Family Spring Break Ideas

For parents, the spring season means having the kids at home for a week-long break. Kids quickly grow bored of their usual toys and activities, but a good game plan for the break can keep everyone happy. If a family vacation is not in the budget, consider other ideas.

Volunteer Project

Hold a family meeting to decide on a volunteer project to complete over spring break. Research local volunteer opportunities that allow kids to participate, or create your own volunteer opportunity based on a need in the community. Involve the kids as much as possible with the planning and execution of the volunteer project. Ideas include planting a garden, serving food at a shelter, gathering items to donate, helping elderly neighbors with chores, visiting a nursing home, making cards for a children's hospital or cleaning up the neighborhood.

Local Sightseeing

Take the week of spring break to explore local sightseeing opportunities. Make a list of the locations within your town or local area that you would like to visit. Ideas include historical sights, zoos, aquariums, farms, art centers, miniature golf courses and nature areas. Create an agenda for the week. Allow each family member to select a number one location and ensure that all of those places make it onto the agenda. Take lots of pictures and make a spring break scrapbook at the end of the week.

Try A New Activity

Introduce the family to a new hobby or activity during spring break. Consider hobbies such as cake decorating, canoeing, camping, scrapbooking or hiking. Ask for suggestions from the family and vote to determine the top pick. If time allows, try a few new activities or hobbies with the family.

Child-Led Activities

Allow the kids to handle the planning of spring break activities. Assign each child a day during spring break. Help each child plan all of the activities and meals for that day. Give suggestions for activities and meals as needed. Ask each child to create a poster which displays the schedule for that day, highlighting the various activities she has planned for the family.

References

• High School Stuff