Daylight Savings starts on Sunday. That means spring is just around the corner. Life as MOM contributor Jessie Leigh offers some great suggestions for making spring, and spring break, extra special.
Looking at the snow blanketing my yard, it’s a tad hard to believe that spring will ever arrive. Nonetheless, the calendar tells me that spring break will be here before I can blink. Since I don’t relish the thought of being homebound with some restless little people, I’m doing a little planning now!
Here are five ways I plan to make Spring Break special:
Start the day with a feast.
One of the great perks of spring break is that the usual morning rush can get put aside for a bit. Even if you (or your kids) aren’t particularly keen on sleeping late, there’s something lovely about being able to kick off the day at a slower pace. Why not try turning the main meal of the day around?
Rather than planning a big hearty supper the way we might during the long days of winter, try a big breakfast or brunch spread. Put out various muffins, fruit, cheese, a baked omelet, perhaps cinnamon rolls or scones… let people eat at their leisure and enjoy a calmer, simpler morning.
Explore the arts.
The days can stretch long when you have a week off from school and no travel plans in the works. Don’t let that get you down! No matter where you live, there’s likely a museum, gallery, theater, or music hall within driving distance. Check here for some great ideas all over the nation.
Oftentimes, weekdays are quieter, less chaotic times to check out a featured artist or take in a show. Matinee prices can be far more affordable than peak-time performances. Have fun expanding your artistic horizons with your little ones.
Learn something new.
Spring break is typically a week long. This is a fabulous opportunity to explore a new subject. Inspired by Jessica’s Summer Survival Guide`, I started doing weeklong “camps” with my children throughout the summer months. We have so much fun sitting down together to choose a topic they want to learn more about. We visit the library, plan crafts and foods to go along with it, and even schedule field trips that fit our theme.
Having a focal point around which to build your week might be just the (fun) structure you need to feel like you have a handle on things!
Volunteer your time.
This is a wonderful opportunity to venture out in the community with your children and lend some hands. Is there a soup kitchen or food pantry that could use some help sorting or organizing? Is there a community garden that needs some prep work? Maybe your kids’ teachers could use some help cutting or collating.
Opportunities to help abound and this week off from school might just afford you the time to really share that lesson with your little ones.
Plant something!
Depending on where you live, this might be a great time to start a little garden. Warmer climates will have many options for what to plant, but there are usually things that can tolerate the temps of even the colder corners of the country.
Here in New England, we can plant some peas and lettuce and be pretty confident they’ll survive any more frosts we’ll see before true spring. If your climate really doesn’t allow for putting things in the ground just yet, why not start some tomato or pepper seedlings indoors? Children love to dig in the dirt and there are real rewards in being able to, literally, see the fruits of your efforts.
Whether your spring break is right around the corner or won’t arrive until mid-April, there are many ways to make it fun and special. A little planning and a sense of adventure will lead to fun, lasting memories for the whole family.
How will YOU make spring special?
– A mother of three, including a 24 week preemie, JessieLeigh is a determined advocate for even the tiniest of babies. She can be found celebrating life’s (sometimes unexpected) miracles and blessings at Parenting Miracles.
5 Ways to Make Spring Special is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.
Ever heard of The Whole 30? It's a nutritional reset and restricted diet to help you heal your body and help you determine which foods might be giving you trouble. I started about a week ago and am daily blogging my experience eating dairy-, soy-, grain-, sugar-, and alcohol-free. And it's not too bad. Need some encouragement to try an elimination diet? You can follow my progress here.