If you have been diligently working to homeschool your kids or keep a schedule in these uncertain times, chances are high that you may have lost track of the days by now.
So, I have some exciting news for you: Even though I can’t actually tell you what day of the week it is, what time it is, or when my children will actually stop asking me for another snack, I can tell you that you have full permission to give your children an official “unofficial” spring break. When? Right now, if you want! Tomorrow, if you’d like! Or, if your kids are in a groove, save it for a day when you just can’t take the virtual learning anymore.
The point is, it’s up to you to decide what works for your family, but all of us were scheduled for a real, actual break sometime this month — and we still deserve to take that break, even if it looks far, far different from what we ever thought it would.
In our house, I sort of feel like since the moment we got the phone call telling us that school was called off, we haven’t really taken a breath. It was like my husband and I decided to just tackle this time head-on without really taking time to asborb what is actually happening around us.
But now that it’s been three weeks, I know it’s time to stop pretending I can just plow forward and ignore the magnitude of the situation. My kids have been amazing and resilient, but I can tell it’s time for all of us to take a deep breath and relax a little.
So, this week, we have declared that we are officially on spring break
We have closed the laptops, logged off of virtual learning, loosened the schedules, and have been focusing more on having fun.
My husband and I have really been trying to embrace the fact that this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime (hopefully) experience for our kids and, as such, it’s really a time to say yes to the things we normally say no to. For instance, our kids have started having sibling sleepovers every night and we instituted a no-bedtime policy. By midnight last night, they were still giggling away at a game they made up and, honestly, I’m just so grateful that those laughter-filled momements could be what they remember from this pandemic, instead of the fear.
Need some more inspiration for your own spring break at home? Here are some ideas.
Nacho movie nights
I found the cutest movie ticket printables to “invite the kids to a screening” to make it more special.
Go on a rainbow hunt
Houses and businesses are putting rainbows in windows for kids to find. Search the hashtag #rainbowhunt near you to find neighborhoods that are participating. Just be sure to use appropriate social distancing, of course.
Let your kids cut your hair
One brave dad let his kids have some spring break fun by allowing them to cut his hair. Hey, if you’re not reporting to the office, now is the time, right?
Go on some virtual trips
Ann Arbor Kids is offering virtual spring break destinations every single week, starting with Universal Studios. Harry Potter World, anyone?
Ride some roller coasters
You can experience rides like Frozen Ever After, The Little Mermaid, and even Splash Mountain at Virtual Disney World.
Doodle all day
Um, in case you didn’t know already, the Art for Kids hub on YouTube is literally amazing. Even I was able to draw an adorable Easter chick — and yes, I did hang it up on my fridge, thank you very much.
Bring the beach in
Drag in some beach towels, bust out the books and sand toys, and fire up some beach videos on YouTube to bring the beach into your living room. I did this with my 5-year-old and let me just tell you a little trick: She had no idea that I was actually napping under my sunglasses while “playing” with her. You’re welcome.
