When the kids have a day or long breaks off from school, I try to be prepared. By prepared I mean try not to forget about it until the night before. The hardest part for my family is the change in routine. That alone makes the days feel twice as long. You can’t always depend on the weather either, so it’s smart to have a backup plan for outdoor activities. My son starts Spring Break next week and I've tried to get creative as he gets older.

Here’s a list of some ideas to help make those days off a little less grueling.

  1. Try a new park each day: Visit Kathryn Albertson Park one day and maybe Camel’s Back Park the next. This is a great way to keep things fresh and fun, while also exploring new areas of town that you may not have been before.
  2. Science Experiments: I love these because not only are they interesting and fun, they are educational and your child will love the hands on experience.
  3. Create a mini garden: Kids love the rewarding feeling of planting seeds and watching them grow into plants, fruits, or vegetables. It also teaches them responsibility to care for something by watering and checking on it every day.
  4. Geocaching: My family just started this popular activity last year. It’s basically the coolest treasure hunt adventure ever. You can sign up at geocaching.com and find coordinates around Boise, navigate to the locations, and once you find it, sign and date the logbook that keeps record of each person who has been there. Re-hide the geocache treasure exactly how you found it and keep searching!
  5. Go for a photo walk: Pick up a disposable camera for the kiddos and go on a nature walk. Let them snap photos of things they think are beautiful or interesting. They will have a blast taking the pictures and enjoy even more going through them after they’re developed.

If you are looking for Spring Break camps outside of the home, here are a few that caught my eye!

 

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