Last year around this time, we were thinking about longer days, warming temps, and crossing our fingers that the last snow days were behind us. We’re still looking forward to the warming temps, but this year’s lead into spring puts snow days in perspective as many of us are planning for days and weeks with school and daycare closures for our kids.
We pulled together this list of staycation ideas to help spark your kid’s imagination around this time last year, and hope it helps in the days and weeks ahead. All of these ideas can be accomplished with stuff around the house, but we did keep the list of extra ingredients just in case you’re ordering from Amazon already.
Take an Indoor Camping Trip
Set up your camping tent inside, string up some Christmas lights for stargazing, get out the sleeping bags, and make s’mores in the microwave.
Go on a Fairy Hunt
Paint rocks to make a fairy trail—add glitter to make it even more magical! Make a fairy house out of popsicle sticks or use kid-size shoe boxes and decorate the inside (think cotton balls for pillows, pizza savers as little tables, wrapping paper as wallpaper.) Add mini-LED lights to a mason jar for a sparkly fairy lantern.
Play Chef for a Day
Let your kiddos pick the menu for the day and help them prep and prepare each meal. Or help them write and craft their own menus, set the table, and play real-life restaurant.
Become a Pint-Size Picasso
Dress them in one of your old t-shirts, cut down the Amazon Prime boxes to make giant cardboard canvases or use blue painters tape to attach paper bags to the wall and let your little ones get creative.
Have a Safari Scavenger Hunt
Hide stuffed animals around the house, with monkeys hanging from the light fixtures, lions hiding in the houseplants, make binoculars out of toilet paper rolls, a safari vest out of a paper bag and go exploring.
Have a Home Spa Day
Soak your feet in the tub for a pedi, paint your nails, cut up cucumbers and make a kid-friendly greek yogurt mask. Bonus, let your kids brush and style your hair (just make sure scissors are safely stowed). This is one staycation activity that might be almost as much fun for us as it is for them!
Spend a Day at the Beach
Get on your swimsuits and pretend you’re going to the beach. Lay out the beach towels, put on your sunglasses, maybe even turn up the heat. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, get out the summer water table (put a shower curtain or towels on the floor), and relax while the kiddos splash around for hours.
Read More: 7 Ways to Embrace the Outdoors With Kids
