By Paula Sirois
McClatchy-Tribune
Don’t ask me how I managed to forget about spring break. I must have blocked it out, like a bad memory or tragic event. Once again, I was without a plan, without a list of camps on speed-dial and without a clue as to what to do with the kids for a week.
Same boat? Don’t fret - you are now covered with some real-life solutions, as laid out below. All of them are for real people (read: those who are broke and work full time).
Be a tourist: So many of us just never get around to visiting nearby attractions. If you can take a day off, consider this break an opportunity to act like a tourist and check out local sites. Hit the parks, zoo, aquarium, museums and other unique points of interest. Call or visit the Chamber of Commerce or AAA for some ideas and maps and hit the road.
Armchair sports: Do your kids like sports? Instead of letting them just veg out on the couch watching games, get them active and involved. Log on to http://www.1up.me and prepare to be on the edge of your seat. This is a mobile app connecting sports fans to a live sporting event through a bingo-type game, and the whole family can play. The app is free and the days of passively watching games are over. Now you can play in real time with your favorite sports team. Your team scores, your iPad lights up and you win!
Have them volunteer: Candi Wingate, president of Nannies4Hire ( http://www.nannies4hire.com/ ), suggests having your children “adopt” a senior citizen from a local assisted-living home. “Visit that senior citizen often and nurture the relationship. It will teach your kids about giving as well as receiving nurturing. Simultaneously, your children will likely have priceless opportunities to learn about history from people who observed it firsthand.” Similarly themed ideas include signing up the family to help volunteer for a charity in your town or setting up a backyard/neighborhood co-op garden.
Pool your resources: If you can’t afford to take the time off to hang with your kids, consider enlisting your friends who are stay-at-home moms. They’re probably in the same situation, wondering what to do with the kids every day. They might jump at the chance to get the kids together. Ask if you could drop yours off for the day and be sure to offer to pay for the pizza delivery and/or trip to the ice cream store. While this will buy you one or two days, you’ll still need to fill the rest of the week.
Call on family: Phone your relatives (and Facebook your friends, too) and see if any teenagers would be interested in a babysitting job. Offer to pick them up and drive them home and toss in a few bucks and maybe a gift certificate or two to Amazon and you’ll be set for the week.
Camp it: Many schools and churches offer low-cost day camp options for the kids. They can spend the day with arts and crafts, playing sports and maybe even catching a much-needed nap. Make sure to call soon since they book up quickly.
