Review 99 Ways to Entertain your Family for Free

Many children have forgotten how to play. They are easily bored. They don’t have creative ideas or an imagination. The current generation of young people spends most of their free time watching TV, playing video games or using a computer. Shut off the electricity or ask them to spend the summer in a campground and they can’t function. They don’t know how to have good, old fashioned fun.

Mack Thomas has created the perfect solution in his book, “99 Ways to Entertain your Family for Free!” I was surprised and delighted to see Bible verses and a Christian perspective. It is divided into 7 chapters:

1. Indoors

2. Outdoors

3. Around Town

4. Just Imagine

5. Out in Nature

6. Rituals and Routines

7. Holidays

In each section you will find a variety of creative ideas for your family to enjoy together. Some ideas include holiday readings for Thanksgiving, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Lincoln’s birthday and more. I also loved his suggested read –aloud list based on the ages of children. His description of keeping a family journal of memories was wonderful. His outdoor game descriptions brought back nostalgic memories of my own childhood when we would stay outside in our yard, with the neighborhood kids, and play games like: Red Rover, Freeze Tag, Hide and Seek and Mother-May- I. We also spent hours in the woods with rakes, creating outdoor forts and homes. By the time we all went inside we were exhausted and ready for a good supper and quiet time with family. I appreciated Mack’s descriptions and instructions on exactly how to play many of the games.

This is an excellent book and much needed in our day. The next time your child says, “I’m Bored,” pull this book off the shelf and teach them how we used to play in the old days.

Mack Thomas is the father of five grown children and has written several children’s books. I love the quote he had in the introduction, which really sums the book up for me: “To be happy at home is the end of all human endeavor.” – Samuel Johnson.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Waterbrook Press, for the purpose of sharing my opinion.

You can find more books in this series, including “99 Ways to Increase your Income;” and “99 Ways to Stretch your Home Budget.”