7-Steps to a Non-Stress SPRING BREAK Staycation: FUN Activities With the Kids
- stylovelife
- Feb 23
- 8 min read
Updated: May 8
I remember the pure joy of getting a day off from school. The freedom of waking up with no agenda, no rush, no obligations. Just unlimited time to do whatever I wanted. And as a kid, time felt endless—one week was an eternity, stretching out with no end in sight. It was amazing.
I want my kids to have that same feeling. I want them to wake up, excited for the day ahead, free to explore, play, and just be kids. I look forward to seeing them enjoy this week of freedom the way I once did.
But then… reality hits.
Just recently, my little one was sick. Not long after, two massive snowstorms closed school, forcing me to juggle work and childcare—a combination that, let’s be honest, rarely goes smoothly. I’m fortunate to actually have the option of working remotely, but that doesn’t make it easy. Trying to focus on work while also being there for my kids is a mental tug-of-war—the stress of needing to get things done, while also wanting to give my children the care and attention they deserve.
They need me. They express it in all kinds of ways—some sweet, some… not so much.
Meanwhile, work emergencies don’t wait. The frustration builds, they start acting out, and eventually, the easiest solution is handing over the electronics!
"Just one hour." But then one turns into two. Then three. Until suddenly, they’ve spent all day on screens. And then comes the battle when it’s time to turn them off. The mood shifts, the bottled-up energy turns into sibling fights, and I’m left wondering… Is this really the fun, free day I had imagined?
I know in my heart that this isn’t the kind of break I want for them—or for me.
A Spring Break That Works for Everyone
If I must choose a motto for my life, I would say it's: I don’t live to work. I work to live.
My first priority is my family.
I want to enjoy life, enjoy my husband and kids, and create memories that last.
I want to teach them great values, play and laugh with them, and fill this home with warmth, love, and quality time that actually feels good for all of us.
That’s why this spring break, I’m choosing to be intentional. Not rigid, not over-planned, but mindful of how we spend our time. I want a balance—a mix of fun, connection, rest, and creativity—so that by the end of the week, we all feel refreshed, not drained.
The question is: How do we actually make that happen?
How do we create a spring break that lets kids enjoy their well-earned freedom without turning into an overstimulated, screen-zombie free-for-all?
How do we juggle responsibilities while making sure we still have meaningful, memorable moments with our kids?
And most importantly—how do we make sure that we don’t just survive the week, but actually enjoy it too?
I’ve been thinking about all of this, and I’ve come up with some simple, practical ways to make spring break work for everyone. Let’s dive into the strategies that can help us turn this break into something we’ll actually look back on with joy.
How to Create a Spring Break Staycation With FUN Activities and Meals With the Kids
Spring break shouldn’t feel like survival mode. It’s meant to be a time for connection, fun, and a little bit of breathing room—for both kids and parents. But finding that balance between structure and freedom, activity and rest, screens and real-life experiences can be a challenge.
Instead of just winging it and hoping for the best, here’s a simple approach to make this break smoother, more enjoyable, and full of the kind of memories that actually last.
1. Set the Stage: What’s Your GAME PLAN?
Before diving into activities, step back and think about the big picture.
Are you working or off? If you’re working, when will you have focused time? If you're off, do you want a mix of outings and at-home days?
Is your spouse off too? If so, divide and conquer or plan special family moments.
Are you traveling or staycationing? If staying home, plan some out-of-home fun—More ideas below!
Having a loose structure makes everything easier while still allowing for flexibility.
2. Get OUT & Explore: Plan Some Fun OUTINGS
Even if you’re staying close to home, March Break doesn’t have to feel repetitive. A few planned outings can break up the week and keep kids excited!
Outdoor Fun: Ice skating, sledding, tubing, a winter nature walk/hike, or a local farm visit.
Indoor Activities: A trip to the museum, bowling, indoor playgrounds, a trampoline park, cinema, or a restaurant.
Playdates & Family Meet-Ups: Schedule a day to meet up with your kids' friends, cousins or grandparents. This can give them a chance to play while giving you some social time too.
If possible, spread these activities out rather than cramming them all into one day.
3. Home Sweet Home: Create a FLEXIBLE PLAN
Once you've blocked out your calendar for when you'll be OUT, now is the time to plan our the rest of the time when you'll be home.
For the days you’re at home, having a loose routine can help prevent boredom and constant “What are we doing next?” questions.
4. Start by SETTING MEAL TIMES & PLANNING THE MENU
Take family requests to make meals more exciting.
Mix it up! Will you be cooking, making simple meals like sandwiches and omelets, ordering in, eating out, allowing the kids explore their cooking skills?!
You have 5 days—or 9, depending on how you count them!
And each day you wanna have a breakfast, lunch, supper and some snacks. So you can plan accordingly.
AND THEN structure the days around meals with a mix of activities and free time.
Check out these...
5. Plan HOME FREE TIME ACTIVITIES
A mix of independent, sibling, and family activities can keep things fresh.
Outdoor play (even a backyard snowball fight or mini obstacle course).
