How to Have a Fun Spring Break at Home with Kids

If you’re like me, there are times that your budget or other circumstances won’t allow you to travel when the kids have a break from school. During those times, I still want to make memories, keep the kids from getting bored, and help us all have fun. So, today, I’m showing you how to have a fun spring break at home with kids. 

Last year, I wanted to have a great time with my girls for our spring break.  I also needed to be conscious of our budget. More than anything, I wanted to do things that my girls wanted to do and to build memories and fun into our relationship. 

I know that if I don’t make a plan, we end up vegging and not doing much. I wanted to make sure our spring break wasn’t a wasted week. I also didn’t have hundreds of dollars to spend for the week. It wanted it to be simple, fun, and something that built a connection, not just activities.

For me, that takes a little planning. 

How to Have a Fun Spring Break at Home with Kids

Supplies:

• Printable Planner

Step 1: Brainstorm themes

TIME: Varies – About 15 minutes

To have a great week, you’ll need a plan. I realize we all think we can wing it, and it will all work out, but for most of us, that doesn’t work out.

If you’re like me, you’ll need a plan or almost 100% of the time you’ll find something else to do. I hate admitting that and writing that out because I feel like it sounds awful, but I’m going to guess I’m not alone. We have a lot on our plates, and there is always more to do, it takes a conscious effort to spend time with our kids in ways that are meaningful to them.

Let the whole family help with this.

It’s time to brainstorm themes for your days. Don’t count out any ideas. 

If you let everyone help, they will be more apt to have fun with what they planned. 

This can work for extended time periods like summer or a stay at home order. 

Step 2: Narrow ideas

TIME: Varies – About 5 minutes

Next up, vote for your top 5 ideas.

If you’re planning for an extended time at home, keep the other ideas to use another week.

Step 3: Plan themes

TIME: Varies – About 5 minutes

Take your top 5 vote getting themes, and make those the themes for your week at home.

Write them at the top of the day on the planner. 

Step 4: Plan activities

TIME: About 10 -20 minutes

Now it’s time to select activities for each day’s theme.

Write them in the bubbles for each day.

See below for more ideas.

Pinterest is a great source of ideas for each theme.

Don’t forget to ask your kids for ideas. They most likely have a bunch of ideas about what they would like to do.

For most age ranges, 3 activities per day should work great. Younger kids may need a few more since their attention span is shorter. 

You don’t want this to feel overwhelming, just the right amount of together time and fun with some breaks and time to do things on their own as well. 

Step 5: Plan supplies

TIME: Varies – About 5 minutes

Once you have your activities set, determine what supplies you need. 

Write the supplies for each day on the coordinating supply sheet. 

Step 6: Make shopping list

TIME: Varies – About 5 minutes

Using the supply sheet you wrote out, check to see what you have. Anything you need should get added to the shopping list. 

Step 7: Shop for supplies

TIME: Varies – 1 hour

Possible Theme and Activities:

• Summer jar ideas
• Printable ideas
• Activity board
• Lego day building a set together
• Lego day competition using a set of legos (affiliate link). Set a certain number of blocks that may be used and see who can build the most creative car or monster or whatever. 
• Jellyfish craft
• Baking day – come up with 3 things to make together, let the kids pick and let them cook along with you
• Park day – ride bikes, picnic, play games with the dogs, play frisbee, try a new hike, do a nature scavenger hunt
• Spa day – make bath bombs, do masks, manicures, make bath salts, pedicures
• Breakfast day – pick out your family favorite breakfast meals and eat breakfast at every meal
• PJ day – wear PJs all day and play slumber party games, like this flashlight limbo
• Bean bag toss game and another version
• Olympic theme – craft, tons of winter games and summer games, more ideas
• Sports theme – indoor active ideas, and dance ideas
• Family crafts – eggs, stars, ornaments
• New Year’s Theme – Family ideas, bags
• Movie day/night – Frozen, Printables, organization

If it works for you and your family, don’t forget to let your kids include friends in a few days. It helps them have a little more fun and break up the time as well. 

It will also allow you to have a little time to get some of those things done that you need to get done. 

What ideas do you have for having a great spring break at home with your kids? Please leave ideas for themes and activities in the comments below. I’ll add them to the list of ideas, and you’ll be helping other moms out with planning a fun time at home with the kids.

Get your spring break printable planner here.

For even more fun ideas, follow me on Pinterest as I’m constantly pinning fun ideas for kids and families.