Spring Break Staycation Ideas for Families

Staying at home for Spring Break? Most of us do. Let's face it, traveling is expensive and can be a family stressor you may be avoiding. Here are 5 ideas to easily create a little novelty for your kids and family during Spring Break to make it special (even if YOU still have to work!).

1. Build stuff!!! I don't mean permanent, home-changing, costly stuff, don't worry! Find building stuff you have around and mix them up to create a "mixed media" small-scale model design---legos, playdoh, cotton balls, Q-tips, old pencils, playing cards, etc. Use a variety of materials and give your family a mission. For example, "We have 2 hours to build a rocket that will get us to the moon and back....3...2...1...blast off!". Do you have older kids? Make the design challenge more complex and solve a social problem together. For example, "We need to create a design that can help bring water from one village to another without too much disruption to the environment." Have a more silly set of teens? Try, "We need to build a spaceship that can come get your dad without waking him up". Your kids will have fun and interesting conversations while creating these crazy models.

2. Nature scavenger hunt. Take your kids to the park and look for Spring's budding nature! Find buds, birds, and emerging insects. Create a Bingo board or a checklist based on the parks you visit, or take pictures. Want a different challenge? Divide your family in half and compete to see who can find the items on the list the fastest.

3. Make your own version of "Nailed-It". If you haven't seen this fabulous Netflix original, I encourage you to check it out, especially if you have a family interested in baking. In short, this show features amateur bakers that are challenged with creating replica sweet treats of professionally created cakes, cookies, and other sweets. Here's an easy example to try, these Wookie Cookies are perfect for littles or impatient teens: https://tasty.co/recipe/gingerbread-wookiee-cookies . You can use store-bought dough...because...why not?! But for an extra challenge start from scratch!

4. Paint portraits of each other. I went to Dollar Tree last night and was surprised by their big selection of paints, small canvases and other fun, crafty items. Give each member of your family a photograph of someone in your immediate or extended family, or a family friend. Each member should then paint a copy of the photograph. Have members of your crew share (or don't share!) their creations. Encourage fun and peaceful painting, not perfection!! For extra fun, make it sillier by using only your fingers. You'd be surprised how happy teens are to have the freedom to finger paint again (even if they don't show YOU that excitement!).

5. Build a LEGIT backyard fort. Find items that you don't mind having outdoors (and that you don't mind inevitably cleaning up!). Ideas: older chairs, cardboard (lots of it), duct tape (lots of it), tree branches, old blankets or towels, tarp, painters canvases, etc. Spend time building it together, and then go have a cup of coffee while your kids enjoy it. Don't want the mess but have a tent? Pitch the tent in your yard and enjoy some day camping.

Staycations don't have to be a bummer...find creative and silly things to do as a family and you will find these memories will last as long or longer than the most expensive vacation packages.