Might be off topic but a nugget from having two girls (5 and 11). Kids don’t care about budget or how much things cost. We have toys we’ve spent hundreds of dollars on only to have the near free to free one be a hit. I say this to make sure you know your employment status likely only effects your kids if it effects you. Or said differently, to the extent it effects you it will effect them.

Kids will generally have fun with anything you show a degree of interest in. The copper pipe plumbing example in this thread is a perfect example. A simple Task became a life long activity for the kid. They will remember it forever and tell someone in the future “this time I welded with my dad”… they won’t remember that time my dad didn’t hire a plumber.

Things off the top of my head that have been a hit - Planting plants Fashion design Basic coding activities or contests Shooting Anything that requires safety procedures Lawn work (but make it fun or set a timer) Writing a story where they write some of it, you add in silly bits, they write more , repeat till laughing out loud. Both my girls super in to etiquette

Best of luck buddy and squeeze these years for as much as you can.