Are you planning to stay at home during school break? There are so many fun things to do on Spring Break or Summer at home that you do not need to feel bad about not leaving town! Today, I’ve got 15+ Family Staycation Ideas for your next school break!
Download two free printables: 50+ Family Activities to do at Home and Spring Fun List!
Family Staycation Ideas
There are many reasons not to travel over Spring Break. First, travel can be especially expensive during March and April. Maybe your schedule does not allow for any trips during your kids’ spring break. As the kids get older, sometimes there sports or extracurricular activities make it difficult to leave town for Spring Break. Whatever the reason for staying home over Spring Break, there is no reason to fret! There are so many fun things to do at home over Spring Break!
Since we have both traveled and stayed home for Spring Break, I know the pros and cons to traveling during Spring Break. One of the biggest benefits of staying home for the break is that is usually nice and quiet in town. Many of my kids’ friends are out of town, so there is less opportunities to hang out with other people. So usually, we get a lot of quality family time over Spring Break. My favorite type of Spring Break is a mix of travel plus a few days back at home. That is what we are doing this year. I am looking forward to our trip but then also excited to have a few days after the trip to just hang at home.
Take a look at these ideas at plan out your own family staycation ideas!
Fun Things to Do for a Spring Break at Home with Kids
1. Explore Something New in Your Own Town
This is one of the best ways to spend your Staycation! Do a little research to find some new things in your city or town that you have never explored. Maybe that new thing is a playground or park. Or maybe you can find a unique local attraction or exhibit.
A few years ago, we spent a day exploring an area that was new to the kids. It is a day we still talk about. When you get out of your own town, it is amazing that you can feel like you are in a whole other city!
2. Geocaching
Have you ever tried Geocaching? It is a very fun way to go out exploring with a purpose! Download the Geocaching App to your phone and find locations near you to Geocache. Kids really like this activity because many Geocaches have little treasure to take. Then, you replace those treasure with your own little trinkets for the next finder.
3. Scavenger Hunt
You could also make your own Scavenger Hunt in your neighborhood or city. Come up with unique things to find throughout your day (or make it a week long challenge). Work as a team on the Scavenger Hunt or if your family is up for a little competition, make teams. Award fun or silly prizes to the Scavenger Hunt Winners.
4. Pick a Theme
If you want a little more structure to your Spring Break, decide on a theme and do activities related to that theme. Glitter on a Dime has awesome ideas for School Break Theme Ideas that she uses in the summer.
One day the theme might involve a craft, another day an outing and then maybe a movie or game to round out the theme.
Some Spring Break Theme Ideas include:
- Exploring Our Town
- Cooking
- Learning the History of Our City
- Spring Crafts
- Beach or Summer Theme (Have a fun indoor beach day complete with a summer meal and some indoor beach games)
5. Have a Backyard or Indoor Campout
Kids love the opportunity to do something out of the ordinary. If the weather allows, have a backyard campout. It is a nice way to get the camping experience without all of the usual camping inconveniences. Kids can quickly get to the bathroom or grab a snack indoors:)
If the weather does not allow for any camping, you could set up a camp out in your own home. Make microwave s’mores and have snacks by flashlight.
6. Make Crafts
During a relaxing spring break at home, you might want to get out all of your arts and crafts! If you have some craft kits laying around, now is the perfect time to bring those out.
Spring Crafts for Kids
In the spring time, we like to make our fairy garden. You could have the kids work on individual fairy gardens or make one together as a family.
Another spring time craft to consider are mini plant terrariums! The Dollar Store sells almost everything you need to make this $5 craft!
7. Have a Game Day or Night
Do you have a lot of family board games? Break these games out during Spring Break! Let the kids each pick a favorite game or two and then play them together. You could put together a yummy snack platter to keep everyone “in the game”.
8. Work on a Home Project Together
Is there a home project you have not found the time to do. Gather up the family and work on the home project together. Does your garage need a good clean out? Or maybe your kids need to organize and purge their toys? You could even do some spring cleaning! Decide on a project or two together.
