Tips for Saving Money on Spring Break Activities at Home

Saving money this year during Spring break is a priority for many families. Parents are searching out budget-friendly activities and entertainment, which will offer the family a fun-filled vacation without draining the wallet. This guide provides three free or money-saving ideas for enjoying 2009 Spring break while staying close to home.

Local Libraries - A Great Source for Free Family Fun Activities

Do not overlook your local or city library during Spring break. Most libraries offer special Spring break events and activities for children of all ages. Information and details of children's programs, which are ongoing at the library, are generally available at your child's school. You may have to be a library cardholder to participate in certain events, so be sure to inquire beforehand with a telephone call or a fact-finding visit.

Stage a Free Outdoor Family Treasure Hunt and a Money-Saving Picnic

The Treasure Hunt

An experience the entire family can participate in, including toddlers, is an outdoor treasure hunt. It does not cost money, is loads of fun, educational and great exercise. Everyone will search out a specified number of things from nature and record their findings in a notebook, which they can share and discuss during the picnic. Take the family to a park for the treasure hunt or save gas and do it right in your own yard.

Some enjoyable preparation done the week before the scheduled treasure hunt, adds excitement to the Spring break adventure. Together the family can consider and decide what each member will be scouting out on the treasure hunt, as well as the number of items each person will be on the lookout for.

For example, older kids get bored easily, so with this in mind, up the number of nature items they will be looking for to fifteen. During the family preparation meeting, bigger kids can list in their notebook ten items they would like to find; the parent can challenge them with five additional nature things, which may be tougher to locate. This keeps it interesting.

Kids appreciate a challenge and it motivates them to use their imagination and participate eagerly in the family activity. There are lots of possibilities regarding things of nature, but some difficult treasure hunt items could include; a peculiar rock carving, a nest (only if it is on the ground) abandoned by its maker, unusual shaped stones of specific color or a beautiful spider web.

Small children can be encouraged to search for simpler and obvious nature treasures such as feathers, leaves, acorns or neat looking rocks. Mom or Dad can record the toddler's treasures for them. Thumb through some books and magazines on nature for treasure hunt inspiration.

The Picnic

A picnic is the perfect ending for the family's Spring break treasure hunt activity. Relaxing with a simply prepared basket of food, such as sandwiches, fruit and drinks, which saves money...the children can share their thoughts on the experience as well as boast and highlight the marvelous treasures they were able to locate.