Spring break: Five tips to prepare your week

The kids will soon be off for spring break. To help plan their time off and enjoy memorable moments with the family, we’ve put together 5 great tips for staying busy and having fun. Read on to get started!

1. Get organized

Keep spring break as relaxed as possible by repeating this mantra: get organized. Will you be on vacation too? What about your partner? Who will be taking care of the kids?

As you can imagine, it’s best not to leave anything to chance. Make sure you have all your bases covered by being organized upfront so you’re not caught off guard. A little organization and thinking ahead will reduce your stress load and give you time and energy to enjoy just being with your kids.

2. Discuss together as a family

Once you have a basic idea of what your week off looks like, get the kids involved in planning. What would they like to do for spring break? Is there something they’re looking forward to? Jot down everyone’s ideas and discuss what you can do together. It’s a great way to make sure everyone feels heard and has a chance to do what they enjoy.

3. Play outdoors

Spring break is an excellent opportunity to get outside with the kids and enjoy a little exercise. There’s an endless list of fun outdoor activities to choose from—whether it’s a snowman-building contest, cross-country skiing, or heading off for an afternoon of skating.

It’s also an opportunity to fill up on vitamin D, which helps your body absorb calcium and helps in kids’ development. And since kids are bursting with energy (right?), there’s no better way to focus that energy than to get them moving.

A few pointers for the perfect outing:

• Check the weather: before heading out, be sure to look up what the weather will be like for the day. Then plan accordingly.
• Dress appropriately: make sure the whole family is dressed to comfortably enjoy the activity and weather forecast.
• Bring a change of clothes: keep the whole family warm and dry by packing extra socks, pants, t-shirts, and more.
• Pack snacks: the winter cold can quickly deplete our energy, so be sure to carry a few energy-rich snacks with you.
• Stay hydrated: it's vital to always drink water, especially when we’re active. Be sure to bring enough bottles for the whole family.

4. Divide activities by interest

Keep everyone’s unique needs and interests in mind when planning activities for spring break. You don’t even have to head out with the whole family at once, and instead can break activities down into fun things for little ones and ideas the big kids will love. One parent can take an older child out for a ski day, while the other parent can stay home to watch movies with the little ones or spend an afternoon sledding in the park.

Here’s a sample of just some of the things you can do indoors and outside:

Outside

• Animal watching
• Skating: in city parks (it’s free!), on ice trails in the forest or on frozen lakes!
• Tubing
• Cross-country skiing in a Sepaq parks*
• Downhill skiing at one of Québec's ASSQ ski stations*
• Snowshoeing at one of Quebec’s 22 national parks*

Indoor activities

• Treasure hunt
• Obstacle course in your living room
• Boardgames
• Arts and crafts as a family
• Cooking
• Sorting toys to donate to an organization
• Movie night

*Note: Parks and ski stations are operating with COVID rules in place. Please check before heading out so you can plan accordingly.

5. Take a break

Be sure to set aside a least a day to do nothing. It’s a great way to reconnect with each other, talk, ask questions, cook, get out the boardgames, and so much more. Enjoy every moment together!

Have a great spring break, and take full advantage of time spent with your kids!