If this were a game of simple word-association, a lot of people’s minds would jump automatically from “spring break” to “skiing” or “trip to Florida.” But you’re right: these are expensive options, and they may not be on the A-list of activities for struggling families with young kids. Fortunately, there are plenty of other things you can do with a week off from school.
It might help to stop and re-assess the whole idea of spring break – what is it, why do we have it, and what (if anything) should we be hoping to accomplish with it? The answers are so obvious that they’re easy to overlook. As we see it, the main purpose of spring break is to provide students with a breather before the last sprint to the finish line. The break is a much needed pause in the schedule before things gear up for the last couple months of school (which can be pretty intense). If you look at it that way, you may actually find yourself breathing a sigh of relief. There’s no need for parents to pack the week with too many activities. It doesn’t have to be the “blowout” of a lifetime – just an opportunity to hang out, chill out, and spend some quality time as a family.
How about planning a couple of movie nights, complete with pizza and popcorn? If there’s something good playing at the Cineplex you can make an outing of it. You might also check out some inexpensive attractions like local museums and art galleries. Weather permitting, try to get outdoors as much as possible. Take the kids to the park and throw the Frisbee around. Plan a picnic. Drive up into the mountains and discover some new hiking trails. It’s important to find ways to counteract the effects of cabin fever as the end of winter approaches, and you don’t have to break the bank to do it.
Whatever you do, be sure to build in some time to laugh, talk, and dream together. In family life, the best things tend to happen when you aren’t expecting it. So stay loose, stay open, and don’t get so uptight or overscheduled that you can’t just sit and listen to your kids. Let them tell you what they’d like to do and how they want to spend their time away from school. You’ll be glad you did.
