(cheap) Cures for Spring Break MADNESS

The first day of March Break is here! How to keep the kids occupied while NOT breaking the bank!

Spring Break snuck up on me this year...BIG TIME.

It kind of feels like my daughter JUST had 2 weeks off for Christmas, and with all of the snow days this year, it feels like the kids have been home more than they have been at school. Maybe I am exaggerating a little, but all of a sudden I am expected to entertain (and hopefully educate slightly), both these kids. On top of that, I have to do it in such a way that the budget does not get disrupted.

Here are a few things that we have planned for this spring break that should keep us from developing cabin fever, while still allowing us to stay on budget!

~ Go Exploring~

Hopefully, the warmer weather is coming (I even saw two robins today!!!) so it is the perfect time to bundle up and get outside. Going for family walks is a great way to burn off some energy and spend time together catching up. Outdoor conservation areas are free and if you are lucky like us, are not a very far drive from the city. You're just a short car ride away from a new trail and a new adventure! Spend some time collecting treasures to later turn into an old fashioned textured nature collage, fun and FREE.

~Sleep Overs~

Not for the faint of heart, and really only for those who have older children, but planning a spring break sleepover can occupy the kiddies and break up the monotony of the week. Our daughter is at a sleepover as we speak, and later in the week we will host one of her friends here. It gives both sets of parents a wee break, and is an activity that you can suggest to your older child that they are guaranteed to get excited about. If you have younger children, reaching out to mom groups and setting up a play date or two can get both of you out of the house, and doesn't cost a thing.

~ Ice Skating~

Some may argue that if you live in the city, gone are the days that you can ice skate for free. I grew up in the country and was lucky enough to have a small pond, not far from my house that we would skate on regularly. I have great memories of this time and hope to give similar experiences to my girls. Renting ice time at an arena can be pricy, and waiting for free skates, which may have a limited schedule that do not work for your family, may not be an option. To circumvent this, our family found a small pond behind our Walmart (I know how this sounds), we bring a shovel, make a patch and skate away. Other families come out too, but it is never crowded. Take a walk or drive around your your community, you never know what hidden little gems await you. Just be careful and ensure an adult accesses the ice before anyone attempts to skate. We might as well take advantage of this cold weather while it lasts!

~ Get Cooking~

Spring break is the perfect opportunity to slow things down and take opportunities to teach your kids. My kids always want to help us cook and bake, but cooking with kids takes a little extra time and schedules don't always allow us to cook together during busy weeks. Why not take advantage of their school break and give them the task of "setting up their own restaurant" for an afternoon. They can create a shopping list, accompany you to the grocery store with a budget in hand to follow. They can plan their own menu and serve lunch (with help and supervision where needed of course). They will love idea of being "in charge" and it allows their creativity to flow while working on practical life skills. To top it all off, you get to eat a lunch that you didn't (totally) prepare. Win-win.

~Get Crafty~

In my last post I talked about a new found obsession that my oldest daughter has discovered; needle felting. She has spent a few hours already creating new felted animals, and the house was VERY quiet at nap time when Baby D went down. I'm pretty lucky, my kids LOVE arts and crafts and I can usually entertain them for a while with a new project. We keep a craft bucket handy, use Pintrest as inspiration and go to town! It is an activity that both my girls love, despite their age gap, and secretly, I love crafting too, Shhhhhhh!

~Library~

Libraries are often under appreciated gems, filled with so much more than just books. Your local library (and community centers for that matter) have amazing free programs and resources for kids during spring break. Whether it be craft workshops, movie afternoons, or author readings, seeking out this community resource is a great boredom buster, and keeps the children engaged. It exposes them to different people in the community, other than their friend circle from school, and the best part is almost all of these activities are free to join. Keep in mind, some of these programs may require registration, which can usually be done quickly and easily online.

Spring break does not have to be a dreaded week for children and parents alike. Even if the budget does not allow a fancy trip to a warm locale. If you think outside of the box, you can come up with tons of creative, and inexpensive solutions to your kids wide open schedule. Are you stuck at home this spring break with the kids? What sort of activities do you plan to keep the kids busy? Comment below, we'd love to hear from you!