While I love the idea of taking a big trip for spring break, the reality is that school is out, work is not. Hopefully, we will be able to get away for a mini trip for a night or two this year, but for the most part spring break is a staycation for mom and the kids. The key to making it special, instead of wasting the days is a spring break bucket list. Planning a few special meals and snacks, craft projects and fun activities can help make lasting spring break memories that don’t break the bank.
There is nothing simpler than a sheet strung between chairs or hung over a card table, but a single fort can provide hours of entertainment. After building a fort, my kids typically want to do everything in the fort from reading and playing with dolls to eating lunch. Which makes a fort the perfect place to have an indoor picnic — complete with a picnic lunch.
Smucker’s® Squeeze™ and Jif to Go® Peanut Butter turn ordinary crackers into a DIY lunch, and I don’t know about your kids, but mine love anything they can do themselves! I stocked up on snacks, creative lunches and craft supplies at Walmart to keep costs down and the fun high.
Spring Break Bucket List
You don’t have to over-plan spring break. Just one or two ideas each day to keep things moving, after that let your kids imaginations direct the days. After all, that’s the beauty of childhood.
Thinking ahead I made a list of idea starters for spring break. Even if we don’t do everything on our bucket list, it gives us a good place to start each day when the kids ask, “What are we going to do today.”
- Build a fort.
- Bake cookies.
- Watch a new movie.
- Arts and crafts.
- Go for a walk.
- Ride a bike.
- Go to the zoo.
- Homemade sidewalk chalk.
- Read a book.
- Homemade crayons.
- Play a game.
- Have a picnic.
- Make a pirate ship from a cardboard box.
- Dance party.
- Stay up late.
- Homemade play-dough.
- Family game night.
- Handprint art.
- Lemonade stand.
- Minigolf.
- Mad Libs.
- Grow your own crystals.
- Write a book.
- Homemade pizza.
- Baking soda experiments.
- Popcorn bar.
- Make a card for someone.
- Countdown to summer.
- Homemade ice cream in a bag.
After you click on the link above, the image will open in another window. Right click the image to download it to your computer, and the print the file from your computer.
Planning a picnic? Skip the chore of making PB&J and grab a box of Smucker’s® Uncrustables® to go. Just toss the frozen sandwiches in your cooler, and they will be thawed by the time the kids are ready for lunch. Bonus they will help keep your other foods cool! (Also great for the beach!)
Spring Break Shopping List
Now that the wheels are turning and you have some ideas. Prep for spring break by stocking up on snack and craft essentials at Walmart.
- Smucker’s® Squeeze™
- Jif to Go® Peanut Butter
- Grapes
- Crackers
- Carrots
- Juice boxes
- Popcorn
- Popcorn toppings
- Smucker’s® Uncrustables®
- Cake mix (for cookies)
- Craft supplies
- Pizza dough
- Pizza toppings
- Half and half
I am looking forward to a week of simple memories with my girls. What is your favorite thing to do on a spring break staycation?
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