How to Make Spring Break Memorable, Even If You Don't Travel Anywhere ~ health and fitness,celebrity news,fashion blog,beauty women,whole foods,quotes about love

lundi 27 février 2017

How to Make Spring Break Memorable, Even If You Don't Travel Anywhere

To say that traveling with kids - especially little ones - can be stressful might just be the understatement of the century. It takes weeks, if not months, of prep work and strategizing, not to mention tons of cash for extra flights (many a parent has known the sadness of paying for a flight for a kid who's 2 years and just a few days old), baby gear rentals, diaper deliveries, and in case Mom and Dad actually want to relax on the trip, babysitters. The thought of planning and paying for it all can be enough to make you just want to stay home over that next big break.

That's when you remember that a week or so home with children used to having school, sports, clubs, and preschool programs to keep them occupied (and give you a break) can be even worse than all that vacation prep. But before you grab a bottle of wine, lock yourself in the bathroom, and start booking next year's Spring break trip to faraway lands, realize that all is not is not lost. You simply need a plan to occupy those little busy bodies and keep yourself sane.

Here are eight ways to make this Spring break your family's best yet, no TSA security check required.

Explore your hometown. If your family is like mine, you probably frequent the same two or three restaurants and visit the same park, movie theater, and shops over and over again. Take a day and discover the lesser-known spots in your backyard. Pick a new restaurant, discover a new playground through your park district's website, or trek to the movie theater on the other side of town. New experiences are key to making memories.
Book a last-minute hotel nearby. Check out Hotels.com or the Hotel Tonight app to find discounted hotel deals in your area and book yourself a family slumber party that doesn't require you to clean up afterwards. All the better if the hotel has a pool!
Take a day trip to the nearest big city. If you have a large city within an hour or two of your house, now's the time to go check it out. Drive or take the train first thing in the morning and make a day of exploring museums and local attractions, trying new kinds of food, and checking out the shops until the sun goes down, when you can head home to your own beds.
Move your bodies. Excess energy is the enemy of every stuck-at-home mom, so get it out with a morning or afternoon spent at your local bowling alley, trampoline park, or skating rink. Extra points if it's an activity new to you or your kids.
Have a Spring-cleaning competition. Stick with us on this one. Make a list of different age-appropriate chores (toy, closet, or garage clean-out, dusting, sweeping, backyard stick collecting) and assign a point level for each. Pass them on to your kids and whoever gets the most points picks a restaurant for dinner or the next day's activity. The real winner, however? Mom, of course.
Plan a game extravaganza. Collect all the board games and backyard games in your house and make an afternoon of doing each and every one, switching teams regularly. End the day with my personal favorite game: Head's Up.
Have a family member choice day. Each member of your family gets to pick one or two activities (a game, a movie, a meal out) and everyone else must participate without complaint or their activity gets the boot.
Invite friends over for a pajama party. If you have family friends who are also spending the break at home, invite them over for a pajama party. Wear comfy clothes, order pizza, put a movie on for the kids, and soak in the adult contact.

lundi 27 février 2017