Spring Break is a couple weeks away. Unless you are planning to go skiing or to the beach, you are probably like me and are looking for some fun things to do with your kids that won’t cost you a lot of money.

I’d like to share with you five ideas that I’ve done with my kids that they have really enjoyed and that didn’t cost me a lot of money.

1. Pickle – This game of tag is ideal if you have boys or girls who love to play baseball or softball and need to warm up for their Spring ball season.

Supplies Needed:

• 2 baseball gloves

• 1 soft baseball (T-ball is an ideal type of ball)

• 2 bases • 2 baseball catchers

• Lots of base runners

Objective: Avoid getting tagged 3 times.

The base runners divide up and each stand on a base. The baseball catchers begin throwing the baseball to one another. When a catcher misses the ball or a wild pitch is thrown, the base runners make a mad dash to the opposite base without getting tagged. Some times when the base runners become daring enough, they will sprint for the base without trying to be tagged.

If a base runner is tagged out 3 times, then he or she becomes one of the catchers and the catcher becomes a base runner. In the early Spring Pickle is one of our family’s favorite past times! I hope you enjoy playing this game with your kids too!

2. Name that Flavor – Another fun activity my kids rave about is a taste test game which involves eating ice cream.

Supplies Needed:

• 3 – 5 flavors of your kids favorite ice cream (the pint sizes work well)

• 5 spoons

• 1 blind fold

Objective: Correctly name the different ice cream flavors while wearing a blind fold over your eyes.

Buy 3 – 5 flavors of your kids’ favorite ice cream brand. In Texas Blue Bell brand is our family’s favorite and Home-made Vanilla, Chocolate Mint, Cherry Vanilla, and Double Fudge are our favorite flavors. You might want to include an unknown flavor that you think your kids would enjoy into the taste test.

Place a blind fold over your child’s eyes and let him or her sample each of the different ice cream flavors one at a time. If your child guesses the flavor correctly, then he or she gets to sample and guess the next flavor. The child who can guess the most flavors correctly wins. All kids are really winners, because they all get to enjoy this delicious treat.

3. Indoor Baseball – Fun activity on a rainy day.

Supplies Needed:

• 2 dry water balls

• 1 small souvenir bat

• Enough space in your home to play without breaking anything

Objective – Hit the dry water ball and score runs!

This is your classic baseball game, but with a twist – playing indoors! First designate which piece of furniture in your room are 1st base, 2nd base, 3rd base, and home plate. Next remind your kids not to throw the bat or slide into base. (My rule is if they start playing too rough, the game is over!) The first batter comes to the plate and tries to hit the dry water ball. It is more challenging that it looks. Once he hits the ball, he runs to first base. If you don’t have enough players, then making it to first base is the same as scoring a run. Using the dry water balls lets your kids play without you having to worry about breaking anything in your home.

4. Birds of a Feather Go on a Hike Together – Part scientist, part detective this fun idea provides you and your kids with fresh air and a lot of exercise.

Supplies Needed:

• 1 Notebook (Journal)

• Pencil or pen

• Binoculars

Objective: Find 3 – 5 different kinds of birds in your neighborhood, park, or woods.

Take your kids on a hike in the woods or to your city park. Have them keep their eyes open for different kinds of birds building nests in the trees. Once they spot a bird, have them write down the name of the bird in their notebook. If they do not know what kind of bird it is, have them write down a description of the bird, such as its color, size, and any distinctive marking. After you have recorded 3 – 5 different kinds of birds, go home and look them up on the Internet. Birdsource (http://www.birdsource.org) is a good website to learn about different kinds of birds.

5. Picture Perfect Card Game – Same as “Old Maid” but with a twist!

Supplies Needed:

• 2 sets of 5 – 10 pictures of your kids.

Objective: Be the one to match-up the most pictures.

Print off 5 – 10 duplicate pictures of your kids. Use the 3 x 5 size when printing. Cut each picture into card sizes. Make sure you have 2 of each picture. Shuttle the “deck” of pictures and then lay the cards picture side down on the table. Take turns selecting 2 cards. If they match, then you get to keep the pair. If they do not match, you lay them back down again. Keep taking turns until all the pictures have been matched. Whoever ends up with the most pairs win!

I hope you enjoy these fun activities that you can do with your family over Spring Break.

 For other fun family ideas that won’t cost you a fortune, please visit Mommy Day Camp.com (http://www.mommydaycamp.com).

About the Author

Laura Greenawalt is a working mom of 3 boys ages 15, 13 and 7. She has written several ebooks including Mommy Day Camp – 20 Unique Things to Do that Won’t Cost You a Fortune and New Moms’ Return to Work Survival Guide. Visit her websites at: http://www.workingmomslife.com, http://www.mommydaycamp.com and http://www.momreturn2work.com.