Surviving March Break

Surviving March Break
By Toronto4Kids.com

You didn’t book a trip away. You didn’t book a camp. You have a week off. They are going to be home from school for an entire week. What are you going to do now?

Here are parenting tips and activities for surviving Spring Break with young kids, so you can endure this time with grace and humor!

Families can enjoy March Break together; the key is to keep your kids engaged and entertained. With some activities on hand, you’ll keep little ones busy and steer them clear of boredom.

An activity for every day...

Day 1 – Enjoy Foods from Around the World Day

Have a ‘world foods’ day sampling foods from different parts of the world: Japanese, Italian, Chinese, French, and Mexican are some favourites! Get your kids feeling adventurous about what they eat. Have them help out with the preparation of the meal.

Day 2 – Painting and Crafts Day

Painting and crafts are always tops with the kids, especially when you use the paints that you make! How fun!

Finger-Paint Ingredients:
– 3 Cups of Water
– Extra Water
– 1 Cup of Cornstarch
– Food Colouring

Directions:
1. In a pot, bring water to a boil.
2. Dissolve cornstarch in a separate bowl with some of the extra water. Although consistency should be thick, make sure you are able to pour it.
3. Remove boiling water from heat and add to cornstarch mixture.
4. Pour mixture on a clean, smooth surface and knead until it forms a soft, pliable dough.
5. Return to pot and heat, stirring constantly. Boil until the mixture is clear and thick (approx 1 minute), then remove from heat.
6. Cool mixture and divide into separate bowls. Add food coloring. Pick some neon colours available a Michael’s Crafts stores.

Day 3 – Movie Marathon Day

Hold a movie marathon day. Dip into the movies your family owns but hasn’t watched for awhile or rent/borrow new ones from the video store/library. Have a Disney movie marathon following themes such as princesses or pirates. Or enjoy a series like Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Toy Story, and many more! Serve special movie snacks.

Day 4 – Theme Day

Have a theme day or declare a special activity for a day: Hat Day, Beach Day, Upside-Down Day, Crazy Hair Day, Backwards Day, Hawaiian Luau Day, etc.

Day 5 – Outdoor Activities Day

Make sure you get the kids outdoors to play with great Spring outdoor activities:
• Go on a bird watching trek in your backyard, a local park, or around your neighbourhood. Look for different types of birds. Bring a bird book, and enjoy trying to identify them.
• Schedule a play date with friends and take them to a park. Have a blast on the swings, slides, and monkey bars.
• Set up a treasure hunt in the back yard.
• Ride your bikes.

Some last bits of advice…

Keep your kids on a schedule! Sticking to your family routine can set the tone for the entire day! This keeps kids on track for when school starts again. By finding a good balance of activities, you’ll survive March Break with your sanity intact! Guaranteed!

Happy March Break!