With our cloudy skies and sprinkling of snowflakes this morning, it is hard to imagine that the first days of Spring are just around the corner.  It’s a time of renewal and rebirth, an opportunity to begin again and to get re-energized as the sun shines more often and the days get longer.  For many, the change in season begins with Spring Break – a chance to step away from our busy lives to spend time with our family and friends (and maybe a good book) to recharge and reconnect with the world around us and ourselves. 

Whether you are traveling afar or enjoying a staycation at home, Spring Break is a wonderful time to reconnect with your family after a long winter.  Here are some great ways that you can enjoy your time together:   

• Play together!  Find ways that you can play together as a family that everyone enjoys as well as opportunities for spontaneous one-on-one play with each of your children independently. Are you struggling to engage your tween or teen?  Order a pizza and let them choose a game for Family Game Night.  Check out this list of best board games for teens, picked by teens.  For even more fun, let them invite some friends over to join in the festivities.  And, while we are often trying to find ways to get our kids off of screens, shared screen time can actually provide an opportunity for connection. Have your kids teach you their favorite video game or find a new game to try from this list of family video games from Common Sense Media.  For other simple suggestions to encourage play in your family, check out our blog post The Power of Play. 

• If you are hitting the road for Spring Break, there are so many opportunities for fun in the car.  Listen to podcasts, play games, and sing along together to pass the time.  Check out this great list of 24 Podcast for Kids of All Ages, Seventeen Magazine's list of 11 Podcasts Every Teen Should Listen to ASAP or Fatherly’s list of the best podcasts for kids that adults will like too.  Play one of these 30+ car games or give each family member the opportunity to be the family dj.    

• Table time, whether at home or in restaurants, can be a great time to connect.  The Family Dinner Project has put together hundreds of conversation starters for all ages or check out this Ultimate List of Conversation Starters for Every Family from Hands on While We Grow.  Looking for family games to play at the table while you wait for your order?  Here are 13 fun games to play in a restaurant. 

• Get outside! Fresh air, sunshine, and just being outdoors in nature all have positive effects on both physical and mental health.  Go for a bike ride, have a picnic, take a walk together.  If you have younger kids, try a Five Senses Nature Scavenger Hunt. With older kids or fun for the entire family, go on the ultimate treasure hunt and give geocaching a try (learn how to get started here).  Looking for other ideas?  Check out these 18 Ways to Get Kids to go Outside.   

Wishing everyone a wonderful start to spring and a Spring Break filled with fun, love and connection with your family and friends,