Spring break presents an excellent opportunity to break out of the monotony of school and engage in new styles of hands-on learning. Here are some ideas on what to do with kids during spring break that are sure to infuse learning into your family's down time. Whether you're planning a staycation or an overseas adventure, we believe that every life experience is an educational opportunity.Â
What To Do With Kids For Spring Break?
Explore Nature's Classroom
Embrace the great outdoors through nature-focused activities. Take a hike through a national park or nature reserve and engage in birdwatching, plant identification, or star-gazing. A great idea to do with kids this spring break is to use field guides and nature apps to identify fauna and flora in their local ecosystems. Also, try letting kids to lead the way using mathematical and reasoning skills to navigate a map and track distances/altitude. Finally, foster a deep appreciation for the environment and reflect on the human impact in our surrounding world.
Cultural Immersion
Visit museums, historical sites, or cultural landmarks at home or in your travels. Trace the footsteps of famous figures or get in touch with ancient civilizations or past events. This cultural exploration will broaden kids' perspective and ignite their curiosity about history and its impact today. With this in mind, Take the opportunity to create open dialogue about your family values and attitudes regarding the topics at hand. Share anecdotes about your own personal experiences with the places/landmarks/sites visited and how they impacted you.
Volunteer Vacation
If you have the energy for it, incorporate volunteering into your spring break plans. Research local organizations or overseas projects that welcome family volunteers. Some ideas to consider are beach clean-ups, community gardens, animal shelters, kids camps, etc. Volunteering teaches children the importance of giving back, instilling values of empathy, responsibility, and social awareness.
Culinary Adventures at Home
Everyone's gotta eat, right? If you still don't know what to do with kids this spring break, transform your kitchen into a culinary classroom by exploring international cuisine and cooking meals from different cultures together. Educational opportunities include research skills, cultural awareness, measuring quantities, budgeting, sourcing ingredients/shopping, implementing chemistry skills in the kitchen, and most importantly, bringing the family together. Experiment with new flavours, textures and cooking techniques. Finally, don’t be afraid to make mistakes in the kitchen; you will have lasting anecdotes and there’s always pizza delivery in a pinch. Try this kid-friendly Around The World in 80 Meals challenge.
Creative Workshops
If you are not able to take time off to do activities with kids during spring break, consider registering them for a workshop or class focused on the arts, crafts, or STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). For example, local art studios, makerspaces, or science centres usually offer themed workshops tailored for families. From pottery classes to robotics workshops, these hands-on experiences foster innovation, problem-solving skills, and self-expression.
Educational Entertainment
If you don’t have extra time off during spring break, you can at least commit to taking on one educational learning experience for that week. This could be as simple as watching a documentary, listening to a podcast or playing a trivia game. As always, take the time to reflect on learning and ask questions afterwards. Try this list of documentaries to check out with your family; you can sort them by age so you can find the right fit for your kids.
Spring break presents a prime opportunity to give kids a break from traditional school and open them up to new learning opportunities. Cherish the short 18 years of childhood by creating memorable experiences that enrich the minds (and hearts) of the entire family. By embracing educational opportunities during spring break, you can inspire curiosity, foster a love for learning, and create special moments of discovery together. What are you waiting for?