The $20 Playdate: Big Fun, Small Budget

There's a myth that good playdates cost money — the trampoline park, the movie tickets, the craft kits. Nonsense. The best playdates cost almost nothing because the best playdate ingredient is other kids, and they're free.

The lineup: sidewalk chalk obstacle course ($4), library scavenger hunt ($0), cardboard box city ($0), nature color hunt ($0), freeze dance party ($0), and DIY pizzas ($15 for dough and toppings that also cover dinner).

Notice what's missing: anything requiring a reservation, a ticket, or a drive longer than ten minutes. Low logistics is the whole strategy.

Kids don't remember what you spent. They remember who was there and whether they laughed. Spend the twenty bucks on good snacks and call it a day.