Spring Break Activities For Any Weather

Spring is almost here, and while I’m excited for longer days and warmer weather, it also means my kids will be on break from school this month. When I was a kid, spring break was only a week long, but now with two weeks to fill, it can be challenging to find ways for the kids to stay busy and have fun. Even though things are warming up, here on the West Coast it still rains a lot of the time, so I need to plan for both indoor and outdoor activities that will keep my kids busy and off screens for at least part of the day. Here are some activities we’ll be doing this spring break, no matter the weather!

1. Go on a Nature Adventure

To be clear, I don’t mean a hike. I mean of course you could go hiking – that’s a great way to get outside and enjoy nature. But what we really love is going on a nature adventure. Wherever your favourite piece of nature may be – a forest, pond, neighbourhood park, backyard, even a ditch – get outside and just look. Observe all the ways nature is busy getting ready for spring.

Depending on your climate, you may see new shoots and leaves, early flowers, tadpoles, bird nests, insect eggs, etc. Listen for bird calls and insect noises. Smell the damp earth and plants growing. Sometimes we get so focused on all the things we need to get done every day, we forget to just be present. Being mindful is such an important skill to teach and practice with your kids, and this a wonderful way to practice. Remind everyone not to touch, pick, or disturb the plants and wildlife. But taking pictures of what you see is fun.

Image by dewdrop157 from Pixabay

Bonus activity: turn your nature adventure into a fun scavenger game! Print out a list of 10-15 nature items you would expect to find in your local area. Send everyone out with the list and instructions to take a photo of every item they find. Here are just a few suggestions to get you started.

• a purple flower
• new leaves on a tree
• a spiderweb
• ants
• mud
• an earthworm
• a plant growing in water
• eggs (any kind!)
• a bird
• a squirrel

2. Sign Up for a Spring Break Camp

Check your local community centre, library, recreation centre, even your child’s school to see if they offer any half or full-day camps. Over the past few years, we’ve done musical theatre camps, arts and crafts, cooking, and more. Day camps are a wonderful way to try out a new hobby and make some friends at the same time.

3. Play Together

Spring break is perfect for spending more time together and playing as a family. Fortunately for us, Asmodee Canada has a variety of board games to suit any age and interest. Check out some new and upcoming games that everyone can play together!

Let’s Hit Each Other with Fake Swords

Sixem Sour Patch Kids

Azul Duel

Monkey Palace

4. Camp Out or In

If you’ve got the weather, take advantage of it with a mini camping trip in the backyard. But if it’s still cold and wet where you are, never fear. Move all the furniture to the edges of the room and camp out in your living room!

5. Foster Kittens

This idea is a little bit out of the ordinary, but spring is the start of kitten season, and shelters and animal rescue organizations are often overwhelmed by the influx of kittens. Search out your local kitten rescues and consider volunteering to foster for a little while. Who knows, this may turn into something your family takes on long-term!

Disclosure: I received sample items to facilitate this post. This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.