Friday, March 12, 2010

Spring Break Staycation


I listen to two moms this morning talking about school being out. One said she was ready for school to be over and the other said she isn't looking forward to the boredom that comes with summer. It got me thinking about the week off for spring break that is approaching. I have been looking through several sites and found some good ideas for our spring break.

Here are some of my favorites:

1. Get Crafty. Plan a kid's craft day. Keep in mind the age of your children when choosing the craft to complete. Little ones can engage on coloring pages while the older ones can concentrate on slightly more difficult kid's crafts.

2. Get Cooking. Have a pizza-making cooking class at home. Kids will love kneading the dough and personalizing their own pizza. Let them add toppings of their choice, and get dinner ready at the same time. Bake everyone's favorite cookies or pick another country or state you would like to visit and cook some of the local food from that place.
Have your kids make menus, set the table like being at a restaurant, dress up like a server, and serve the family dinner.

3. Hold a board game marathon! Make game time fun by planning ahead and choosing inexpensive prizes for the board game winners. Be sure to have games that appeal to every age and include games that anyone can win. But if you don't have a lot of board games on hand, visit your local thrift store. I have always found a healthy supply of board games at my local store.

4. Pajama Day Movies. Pick a day during the week and stay in your pajamas all day long watching movies. Host a movie marathon where everyone in the family gets to choose their favorite movie to watch. Make some popcorn or set up an ice cream sundae bar. Invite some of your kids friends over and just enjoy relaxing. For even more movie watching fun, set up a tent in the family room and let the kids watch from their sleeping bags. Watch home movies if you have them. Kids love seeing themselves on film.


Visit daricemichelleblog.blogspot.com to see how she made her families tent.

5. Camping in the Great Indoors: Speaking of setting up the tent, why not camp indoors for some unusual fun? You can make s'mores in the fireplace or over the stove top, sleep in a tent and sleeping bag, and stay up telling stories by flashlight - all in the comfort of your own home.

6. Be a tourist in your own town. Are there attractions that you have never been to in your own city that people come to visit and you have never visited yourself? This is a perfect opportunity to get out and visit them.
You can take a camera, take lots of pictures, then put an album together of your day. In Cache Valley we have free public transit, take advantage of getting around without expense. Kids will find it an adventure to get around on the bus system.

7. Fitness activities. Bowling, skating, indoor pools,jumping jack contest, hula hooping, games like red light green light or red rover, and rock climbing. If the weather is okay, take the dog for a walk at the dog park and look for signs of spring.

8. Spring clean. Use this time to tackle some of the projects that you never seem to get to. Schedule a time to clean out your kids rooms with them or organize your photographs. Give your children an assignment that they can be proud of helping you accomplish.

9. Consider volunteering with your children. If there is a charitable organization that you are particularly interested in, give them a ring and ask them how you and your family can help. Imagine the example you are setting for your children and the memories your will make.

10. Road Trip to Family. Some of us are lucky enough to live within a day drive of family. If you do, consider planning a trip. Go to grandmas and do all the same local tourist and museum stuff there-it will be totally new and different!

11. Find a great book that the entire family will enjoy and take turns reading, or read to them. Imagination is a great thing and reading helps develop imagination. I highly recommend Fablehaven if you have not already read it.

Set aside designated times that you will have the phones turned off too and enjoy your family. Take pictures and videos of this time.

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