If you have school-age children, then it’s that time of year — Spring Break! This year, a lot of people are unable to afford a family vacation, or even pay for planned activities for their kids. I have seen several stories on the news about how to spend Spring Break on a budget this year. My local news gave several suggestions, and after some rough calculations, I estimated some of the cheapest suggestions given would cost at least $30 -40 per child. While that’s cheaper than a family vacation, it still adds up.
This year, why not spend a memorable week at home, and save money at the same time? By planning unique, interesting and fun activities for your kids, they will never realize you’re staying home for any other reason than to have fun!
There are many activities and projects that you can do with your children for very little or no cost. Listed below are a few inexpensive, easy and fun suggestions.
- Make your own paint. All children love to paint, so why not try painting with Kool-Aid? It’s fun, inexpensive, and non-toxic. What’s cooler than painted grapes that smell like grape kool-aid? Instructions here.
- Edible play-dough. Children love to play with play-dough and it can be made quickly, cheaply, and easily at home. A few recipes are linked here. Edible play-dough is a safe alternative, smells great, and your child will enjoy helping mix it up.
- Local library. The local library is always a great outing for kids and most libraries plan special activities during school holidays.
- Local festivals, outdoor concerts, fairs or carnivals. Check with your local Chamber of Commerce (http://www.chamberofcommerce.com/public/index.cfm?) to see if there are any free or low-priced events in your area during the week.
- A picnic in the park. The city park is an inexpensive way to spend a sunny afternoon, especially if it’s within walking or biking distance from your house. Have your child help you pack a picnic lunch or snacks, and spend an afternoon in the park. If you don’t live near a park, go on a nature walk to see the various signs of spring and how many different types of insects and birds your child can see and identify. Upon returning home, encourage them to draw pictures of what they saw for a permanent memory of your outing.
- Start a small garden. A lot of people are returning to gardening this year to grow their own food, not only to save money, but to eat locally and healthier. Section off a small area for your children and let them have their own vegetable and flower garden. There’s no better way to help encourage children to try new vegetables than to let them help in the gathering and preparation of the food.
- Tour a local farm. Not a gardener? Find a local farm in your area and check with them to see if they offer any tours or activities for kids. Local Harvest (http://localharvest.org) is a good resource to locate farms in your area and find out what’s available to you.
- Nature walks. Go for a walk or bike ride with your children and take a camera or drawing paper. Collect leaves and flowers to take home and press or decoupage.
- Bird feeders. Welcome the return of the birds by making a bird feeder for the back yard from leftover milk cartons or pine cones dipped in melted peanut butter and bird seed.
- Edible necklaces. Remember those candy necklaces from your childhood? Make your own with string or yarn and Cheerios or Froot Loops cereal.
For some parents, spring break means additional child care costs because of work, and the guilt of not being able to spend the week at home with their child. Consider finding a teenager in your area to babysit for you. If you don’t know anyone, ask your friends, neighbors or even local teachers to recommend a responsible teenager who would be interested in earning some extra money this spring break.
With a little imagination, there’s no reason why your “vacation at home” this spring break can’t be the most memorable one ever for your kids, who will never remember that you stayed home to save money, but that you had fun and spent quality time together.