Don’t forget to take a lot of breaks (it is a vacation after all!) and reward your hard workers at the end!
9. Do Some Good Deeds
With a little bit lighter of a schedule, maybe you have time to consider doing a few good deeds as a family. Every little act of good matters, so nothing you do is too small.
Small Community Service Ideas
Pick up Litter at Your Local Park or Your Own Neighborhood
Visit a Pet Shelter and Bring Donations
Make Food for Neighbors or the Police and Fire Stations
Visit a Nursing Home and Bring Homemade Cards
RELATED POST: SPRING BREAK TRIP TO WASHINGTON, D.C.
10. Meet Friends for a Playdate
Most likely you are not the only family left in town! Schedule a play date with some friends and enjoy spring break together. Have your friends join you on one of your Spring Break adventures like exploring a new park or local attraction.
11. Do One Thing a Day
If you are looking for a relaxing, unstructured vacation, take it easy and consider planning just one small thing a day. It is nice to have one thing to look forward to each day, especially for the kids. As much as a relaxing break sounds, kids can get antsy and inevitably they crave some activity or event.
12. Set up a Food Taste Test
A few years ago, the kids and I had an Oreo Taste Test and it has been a yearly tradition every since. I gather up a bunch of different Oreo varieties and then on a random day, I announce we are going to have an Oreo Taste Test. It is so fun! We always have leftover cookies and the kids like to do the test with their friends afterwards.
You could use these ballots for any type of snack food!
13. Have a Family Cooking Competition
Another activity that involves food is a Family Cooking Competition. A few years ago on a snowy weekend day, my family had a Cooking Competition. It was impromptu and we didn’t have a lot of rules attached to it. We broke up into teams (boys versus girls) and came up with a fun dessert. We then rated each dessert on a few categories and determined a winner.
You could also give the kids a small grocery budget ($10-15) and have them work together to come up with a fun recipe to make. We have done this before and the kids LOVE it. It is usually an unhealthy and very decadent treat but that is what makes the activity so fun and memorable!
14. Plan a Movie Marathon
Nothing is more cozy and relaxing then piling up on the couch together to watch movies. Make some popcorn and get a few movie theater style candy boxes for some yummy snacking! Here are 50 Movies to Watch with Your Kids from Commonsense Media.
15. Bring the Vacation to You
If traveling is not part of your plans this year but you would love to be somewhere fun, bring the fun to you! One time, we planned an entire Day at Disney at Home. It is still a day we talk about!
Other vacation at home days include a picnic in your living room, beach day at home, pick your favorite city or country. Create your entire day around things that have to do with your particular destination. You can make meals that fit the theme, plan activities and even find inexpensive souvenirs to surprise the family!
16. RELAX!
By the time Spring Break rolls around in the school year, everyone is ready for a break! Kids but also parents are exhausted from the endless homework, forms to sign, lunches to pack and events to attend. Give yourself permission to RELAX! If you don’t have schedules to keep, allow for some care free and slow moving days! There is benefits to allowing kids to be bored. You do not need to plan every minute of their vaacation for them. While they still might tell you there are bored on occasion, they will also LOVE the downtime!
Make the most of your school break at home with these family staycation ideas!
For more Family Staycation Ideas, check out this Pinterest Board:
I completely agree with you in terms of doing both during Spring Break…a few days at home and a few days away. We will be doing that this year as well. Also really love your idea of picking a theme. Reminds me of summer camp!
Great ideas! When my kids were younger we did theme weeks all summer and planned activities around them. It was fun for me! Also I love geocaching!
Love these ideas, Jaclyn! I️’ve been trying to come up with ideas for Spring Break over here, so this is super helpful! 🙂
We homeschool so we don’t have a spring break but I am always looking for new and fun ways to spend meaningful time with my boys. These are some really great ideas! Pinned.
Thanks so much for including our theme ideas! This post has so many great ideas!