Turn your living room into a camping adventure.
Play hide and seek
Home family workout!
Music or dance jam session.
Creative fun – DIY tie-dye, baking, or making homemade playdough.
Craft projects (tie-dye shirts, DIY slime, painting).
How about some crafts related to the upcoming Easter?! Prep for the upcoming EASTER!! Check out these 8 Meaningful EASTER CRAFTS for Kids!
Family board games or card games.
One-on-one parent-child time – Let each child pick an activity to do with you.
Family fun – Board games, charades, indoor scavenger or treasure hunt, or a movie night with homemade popcorn.
Me-time for kids – Encourage alone time with puzzles, journaling, or independent play.
Set some reading or educational time: Try Audiobooks with Audible
Create a cozy reading fort.
Set screen time (set expectations early!)
One great way to keep things exciting? A "Boredom Jar"—write down a mix of activity ideas and let kids pick one when they need inspiration.
The goal isn’t to pack the day with activities but to create a rhythm that makes the days feel full and intentional.
6. The Great SCREEN-TIME Debate: Find a Balance That Works
If you're like me, you're bracing yourself for the screen-time battle. You want your kids to enjoy their break, but you also don’t want them glued to a screen from sunrise to sunset.
The Struggle is Real
Maybe you've been there—your child insists that "everyone else gets unlimited gaming" while you’re trying to set reasonable limits. Or perhaps you’ve seen how an hour of screens can quickly turn into three… or five… before you even realize it. The guilt creeps in. Should I let them have more? Am I being too strict?
On the flip side, too much screen time can lead to cranky moods, constant requests for "just one more episode," and that glazed-over look that makes you wonder if their brains have officially turned to mush!
So how do we find a balance that doesn’t make us feel like the bad guy or turn our kids into screen-obsessed zombies?
Creating a Realistic & Enjoyable Screen Plan
Here’s my approach: I aim for a middle ground—structured flexibility. Typically, our family rules are two hours of gaming and one to two hours of watching on weekends. But for March Break, I make an exception and allow up to three total hours per day. on weekdays It’s a special time, after all!
A few strategies that help keep screen-time in check:
✔️ Screens as a privilege, not an expectation – In our house, my kids know that screen time is earned. It follows a completed task, a chore, or good behavior. No tasks done? No screens—simple as that.
✔️ No screens before noon – Mornings are for play, creativity, and getting things done. My kids know better than to even ask before lunch.
✔️ Encouraging better screen-time choices – If they’re going to be on screens, I love steering them toward educational, creative, or interactive apps rather than mindless scrolling.
Check out these 3 Best Apps for Meaningful Screen Time
✔️ Get out and about! Staying home all day makes it too easy to fall into endless screen time. Planning a few out-of-home activities (see #2 above for ideas) helps break the cycle and keeps everyone engaged in real-world fun.
Do I have this all figured out? Nope!
Every family is different, and I still tweak our screen-time approach when needed. Some days it works great, and other days… not so much. But having a clear plan in place helps avoid constant negotiations (and power struggles).
Want to optimize screen time instead of just limiting it?
Check out these 3 Best Apps for Meaningful Screen Time—they make learning, exploring, and even monitoring screen time a breeze:
📱 Simply Piano – Turn screen time into music time!
🧪 MEL Science – Hands-on, interactive science learning.
🖥️ SentryPC – A parental control tool to set screen limits with ease.
Screens don’t have to be the enemy—they can be powerful tools for growth when used intentionally and with balance. Instead of battling over screen time, why not reframe it as an opportunity for your kids to learn, explore, and grow?
By setting thoughtful boundaries and choosing high-quality content, we can help our kids make the most of their screens—without letting them take over the break!
7. Let It Go (A Little): Lower the ORGANIZATIONAL EXPECTATIONS
If you’re someone who loves a clean and clutter-free home, this might be the hardest part.
I get it—I love a tidy house where my eyes can peacefully rest without toys and dishes everywhere. But I’m intentionally loosening my expectations this Spring Break.
The dishes can wait a little.
The toys can stay out a bit longer.
The house will get messy, but choosing connection over constant cleanup is worth it.
Instead of stressing over the mess, make cleanup part of a fun family activity—turn on music, set a timer, and make it a game. That way, we still reset the space without it feeling like a battle.
Final Thought: Make Spring Break Staycation Work for You and the Kids!
There’s no one-size-fits-all way to plan Spring Break. The best way to make it fun and stress-free is to be intentional, set expectations, and stay flexible.
Have a general plan but leave room for spontaneity.
Plan just enough activities to prevent boredom but not so many that you feel exhausted.
Balance fun with downtime, so kids enjoy the week without overstimulation.
Let go of perfection and focus on making memories instead of managing chaos.
At the end of the day, kids won’t remember if the house was spotless or if every activity went perfectly. They’ll remember the time you spent together, the laughter, and the little moments that made the week special.
So let’s make this a March Break that works for everyone!
What’s your plan for March Break? Are you traveling, staycationing, or just going with the flow? Let me know in the comments!
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