Have a great spring break at home

Ah, springtime and spring break. It’s the season of warming temperatures and extra sunshine. Although Alaska waits a little longer for the budding trees and flowers, spring break is still the start of a season we all anticipate.

Many area residents take trips during spring break, but not everyone plans a vacation during this school hiatus. With an overabundance of school delays and cancellations eating into vacation time, as well as ever-rising gas prices and an economy that is still gasping for air, it’s possible that more people will be staying home for spring break this year. Sometimes a week-long vacation away isn’t an option. It’s OK to tell the kids why you aren’t traveling. In fact, it is a good opportunity to teach them the simple facts about budgeting time and money, as well as other commitments that can affect our lives.

For those not leaving town, it can feel like you’re missing out on a mass exodus, a departure of epic proportion. This is especially true when coworkers, neighbors and school children mention trips they are taking. The guilt of not whisking the family away, even if it just isn’t possible, can be considerable.

This can be an opportunity for families to make the most of their time together with some creativity. There are countless ways to enjoy spring break without going on a major trip. The choices range from low cost to no cost at all.

If your family is staying close to home this year, challenge yourself to plan a few out-of-the-ordinary activities. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Get moving. Go outside and enjoy the beginning of spring with sports activities, walks, cross-country skiing, ice skating, snowboarding or build a snow fort. Join a family day program at our local swimming pools.

• Travel the world. Choose a favorite country, and then check out books and CDs specific to those countries from the library. Fix a traditional meal, listen to some music and discover more about another culture.

• Make yummy treats or special meals as a family. Grab a children’s cookbook and let the kids pick out some fun, creative or unusual recipes. Make a list of ingredients, find what you need at the grocery store and get busy baking.

• Host a family game night or even a weeklong tournament. Pull the board games out of the closet, get out decks of cards or challenge each other to video game playoffs.

• Plan a movie night. Pop some popcorn, grab some sodas or share classic movie candy. Dust off a family favorite, borrow a flick from the library or rent a dollar movie. Or, surprise everyone with home movies of the kids.

• Camp out … in your family room. Get out the sleeping bags, pillows, sheets and flashlights make some s’mores in the microwave and tell spooky stories in the dark. Or, pull out the sleeper sofa and let the kids sleep there for a change.

• Read, color, make crafts or try some science experiments. Take some time to read together. Kids can read aloud or everyone can simply read their own books while curled up on the couch together. Create an ever-growing picture, taking turns adding to the drawing. Grab a craft book and try something new.

• Go “day-tripping.” Alaska has the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum, a museum dedicated to Alaska’s aviation heritage that is home to 21 vintage aircraft, the Anchorage Museum of History AND Art — a world-class museum that preserves and exhibits the history and art of the state — and of course, the Alaska Zoo, which is home to a large collection of birds and animals. The zoo houses animals native to the state as well as more exotic creatures such as tigers.

Alaska’s unique culture has roots from as far away as Russia and France and as close as the natives who still live here today. Participate in a blanket toss, attend an authentic Alaska Native crafts festival and learn how to carve your own totem pole, browse the intricate Russian iconography, or visit the many small cultural and historical museums in the area.

Explore your hometown. No matter how long you’ve lived in your city, there are sure to be cool, interesting places you have yet to visit. Put on your tourist cap and set out to visit them during spring break.

Ask the kids what they want to do. You might be surprised by their simple responses. Allow the kids to handle the planning of spring break activities. Assign your child a day during spring break and help them plan all of the activities and meals for that day. Give suggestions for activities and meals as needed. Depending on their ages, it may be best to create a limited list from which they can choose or their ideas may be far too difficult to accommodate. Whatever you chose to do, make it a fun experience for the whole family and create good memories. Have fun! It’s not always where you go, but rather how much fun you have that will make memories that last a lifetime.

Virgie Thompson has been mayor of Houston since October 2010.