to be an existing customer of any of our financial institution partners to complete the Start My RESP application. You can open an account with any RESP provider to receive the Canada Learning Bond.
I learned there is no cost to start
I learned from How to Start My RESP on SmartSAVER.org
it’s never too soon to start. thanks
I love that they offer the Canada Learning Bond.
I learned that “Once you submit your application you can expect the financial institution to contact you within 2 – 3 business days.”
I learned that SmartSAVER is a non-profit community project.
On Smart Saver .ca I learned that The Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) is another way the Government of Canada provides money for your child’s education after high school. When you put money into an RESP, the Government adds more to help your child’s savings grow fast
Smart Saver helps applicants get an RESP started with no enrolment fee, no annual fee and no contribution required.
I learned that you can start the process of getting an RESP using their Start My RESP online application.
Great information on saving for your kids’ education by helping to choose the right RESP.
I visited the Smart Saver website and learned that gov’t will contribute up to a lifetime maximum of $7,200 per child!!
I like that SmartSAVER also works in partnership with a wide range of non-profit community services to make sure the families they serve find out about the Canada Learning Bond
I learned that you can do an application online.
Very good info on RESPs- such an important investment for the kids!
SmartSaver gives you all sorts of information about RESPs for your child/Children’s education. This information is very important if you want your child to have a post highschool education. I learned a lot from reading the post on this blog. Thank you.
I like that this website includes helpful links for me to do some research about RESP.
No cost to start the account.
Learning about RESP, and the different plans.
The article on Choosing the Right RESP was very useful in comparing plans.
RESP’s explained step by step and simplified so everyone can comprehend, including Links to anything else you might need!
There’s help for finding the right RESP
Mind overload. I didn’t realize that there were so many different options out there. For example an individual or a group RESP. I think I need to relook at the RESP that I have set up 15 years ago to see what I actually have.
I learned that you can get up to $2000 in free education money
it’s a non-profit community project!!
I learned that RESPs can be very different in their requirements and restrictions – it’s important to understand and choose the right one!
I was pleased to see that the federal government helps build RESP cash for children eight and up. My children are grown but I will certainly pass this information over to them for their young families.
I learned about how theres no cost to start one
I learned how simple it would be to open an RESP online!
I learned that to receive the Canada Learning Bond I can open an account with any RESP provider! And there are no costs to open one which is something I love!
I learned that you don’t have to be an existing customer of any of SmartSAVER’s financial institution partners to complete the Start My RESP application.
I learned that you can open an RESP absolutely free. I always thought you had to commit to a monthly investment.
I liked how they laid out the resp options
I learned there is no cost to open an account.
I’ve learned that you can open a RESP with no enrolment fee, no annual fee and no minimum contribution. Thanks for the giveaway!
I learned that you can get up to $2,000 in free education money. Thats pretty cool!