Spring Break is an opportunity for family bonding and fun. If you don’t have time to fly to a beach or ski in the Rockies, you and your family can still make memories over Spring Break this year. Consider designing your own Spring Break adventure with your kids this year by incorporating some of the Staycation ideas listed below:
Backyard camping trip – If you live in a warmer climate, Spring Break may be the perfect time for a backyard get-a-way. Set up a tent with sleeping bags. Fire up the grill and make s’mores over a camp fire. Tell ghost stories and play games like flashlight tag with the kids. Turn off the cell phones and treat it like a real get-a-way.
Video game olympics – Cold weather can force families to stay in during Spring Break. Organize a Video Olympics. Wii offers lots of sports like bowling, tennis, baseball and boxing. Keep them short so everyone has a turn. You can even set up tournaments and play for prizes to make it more competitive. You can play in teams and get t-shirts in team colors to make it feel more official. Setting up a food bar with sports drinks, protein bars and fresh fruits and veggies will give it an authentic touch.
Be a tourist in your own city – How many people never get around to seeing the sites in their own town? Take advantage of Spring Break and tour your local town or surrounding area. Visit the zoo, aquarium or museum. If you live in a rural area perhaps you could visit a local farm or vineyard. If you’re a history buff, take a walking architectural tour of buildings in your town and discuss the influences of the time period in which they were built. Check out your local department of tourism for specific ideas in your area.
Go to a hotel – You may not have time or budget to get away for Spring Break, but you could rent a hotel room at a local hotel with an indoor pool. You get a break for cooking for the weekend and the kids get to enjoy the amenities at the hotel. Many hotels offer “staycation” rates to make the adventure even more affordable.
Sundae and movie day – If your kids love movies, pick out some classic movies to binge on for a day. Create a Sundae bar with lots of ice cream flavors and toppings. Make some popcorn and have soda on hand. Choose a theme like cowboy westerns, comedies or aliens.
Fly kites – Spring is notorious for blustery days. Take a morning, pack a picnic and go to the park to fly kites. It’s an activity both parents and kids enjoy. Take in the fresh air and get some exercise while playing with the kids.
Try something new – Hike in a cave, go on a zip-line, ski at night or try geo-cashing. Design an adventure that is close to home that has the feeling of a big adventure.
Pajama day – Spend one entire day at home. Make nachos, play old-fashioned board games or watch sports. Do whatever you enjoy, but never have time to do because of busy school schedules.
Make this time off extraordinary by putting together a schedule for each day outlining what you plan to do. Make sure you have enough activities planned to cover the entire time off school. Get the kids involved to make sure you have activities they will enjoy. Have a mix of time at home and time out of the house for good balance. Make this Spring Break an unforgettable one for your kids by planning early and getting organized.
These tips are available for reprint (with proper credit shown below).
About Julie McCaffrey:
Parenting expert Julie McCaffrey is a proud mommy to 3 kids and the Chief Brand Officer at PishPoshBaby.com, the high quality baby store that supplies facts and advice, along with the right choice to parents who are completely lost in the whirlwind of baby gear. She’s also the founder of BabyNav Baby Planners where she offers personalized consultation to new and expectant parents. She loves to help moms and dads navigate everything from baby gear, preparing for multiples, getting back to work and getting the whole family on a routine. You can learn more about PishPoshBaby at pishposhbaby.com and also follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, andInstagram.
