Kids count down the weeks till their end of February or spring break, but for moms it usually means a full week of keeping the kids occupied, and sometimes that can prove to be a challenge, especially if you are living in a cold climate. Some families take this week to plan a trip, but not all parents can get that time off. So if you are planning a Staycation for you and your kids, there are still some fun activities for the whole family to enjoy to make spring break a fun time for everyone (yes, even you!).
1. Video Game Olympics
If your family has a game console and your children like video games then you can turn this into a really fun activity for the whole family. Pick a game that everyone can easily learn (like Mario Kart or Wii Bowling) and host an olympics to get everyone involved. Pick teams or play individually- it’s up to you! To motivate all the players, give a little prize to the winner of each category. You can even set up snack stations with gatorade, protein bars and fruit to make it feel more real!
2. A Themed Movie Marathon
Pick a theme for the day like animated movies, alien movies, or super hero movies and then have everyone vote on the ones they want to watch. Then, deck out the TV room to look like the best movie theater ever- blankets, pillows, dim lighting, popcorn, juice, and maybe even some candy. And of course, all the attendees can wear their comfiest pajama set.
3. Organize a Scavenger Hunt
Who doesn’t love a scavenger hunt? No matter how old your kids are, it is sure to bring out their competitive side! You and your spouse or your other mom friends can work together to make clues, maps, and put together some treats for them to find. Let your creative side come out when you’re writing the clues, they can be puzzles, riddles, or even poems. If you want to make a learning experience out of it, you could even make them simple math problems or history questions.
4. Family Cook-Off
If your kids have shown an interest in cooking, or would like to learn, spring break is a great time to start. Have every member of the family choose a dinner or dessert item they would like to prepare. Then give each person a budget and go grocery shopping as a family to pick everything out. To make it even more fun, let the kids pick out a fun apron of chef hat to wear while they prepare their masterpieces. After all the cooking is done, sit down as a family to enjoy everyone’s creations.
5. Go Camping in Your Own Backyard
If the weather permits, pitch a tent in your backyard and have a camp night. To make it feel more real, roast marshmallows and sit in a circle telling ghost stories. If the weather is still too cold, just take the camping to your living room.
6. Turn Your Home into a Foreign Country or City
This requires some planning ahead of time, but if you can’t travel anywhere for spring break this year- bring the destination to your own home! Have the family vote on a city they would like to go to, like Paris or Tokyo, and then transform your home into that city for a day. Put up some fun decorations, read stories from or about that particular place, watch movies that take place there, and make your meals with traditional meals from that culture. Maybe even learn a few words in their language. This activity is not only a ton of fun, but it can also become a great way to teach your children more about other cultures.
7. Play Tourist in Your Own Town
Take this week to visit all of the places in your town or city that you have been meaning to but have never had the time for, like that cute little museum, art gallery, or neighborhood park you have never gotten the chance to take the kids to.
