5 March Break Boredom-Busters

If you have school-aged children, chances are you’ve experienced a March Break or two.  That’s five consecutive days where the kids are out of school and looking for something to keep busy. While this is a very popular time to take a family vacation, it’s still a little bit close to the Holidays to come up with that kind of money.  So what can you do to with your brood to beat the boredom?

1-      Explore the Local Library. A lot of libraries have story time and workshops that encourage kids to read. Sometimes there are craft and writing workshops for the older kids. They usually amp these up during spring break and summer vacations. For the most part, these events are free or require a nominal donation to the library. A lot of people don’t realize that it’s not only books in the library; there are DVDs and music to borrow too.  The best part is, this gives some quality quiet time to the parents.

2-      One-night stay at a hotel with a pool.  This is Canada, so spring break in March does not always enable us to get outside a whole lot.  Room rates at hotels, motels, and Inns are typically less expensive during the week. Find one in your city or town and just one night could feel like you got away somewhere warm. If dining out puts you over budget, you could stop at the grocery store on your way and eat in your room.

3-      Dollarama Crafts Day. The selection of art and craft supplies at Dollarama is phenomenal. For less than $10 you could find enough supplies to fill an entire day with creative activities.  With a larger selection, it could help to assign each child with a task or craft recipient. Jane could make a jewelry box for Grandma while John works on a picture frame for Dad’s office.

4-      Check Out a Cheap Movie Theater. Most big cities have a theatre that plays movies that have been out for a while, at a discounted rate. This cuts the typical cost of going to the movies by up to 50%. If you don’t have a theatre like this where you live, find the closest Redbox, grab some popcorn and have your own movie day.

5-      Teach Your Children Some Helpful Skills. Kids like to help out a lot more than we give them credit for. Teaching your children how to fold laundry, dust the furniture, or vacuum might seem like zero fun, but you’d be amazed how willing and able they really are. From there you could work out a schedule and reward system based on tasks completed. It might take a little patience, but it will pay off for everyone.

Filed under: All About the Kids by Jenna
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