Ten (cheap but fun) spring break staycation ideas!

submitted by Tamara Denby, the Manchester District Library

Can’t afford a trip-of-a-lifetime Disney/Cruise/Somewhere-Warm-and-Sunny vacation?

Does hearing your kids whine, “There’s nothing to do!”or “I’m bored!” make you want to weep and gnash your teeth?

No problem! The Manchester District Library’s staff have dreamed up some fun stay-cation activities that are sure to keep the kids happy and entertained … and your nerves from frazzling. And, naturally, we can offer lots of resources to make your stay-cation memorable. Best yet, you won’t have to max out every credit card in your wallet!

• Start a new garden. March is not too early to get a garden started. All you need is some potting soil, small pots, seeds and a sunny window. Grow vegetables, flowers, herbs…it’s up to you. Don’t know where/how to begin? The Manchester District Library (MDL) has you covered. We have free seeds and gardening books galore. Come in, get stocked up, and have some fun.
• Learn a new craft. Studies have proven that crafting produces genuine health benefits, no matter your age. So why not take the opportunity to bond with your kids and learn something new? The library’s collection includes books for adults, teens, and children on a vast variety of crafts from Applique to Woodworking.
• Unplug and play games. Today’s children and teens spend hours plugged in, both in school and outside. And all that screen time can have consequences on both them and the family at large. What better way to reconnect than to unplug from the electronics and play some board games? Don’t have any games? That’s okay. The library has a collection of board games for patrons to check out.
• Watch a movie marathon. Here in Michigan, March weather can be crazy fickle–frigid and snowing one minute and warm and sunny the next. If the bad weather has your family stuck inside, a movie marathon just might be ticket to keeping the kids content and your sanity intact. Have your kids watched everything in your house a hundred times? No problem! The library has a large collection of children’s and family-friendly DVDs, free for patrons to check out … and a Blu Ray player if your player isn’t up to the job.
• Be a tourist and visit a museum, zoo, or other attraction. You don’t have to drive or fly to a faraway destination to be a tourist. There are countless destinations within a short drive from home … and many of them can be visited free of charge with the Michigan Activity Pass. Come to the MDL for more information on participating locations.
• Start a journal or write and “publish” a book. Of course, at the library we are all about literacy and writing, so we couldn’t leave this off the list. Encouraging children to tell their own stories or journal about their interests and feelings provide more benefits than we can list. And a child will feel very proud and excited when they hold their “published” book, complete with a cover and illustrations, in their hands. Not to mention, years later they will marvel at what they’ve written. Bring them into the library to pick some books for inspiration.
• Have a family Iron Chef competition. Cooking with children provides a number of benefits, including giving them practice in essential skills such as reading, following directions, math and science concepts, and measuring, and helps your children develop fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination. And holding a friendly family cooking competition is a great way to combine learning and fun. Need some recipe inspiration? Come in the library and check out our collection of kid-friendly cookbooks.
• Go fishing. Fishing isn’t just about catching tonight’s dinner. It helps improve a child’s coordination, teaches perseverance and patience, and provides lots of quiet bonding time. And, bonus, the fishing is usually best on overcast days–something that is plentiful in Michigan in March. Don’t own any fishing equipment? That’s okay. The library has fishing poles and tackle boxes available to check out for free.
• Pitch a tent and go backyard/living room camping. We’re a long way off from summer camping season, but children just love to pitch a tent and “camp” indoors. And of course, along with camping comes plenty of bonding time, telling stories around the “campfire” (or fireplace … or pretend fire), eating s’mores, and singing songs. And lucky you, we have a delicious recipe for s’mores dip. Stop by and grab a copy.
• Head outside for an early spring nature scavenger hunt. Studies have shown that scavenger hunts are beneficial to people of all ages, particularly children. They provide exercise, help encourage attention to detail, and all that fresh air helps children sleep better (don’t we all want our kids to sleep better?) Here in Manchester, we are surrounded by gardens, parks, and nature preserves with walking paths, including Hidden Lake Gardens (Tipton), Matthaei Botanical Gardens (Ann Arbor), Leonard Preserve (Manchester), Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve (Manchester Twp), and Hudson Mills Metro-Park … to name just a few. And in those parks and preserves, the first signs of spring are emerging. To help you plan your hunt, the MDL has drafted some nature scavenger hunt checklists. Come in, grab one, and share your adventures! We would love to see the treasures you find.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.