Spring break is just around the corner, and I wanted to offer some fun ideas for those who might not be traveling this year. With just a little bit of planning, spring break doesn't have to mean traveling far, or breaking the wallet. Come up with a budget (whether it be $50/day, or even far less than that) and come up with a plan that your kids will love!
And REMEMBER: Kids are so easy to please and the simplest things make them happy. Here are my tips for an unforgetable spring break with the kids:
Spring Break Staycation Ideas
Tip #1 Get them involved in the planning
At home with the kids? Instantly access any of these printable activity bundles to keep them learning!
Here we are at Walmart getting all our Spring Break Staycation Snackation needs!
Tip #2: Consider a fun theme for each day
We did this last year and it made the planning really fun for me as a mother, but also for our kids. I plan to implement these themes all summer long this year. They are as follows:
- Make Something Monday
- Try Something Tuesday
- Wander Somewhere Wednesday
- Thoughtful Thursday
- Fantastically Fun Friday
Here are some fun ideas for implementing your theme into each day:
Make Something Monday
Spring Break Ideas for Monday: Many kids LOVE to be in the kitchen! Come up with something that would be fun to cook or bake and get the kids involved in the process! You could also do a craft, build a gigantic fort, paint a wall mural, or make something with cardboard boxes! Find something fun in our kid's craft & activities section, and go at it! You wouldn't believe the fun my girls had simply painting a cardboard house that I taped up for them:
Monday Snack Idea: Apple Snails!
All you need is: Celery, Apples, Pretzels, Raisins (or chocolate chips), Jif Peanut Butter, and Smucker's® Squeeze™ for the slime trail!
Try Something Tuesday
Spring Break Ideas for Tuesday: Try something with the kids you have never done before! It could be a fun science experiment, kite flying, feeding ducks, or visiting a museum you have never been to. You could also hit up a new restaurant in town or even learn a new sport or skill. Since my kids are little, we keep it simple with things like growing water beads all day (my kids could play with these for hours and hours):
Tuesday Snack Idea: Peanut Butter Cracker Sandwiches!
Wander Somewhere Wednesday
Spring Break Ideas for Wednesday: Wander somewhere Wednesday is for getting out of the house! This is one of those days that you want to really use your budget! Go somewhere the kids LOVE! The zoo? The movies? Whatever it is that really gets them excited, do it!
Wednesday Snack Idea: Jif to Go Peanut Butter and Pretzels (Portable and easy for on-the-go)
Items needed: Jif to Go® Peanut Butter and pretzels
Thoughtful Thursday
Spring Break Ideas for Thursday:
Teach your kids while they are young that doing kind things for other people can be really fun and memorable too! Some of my favorite memories with my own mother involve visiting the elderly, singing and talking with kids that are mentally and physically challenged, and taking gifts to neighbors. Consider putting together a basket of sunshine for someone who needs it, Awarding someone the “Good Neighbor Award” or participating in our Kindness Gone Viral project
Snack Idea: Peanut Butter Apple Sandwiches
Items Needed: Jif to Go® Peanut Butter and Smucker's® Squeeze™
Fabulously Fun Friday
Spring Break Ideas for Friday: It's the last day of spring break, so make it the most fun! This is where you will spend the bulk of your budget and GO BIG for the kids! You could set up the tent and camp in the backyard, or if it's too cold you could do a fire with waffle cone s'mores and then head indoors for a family movie night and sleepover on the living room floor. You could also project a movie outside (if you don't have the equipment, I'm sure a friend or neighbor does just ask around). If your kids are excited about it you could also go fishing, go on a hike, or drive somewhere fun!
Friday Snack Idea: Uncrustables Creations
Remember how I said kids can be so easy to please? I took the time to create these fun faces using Smucker's® Uncrustables®, and the first thing my 4-year old said was, “Wow! Mom! You are so awesome!”
What Fun Ideas of YOUR OWN Do You Have For Spring Break This Year?
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of The J.M Smucker Company . The opinions and text are all mine.