Spring Break(down)

We all remember fondly when the last bell of the day rang at school, signaling the start of spring break. What we likely don't remember, though, is the panic on our parents' faces as the reality set in that they were stuck with us for the next week … or two. No matter how much you love your kids, you must admit that a week without school can be a challenge. That's why we picked the brain of Leigh Oshirak, mom to 8-year-old Jack and co-author of Balance Is a Crock, Sleep Is for the Weak, for ideas on how to keep this spring break from turning into a spring breakdown.

"I definitely burned myself in the early years," says Oshirak, "because I didn't plan far enough in advance. Here in San Francisco, we have two two-week breaks eight weeks apart—ski break and spring break—and a lot of parents only get two weeks of vacation the whole year." Whether you work or not, have a full-time nanny or are a full-time mom, you need to pull out your calendar far in advance and figure out how exactly those weeks (and summer vacation) will be spent. If it's too late for you to salvage this year's spring break, use this as a reminder to map out your child's summer vacation.

If work obligations or budgetary concerns mean you're staying put over spring break, divide and conquer with the help of your spouse and friends. "What my working mom friends and I do is all agree to take one day off," she explains. "On that day, we take each other's kids. So I'll say, 'I'll take Friday and I'll take your three boys to laser tag.' It's fun for your kids because they get to have a special day with their buddies."

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"Many day cares close over spring break as well," says Oshirak. If your child is enrolled in day care and you can't get the time off work, you may want to look into a weeklong camp. She recommends setting a reminder on your mobile device to give yourself plenty of time to register. "I do everything by my calendar," she says. "A bell rings and tells me where I am supposed to go and what I am supposed to do." No matter what your child is into—basketball, karate, ballet or art—a camp probably exists that is dedicated to that activity.

If you can work from home during your child's spring break, find a way to get your work done but still spend quality time with your child. "It's easy to plop a kid in front of a TV, and sometimes when you've got a wicked deadline it's necessary," says Oshirak. "But you need to spend at least an hour of each day really being present." To make the rest of the day fun for your child and "workable" for you, Oshirak recommends identifying "that shiny bright object that is going to capture your child's attention, such as a puzzle, a new game or a building activity—what I call good, old-fashioned fun. You won't get three hours of engagement out of something that is old."

For the sake of your child, yourself and the teachers, make an effort to stick—at least somewhat—to the daytime schedule he follows at school, advises Oshirak. If your child normally plays outside in the late morning, eats lunch at 11:45 a.m. and rests at 1 p.m., try to do the same. He'll be back at school in a week or two, so maintaining that routine is recommended for a smooth reentry afterward. "The teachers have a well-oiled machine at your school, and your kid is just one spoke on the wheel," she says. "If you don't stick to their schedule, it makes life difficult for them."

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At the same time, Oshirak thinks it's important to take a break from the educational part of school. "There are definitely families who enroll their kids in after-school learning programs like Kumon because they want to get ahead," says Oshirak, "but I think they deserve a break. I don't think that's what spring break is for." Instead, she suggests spending the day at the beach or finding another activity that's new and fun and will engage your child. "We have a beautiful beach near us, and though we have to pay $7 to park, it's so worth it." Think of the time spent building castles, chasing crabs and collecting seaweed as another kind of learning experience.

"I don't recommend taking a whole week off from work for a stay-at-home spring break," says Oshirak. "Everyone deserves some downtime, and if you're just home watching your kid, you'll be fried at the end." Plus, she says, your kid will have way more fun leaving town because it'll provide the opportunity to see and experience new places and things. When Oshirak is able to take time off, she commits four or five months in advance and books flights using miles and a hotel. "I've found that if you do it far in advance, a lot of hotels and resorts will give you a 20 percent discount," she says.

If you are able to leave town, take a minute to remind yourself that you are not headed for paradise. "A trip involves children. A vacation involves you and your husband. These are very different things," says Oshirak. "Manage your expectations. Know that you can't have a romantic vacation with your husband if your kids are sleeping in the same room." Also, wait on big trips like Europe until the kids are older and can manage their own luggage.

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"If you want the experience to be just like home, then stay home," says Oshirak. This means possibly forgoing blackout shades, sound machines and stocked pantries during a trip. "I understand the notion of that," she says, "but nothing is like it is at home. If you're one of those people, stay in a condo, not in a hotel." Also, try to relax a bit, and embrace the uniqueness of you all sleeping in one room. If you want them asleep at 8 p.m., then you have to go to sleep at 8, too. "Let the rules fall away a bit," she says. "Let your kids stay up a little bit later to watch a show or play with your iPad."