10 Things to do with Kids Over the March Break
March Break is coming up and let's face it, parents are often left wondering what to do with theirs kids for the week? If they're not in childcare and home with you for the week, it often starts off exciting but by the time lunch rolls around they're bored and wondering what you will do? And this is usually the first day. Being planned and prepared with activities can help make this week fun and enjoyable for everyone!
We usually travel to Arizona to get away from the cold or travel to the city (Winnipeg) for a mini getaway for our March Break. Either way we always make sure to have activities planned to help keep the boys busy and entertained. It makes for a more enjoyable Break for them and us as no one is complaining about being bored. One of our main focus as parents is to eliminate screen time. That means TV time and computer/device time. This is time for us to spend as a family bonding together and if we all have our faces in our devices then we loose out on quality family conversations.
1. Travel - whether you're going an hour away for a quick getaway or far away on a tropical vacation. Travelling can be fun and exciting! Having some sort of get away gives the kids something to look forward to. It can also take up 1 or 2 days of the March Break and mean that there are less days to plan for at home. If your trip is a week long, you still might have to have ideas of things to do while on vacation as sitting around by the pool doesn't really last a week with kids. This is where some of the other activities listed below might come in handy. These can be done either at home over the break or while on your vacation.
2. Movie - If you have a movie theater in your community then taking your kids out to the movies can be a fun and exciting experience. If you don't have a movie theater (like we don't) then renting a movie, popping popcorn and making your own home theater experience can be just as fun! We do this often with our oldest boy and are looking forward to his brother joining now that he is old enough to sit and enjoy a movie. We like to make it an experience by putting down the blinds to help make the room dark like a theater. Offer lots of snack options and have a juice box to go with it. Also letting them have some say in the movie selection helps to make the experience fun!
3. Bake/cook - look up fun recipes to try and have fun making them with your kids. We love to make cookies, pasta, pizza, and cakes. My oldest loves to help decorate the cakes as well. His kindergarten class does a lot of cooking and baking so he is getting really good at measuring and mixing. This is a fun activity to do and also has a great rewarding end result as you all get to enjoy the hard work you've just put into making your items.
4. Indoor and/or Outdoor Playground - If the weather is nice enough outside then hitting an outdoor playground is nice as we've just spent a lot of time cooped up indoors due to the cold weather. If the option is there to go to an indoor playground that is also a great option as they usually offer lots of different activities (Climbing, sliding, trampoline park and more) and are fun for the whole family.
5. Crafts - My boys like to create things. I usually will check the internet for different craft ideas or look through my sons CHIRP magazine to see what crafts they make in there. (Side note: my son LOVES his Chirp magazines. He loves the stories, facts, crafts, snacks and science experiments that they show in there. He also loves to get mail and this is a fun piece of mail that comes for him).
6. Fun Science Experiments - My oldest son loves to do and watch science experiments. I really like this blog I Can Teach My Child as it offers different activities based on age. I have done some of the experiments off her page with my kids at home as well as the kids at school. (Did I mention I am a teacher? I am an elementary school teacher! I teach Hockey Academy to grades 4 - 8, as well as Grade 1/2 Science & Gym). CHIRP magazines also offer a science experiment to do every issue as well! You can also follow me on Pinterest mcmastk for more fun science ideas for kids. Look under TN Science for lots of fun activities.
7. Board Games - My kids love to play board games! Marbles is a family favourite for sure. We have a homemade board from my husbands grandfather but Michaud Toys is a Canadian company that makes beautiful handmade boards and their game selection is AMAZING!!! We also love paw patrol pop up (Sorry), snakes and ladders, and recently Battleship has become a popular game. Board games also keep kids off the screen and having real interaction and conversation which now a days is a skill that a lot of kids are lacking. Don't believe me? Ask a teacher... oh wait I am one... Trust me! If you have a young kid who is just getting into board/card games, Candy land is a great one! It is easy to follow and good for kids 3 years and up.
8. Outdoor Activities - Getting outside and enjoying some fresh air can be really important to having fun over the break. Kids can build forts and really explore their imaginative play. You can also do so much outside the opportunities are endless. If you have an ODR (outdoor rink) near you, skating around or playing some pickup hockey can be a lot of fun and really help to pass the time. Also going for a hike or exploring walk can be a lot of fun. Checking out what different plants, animals, tracks are around can be a lot of fun and educational at the same time.
9. Play date - Whether you're having a kids friend over to play alone or with their mom/dad. This can be therapeutic for everyone. Kids can get board and having a friend over to play can add a whole new level of excitement, even if they toys and activities stay the same. If they have a parent come with them (one that is a good friend of yours) it can now become a therapeutic experience for both as you have the opportunity to indulge in some good conversation while the kids play.
10. Play, Sporting/Entertainment event - We have taken our sons to NHL games over the break as it is a good opportunity to get out of town and on either a nice long Vacation to Arizona or a mini getaway to Winnipeg. Also our boys love hockey and it is something we all look forward to every year. We have also gone to see Paw Patrol Live, which was a great experience as well. Any choice is great as long as it is of the interest of your child.
