Family activities for winter break

School vacation is right around the corner (or, if your schools are like ours, it’s already here). It’s a time for kids to relax, give their brains a rest, spend time with their family and friends…it’s a lot of fun. Yet for most parents, it’s a time of extreme anxiety trying to a) keep sane and b) figure out how to keep the kids busy without going broke.

It’s a hard balance at times but not entirely impossible. After all, there are new Christmas or Hanukkah presents to play with, the opportunity to send them to visit relatives or friends (overnight!), and chances for quality, inexpensive family time. But how to find something that the whole family can enjoy?

Also, not impossible. There are dozens of options for family entertainment that can be accomplished for just a few dollars. Here are few:

Family movie night. Family movie nights are pretty common, especially in my house. They’re easy and, thanks to Netflix and Redbox, really, really cheap. But in this instance, spice it up. Do it differently. How? Have a theme. Let’s say, for example, pirates. Depending on the age of your kids, you can rent one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, make pirate food to snack on, and have everyone dress up in a pirate costume. Be as creative as you can. Just make sure that you decide on the theme together. You don’t want someone being completely miserable.

Dinner contest. Again, this will depend on the age of your kids and the size of your family but here’s the gist: divide the family up into teams (boys against girls, older kids versus younger kids, etc) and have each of them cook dinner one night (supervised by mom or dad, obviously). The adults in the house “judge” the meal and, when the contest is over, they announce the winner. For extra incentive, make the prize a night off from chores or an extra dollar in their allowance.  Doing this teaches your kids how to cook and gives you a night or two off.

Family slumber party. Your teenagers might not like this idea, but the younger ones will. For one night, and one night only, allow all of them (or however many you have) to sleep in your room. Let them pile the floor with pillows and sleeping bags. Play a game like Truth or Dare (just make sure to make it kid friendly). Eat junk food. Stay up late. Do everything that you’d typically do at a sleepover (well, almost everything. This is family friendly entertainment we’re talking about here). Although exhausting, it will create fun memories for everyone involved.

Family Olympics. Remember the episode of The Office where Jim created “Office Olympics?” Why not do that at home? Find some fun, weird games to play. Create an obstacle course out of toys. See who can run up and down the stairs the most times before they get tired. Before you start, host an opening ceremony and, after each event, have a medal ceremony with each participant’s theme song playing (oh, did I mention that each participant needs a theme song and a flag?). It’s not only a good way to be creative but a good way to get some exercise when it’s too cold to go outside.

The other activity I advocate? Nap time. Or, at the very least, quiet reading time. When you’re spending all day, every day with your kids, everyone needs a break before someone goes insane (and by someone, I mean the parents). This also prevents tantrums, fights, and general unpleasantness. So everyone wins.

Winter break is fun time to spend with your kids.  But without some careful planning and some activities in your back pocket, it can quickly go from fun to nightmare.

Readers, what are some family activities that you engage in to keep your sanity and protect your budget during winter break?