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Staying home this spring break? According to a recent survey and psychology experts from the Journal of Happiness Studies, you may be making the right choice; Americans need eight vacation days total, and three of those days are spent de-stressing. On top of that, we need at least one more day to transition after a trip, according to Alexander Caillet, an organizational psychology consultant. “We tend to go from where we were to where we are overnight, and it’s a bit of a shock to the system,” Caillet told NBC News BETTER.
In short, spring break is not a long enough period of time for you to fully enjoy a trip away. (Repeat that to yourself every time you start feeling a little jelly toward your jetsetting friends, who are going to return home needing a vacation from their vacation.) So while others are off relaxing poolside or taking in gorgeous mountaintop views, just tell yourself that there’s probably a small human beside them who’s whining about being hot or cold or wanting to go home. And then pick out a few of these family spring break activities that you get to enjoy right in the comfort of your own home.
The great indoors: Indoor spring break activities
Give your kids something to look forward to each day by creating a Spring Break Event Calendar together (the larger the paper you use, the better) with some of these themed indoor activities:
- Spa day — Transform your bathroom into a spa with music, candles, light refreshments, and a bubble bath (with sliced cucumbers). Neatly display your nail polish and those face masks you got last Christmas. Don’t forget to name your spa (ours is called Mermaid Lagoon) and make a welcome sign for the door!
- Kindness day — Make anonymous encouragement cards and leave them on your neighbors’ doorsteps. If you’re able, put together small care packages for people who are homeless and deliver them with the cards.
- Baking party — Donna Merino, mom of 3, uses pre-made butter cookies to allow her kids to make their own cookie creations. “I dip them in chocolate and the kids get to put sprinkles, nuts, whatever they want on them. Then we gift them to neighbors,” Merino told Mom.com.
- Balloon volleyball — Yes, this can be played indoors! “Even my almost 2-year old plays with us,” Merino shared with Mom.com.
- Movie night slumber party – Cover the floor with fold-up mattresses, pillows, and blankets, get into your pajamas, and bring out the popcorn and hot chocolate as you watch your favorite movies. Then let yourself fall asleep with your kids cuddled beside you.
- Dream room makeover — Pick a room and let your kids imagine they are on a home makeover show. What would they change? Take away? Add? Write down all their ideas, no matter how big, small, or ridiculous. Then pick at least one and make it happen.
- Fort city — Turn your living room into a community of blanket forts! Every member gets their own home. Don’t forget to build a grocery store, doctor’s office, ice cream parlor, and other “essential” services.
- Dance/karaoke party — Turn the lights down, the music up, and dance like no one’s watching to your kids’ favorite songs! If possible, get a small disco light or even a kids’ microphone. You can find the lyric video or karaoke version of almost any song on YouTube.
- Create date — Paint flower pots (then plant flowers in them) or birdhouses, or make a family time capsule and bury it in the backyard. Or, try a meditative painting activity by turning on some instrumental music, painting blindfolded, then going around and sharing a positive message you see in each person’s painting.
- Favorite things tea party — Bring out your favorite outfit, tablecloth, china, and anything else you save for special occasions, because this is it! Have your kids fill the seats around your table with their favorite stuffed animals and dolls. Then enjoy your favorite foods with your favorite people.
Olympians and ninjas and tourists, oh my! Outdoor spring break activities
Take advantage of nice weather (if you have it) as much as possible with some outdoor fun!
- Family Olympics day — Create a series of events with your kids — a pillow case race, egg-and-spoon race, bean bag toss, long jump, etc. Make gold, silver, and bronze medals and hold an award ceremony afterward.
- Ninja warrior competition — Design an obstacle course in your yard! Check out these low-prep ideas for kids from parenting blog Playtivities.
- Camp (insert family name) — Make s'mores, read stories by flashlight, and sleep in a tent outside under the stars.
- Nature scavenger hunt — Find free printables online or have your kids predict what they might find and design your own.
- Tourist for a day — Search online for “best things to do” in your city and do as many as you can in a day!
- Beach/lake glamping day — If you live within one to two hours of a scenic body of water, take a day trip. Pack car snacks, finger foods, a portable hot water dispenser, instant noodle cups, and hot chocolate; blankets, chairs, a tent, and whatever else you’ll need to feel pampered and comfortable.
The world is your classroom: Outdoor education ideas
If you’re looking to build some educational outings into your spring break, try some of these ideas:
- Visit a nearby **kids’ museum**. Science, nature, art — whatever your child's interests are, chances are there's a museum nearby that would delight them for the day.
- Attend a spring musical at a local theater. (Many kid-friendly musicals are based on books and movies — read the book and watch the movie together first, and make the musical your grand finale!)
- Visit a U.S. National Park. The National Park Service hosts a variety of educational programs for kids. Explore a nearby park through the Junior Ranger Program, where kids can download activity booklets and earn a Junior Ranger badge. If you have a fourth grader at home, Every Kid Outdoors allows U.S. fourth graders and family members free access to parks.
Whatever you end up doing this spring break, keep in mind that your kids’ favorite part will be that they got to spend time with you. So resist the urge to check your phone (I’m preaching to myself here, too), keep it simple, and let yourself have some unproductive fun. These are the good ol' days you’re going to reminisce about one day.
