Living in Illinois, I know that spring break isn’t always warm and pleasant. With 4 children and 2 grandchildren, I have previously spent hours devising ways to keep the kids busy and out of trouble on days we are stuck inside. Today I want to share some of my best ideas for indoor staycation activities, letting your kids have fun and you have a break.

Bookworm Tournament– Rainy Days can often lead to the ever popular phrase “I’m bored.” Head it off at the pass by creating (or printing) some fun bookmarks for your children to use this week. Encourage your child to color and decorate it however they like. Then, turn it into a personal contest… adding a sticker or gem every time they finish a chapter or a book. Whoever finished the most by the end of the week wins!

Build an Art Spot- Designating an ‘art spot’ for the kids is a wonderful way to encourage independence and get hours of quiet time (that don’t involve a screen)! This is key to a successful Staycation whether your home to play or not, kids can have fun in here doing art for hours on end. Make sure your spot is well supplied and that artists can utilize it without the need of adult supervision. If you’re short on real-estate, a low and easy-to-open drawer works well – load it with paper and compartmentalize the materials with supply bins. Want to really go all out with your space?  Here are some amazing ideas to inspire you.

Visit a Museum- Seriously!   Most museums will offer free days or big discounts in the spring to boost what is normally a slower time of year, which also means smaller crowds! If you’re looking for an “ok to touch” museum – most major cities have interactive children’s museums that give parents and children a chance to explore.  If you’d like to go the art route, do a little planning ahead to make the whole day more enjoyable. Pick 5 or 6 paintings you’d like to see and learn something about each of your painting’s artist or art movement; having some background ahead of time will make seeing the painting in person a lot more exciting.  If your children are Young Rembrandts students get ready to be amazed, every month we teach an art history lesson and share information to learn about that artist or movement.

Bette Fetter Founder and CEO of Young Rembrandts and Author of Being Visual [email protected] Follow Bette on Twitter