Oh God, say it isn’t true? There’s another school vacation coming up?! Weren’t the kiddies just out for the holiday break, clamoring around the house, bouncing off the walls, frantic to be entertained every second of the day and now they’ll be let out again!
If you’re anything like me, I’m a mom who loves her children but when it comes to these adorable little weeklong breaks from the classroom, I panic just a bit. Every other month it seams as though I’m pulling out the activity section of the paper or scrolling down local events on Google searching desperately for something that the three of us can do. If you’re a family who goes away skiing or flies off to a warm beach, you wont know what I’m talking about but for those of us stuck in the trenches we’re most likely calling “S.O.S.”
Luckily, I’ve recently compiled a list of places and projects that might keep my six-year-old and eleven-year-old boys busy for the duration of their vacation. New England is tough during this time of year making most activities housebound due to the weather. Keeping this in mind, with a little research we can make the most of our time. Don’t worry about horrendous credit card bill statements or empty pocket change in our wallets- where there’s a will there’s a way! Check out these local family favorites and enjoy February break in a relaxing, anxious free environment. After all, it is called a vacation so enjoy it!
Places
- Visit your local library and sign up for their February break programs. They’re really cool and FREE!
- Visit the Museum of Science and Aquarium.
(Don’t forget to grab passes before from your local library!)
- Trampoline Parks are a great way to burn off energy and luckily, establishments such as Sky Zone and Launch are awesome indoor facilities that provide hours of bouncing entertainment.
- Go to an art museum-Boston has hundreds! My favorite places include the Peabody-Essex, De Cordova, Isabella Stewart and Museum of Fine Arts.
- The Ecotarium in Worcester is having guests inventors show kids their wacky inventions. Most related activities are free with the price of admission.
Things to Do at Home
- Get out every art supply you own and let everyone paint, draw or sculpt.
- Let the kids choose their favorite recipe from a cookbook and have a day whipping up recipes and sweet treats to pass the time.
- Sledding and Snow Hiking can be a lot of fun if you’re located near the woods. It’s great exercise and New England is so beautiful during the wintertime.
- Turn the house into a giant tent by tacking up old sheets and blankets to the furniture. The children will adore camping while snug and warm in their homes.
- A Board Game Tournament is wicked fun and will create memories for years to come. Top games for this include Parcheesi, Sorry, Guess Who and Clue.