No matter what you decide to do make it fun and memorable as this is a week that you get your kids all to yourself. You get to make unforgettable memories and it doesn't have to break your bank while doing it either.
We usually travel to Arizona to get away from the cold or travel to the city (Winnipeg) for a mini getaway for our March Break. Either way we always make sure to have activities planned to help keep the boys busy and entertained. It makes for a more enjoyable Break for them and us as no one is complaining about being bored. One of our main focus as parents is to eliminate screen time. That means TV time and computer/device time. This is time for us to spend as a family bonding together and if we all have our faces in our devices then we loose out on quality family conversations.
1. Travel - whether you're going an hour away for a quick getaway or far away on a tropical vacation. Travelling can be fun and exciting! Having some sort of get away gives the kids something to look forward to. It can also take up 1 or 2 days of the March Break and mean that there are less days to plan for at home. If your trip is a week long, you still might have to have ideas of things to do while on vacation as sitting around by the pool doesn't really last a week with kids. This is where some of the other activities listed below might come in handy. These can be done either at home over the break or while on your vacation.
2. Movie - If you have a movie theater in your community then taking your kids out to the movies can be a fun and exciting experience. If you don't have a movie theater (like we don't) then renting a movie, popping popcorn and making your own home theater experience can be just as fun! We do this often with our oldest boy and are looking forward to his brother joining now that he is old enough to sit and enjoy a movie. We like to make it an experience by putting down the blinds to help make the room dark like a theater. Offer lots of snack options and have a juice box to go with it. Also letting them have some say in the movie selection helps to make the experience fun!
3. Bake/cook - look up fun recipes to try and have fun making them with your kids. We love to make cookies, pasta, pizza, and cakes. My oldest loves to help decorate the cakes as well. His kindergarten class does a lot of cooking and baking so he is getting really good at measuring and mixing. This is a fun activity to do and also has a great rewarding end result as you all get to enjoy the hard work you've just put into making your items.
4. Indoor and/or Outdoor Playground - If the weather is nice enough outside then hitting an outdoor playground is nice as we've just spent a lot of time cooped up indoors due to the cold weather. If the option is there to go to an indoor playground that is also a great option as they usually offer lots of different activities (Climbing, sliding, trampoline park and more) and are fun for the whole family.
5. Crafts - My boys like to create things. I usually will check the internet for different craft ideas or look through my sons CHIRP magazine to see what crafts they make in there. (Side note: my son LOVES his Chirp magazines. He loves the stories, facts, crafts, snacks and science experiments that they show in there. He also loves to get mail and this is a fun piece of mail that comes for him).
6. Fun Science Experiments - My oldest son loves to do and watch science experiments. I really like this blog I Can Teach My Child as it offers different activities based on age. I have done some of the experiments off her page with my kids at home as well as the kids at school. (Did I mention I am a teacher? I am an elementary school teacher! I teach Hockey Academy to grades 4 - 8, as well as Grade 1/2 Science & Gym). CHIRP magazines also offer a science experiment to do every issue as well! You can also follow me on Pinterest mcmastk for more fun science ideas for kids. Look under TN Science for lots of fun activities.
7. Board Games - My kids love to play board games! Marbles is a family favourite for sure. We have a homemade board from my husbands grandfather but Michaud Toys is a Canadian company that makes beautiful handmade boards and their game selection is AMAZING!!! We also love paw patrol pop up (Sorry), snakes and ladders, and recently Battleship has become a popular game. Board games also keep kids off the screen and having real interaction and conversation which now a days is a skill that a lot of kids are lacking. Don't believe me? Ask a teacher... oh wait I am one... Trust me! If you have a young kid who is just getting into board/card games, Candy land is a great one! It is easy to follow and good for kids 3 years and up.
8. Outdoor Activities - Getting outside and enjoying some fresh air can be really important to having fun over the break. Kids can build forts and really explore their imaginative play. You can also do so much outside the opportunities are endless. If you have an ODR (outdoor rink) near you, skating around or playing some pickup hockey can be a lot of fun and really help to pass the time. Also going for a hike or exploring walk can be a lot of fun. Checking out what different plants, animals, tracks are around can be a lot of fun and educational at the same time.
9. Play date - Whether you're having a kids friend over to play alone or with their mom/dad. This can be therapeutic for everyone. Kids can get board and having a friend over to play can add a whole new level of excitement, even if they toys and activities stay the same. If they have a parent come with them (one that is a good friend of yours) it can now become a therapeutic experience for both as you have the opportunity to indulge in some good conversation while the kids play.
10. Play, Sporting/Entertainment event - We have taken our sons to NHL games over the break as it is a good opportunity to get out of town and on either a nice long Vacation to Arizona or a mini getaway to Winnipeg. Also our boys love hockey and it is something we all look forward to every year. We have also gone to see Paw Patrol Live, which was a great experience as well. Any choice is great as long as it is of the interest of your child.
No matter what you decide to do make it fun and memorable as this is a week that you get your kids all to yourself. You get to make unforgettable memories and it doesn't have to break your bank while doing it either.
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