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March Break is an annual event that can cause you a lot of stress. If you and your partner both work. you need to find childcare options for your kids. If you can get time off, then you’ve got to come up with activities to entertain the family.
No matter the situation, it can be an expensive time of the year. This is worse when money is tight. With any luck, you can rely on friends or family to watch your children. Or manage your work schedule around the holiday.
Let’s say you’re fortunate enough to get time off during March Break. How are you going to entertain your children when they aren’t in school? This is a great chance to have some quality family time!
Just because money is tight, doesn’t mean that there aren’t a lot of free activities you can take part in. To help you plan your March Break, we’re going to list 4 ways to have fun without spending a dime.
1. Take Part in a Community Event
During March Break, a lot of communities run free events for families. Check out your town’s website or visit city hall to find a list of events going on in your area.
These could include public skating times, nature walks, music events, shows, or sports. Not only are these great activities for children but they’re usually educational. They also get your family into the community, meeting other people.
2. Visit a Library or Museum
We know that most kids would prefer a trip to the dentist over the library or museum. But these institutions offer a lot of great programs for children during March Break.
The people who create these events know that children have short attention spans. That’s why so many of programs involve interactive elements. Some of the activities for kids include bingo, crafts, magic shows and science experiments.
This isn’t even mentioning the learning resources available in these buildings. Libraries have amazing children sections filled with books and other forms of media. Also, museums and galleries are great places for families to learn together.
3. Host a Board Game Competition
Most families have a ton of board games. They usually sit forgotten on a shelf or in a closet. Choose a game that involves the whole family. Pictionary is a great option that can double as a game of charades.
Once you’ve chosen a few family games from the closet, open one up and start playing. You can assign prizes such as movie choice for an evening or a no dishes night.
The winner can pick their prize and gamble it for a better one during the next game. If they win, they claim an even better prize. This could mean no chores for a week. If they lose, they have to give up their first prize.
4. Have a Cook-Off
This one is going to depend on family size and child age. But you can change it to fit your family structure.
This starts with a look in the pantry. Make a list of what you have and what you can make from it. Once you have a list of dishes, divide them up into categories.
Now, you separate your family into two. The teams decide on the items they want on their menus. Once everyone is happy with their choices, you begin cooking.
This can be as competitive as you want. The important thing is to work together with your partner(s) to create the meal. Once both dishes are complete, you judge each others food by taste and presentation.
This activity teaches children new skills and gets your family working together. It’s also a great way to use up ingredients in the kitchen that usually sit forever. A cook-off also makes meals for the family during the week!
There are a lot of ways to have fun as a family during March Break. It doesn’t have to cost anything to come together and enjoy the holidays. Don’t let money weigh you down and prevent you from seeing what’s important.