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Family Life > Family Time & Vacations

Spring Break Ideas
By: Family First Staff
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Kids get one week in the spring to take a break from school and relax. While kids look forward to this week, sometimes parents dread it. Here are five suggestions to keep you busy and smiling.

1.       Have a campout right in your backyard. If you don't have a tent, borrow one and spend quality time outside under the stars. Bring along board games, books and plenty of food. Don't forget the s'mores. If you want to watch a movie as you and your kids drift off to sleep, try using a portable DVD player.

2.       Go to a local sporting event. Spring training baseball is just around the corner, so if you live close to a team, take the kids to see their favorite players before the season starts. Since teams usually train in a different city than they play, it's a great way to see teams you wouldn't normally see.

3.       Visit a local art museum with your kids. Once they've seen the paintings, sculpture, photography and other creative works, give them some drawing paper, modeling clay or a camera and let them recreate their own favorites at home. Then create a gallery in your family room featuring their finished works of art.

4.       Recreate Italy. In one week, it may be tough for your entire family to absorb the culture of another country by actually going there. Instead, choose a country and get decorations and some cheap outfits that would fit their culture. For dinner, make the country's food and play some authentic music found on iTunes. Later, you can watch a movie that depicts the country you chose. The magic of another country right in your home!

5.       Take some fun classes together. See if there are any classes offered at the local community center that your children are interested in. Instead of dropping them off, join. Try taking tennis, racquetball or golf lessons. Then, you'll have something that you can all enjoy together throughout the year.

6.       Visit the local zoo. It's amazing how the zoo doesn't get old whether you are four or 40. Those monkeys and giraffes do cute things all year long. Ask your kids what their favorite animal is; then, call the zoo ahead of time and ask what time that animal is most likely to be awake.

7.       Local theme parks. I know what you're thinking. This is expensive. It doesn't have to be though. The bigger theme parks usually offer year-round passes for the price of one admission. There are also smaller parks that will have water slides and a little beach area for a small fee.

8.       Do arts and crafts. This is more for the kids in elementary school, but some older kids might like it too. Go to the nearest craft store and look for an interesting project. I learned how to cross-stitch one summer, and it's something I still enjoy doing. If your kids are really young, try glitter, glue or Play-Doh.

9.       Plant a garden. Make sure to plant something your children will actually eat. Start by clearing a spot for the plants. If you are planting something that birds will eat before you have a chance to, make sure to ask Home Depot how to keep the birds away. As your children remember to water their plants every day, they will learn responsibility and have a tasty treat!

10.   Go ice skating. Kids love learning how to skate, and I'm sure it won't be long before they are doing laps around you. It's a fun way for all of you to get out of the house and get a little exercise.

Written by Rachel Wagner. Some material adapted from All Pro Dad