Rites of Spring
Take Turns
If work obligations or budgetary concerns mean you're staying put over spring break, divide and conquer with the help of your spouse and friends. "What my working mom friends and I do is all agree to take one day off," she explains. "On that day, we take each other's kids. So I'll say, 'I'll take Friday and I'll take your three boys to laser tag.' It's fun for your kids because they get to have a special day with their buddies."
MORE: Spring Cleaning Tips
Camp Out
"Many day cares close over spring break as well," says Oshirak. If your child is enrolled in day care and you can't get the time off work, you may want to look into a weeklong camp. She recommends setting a reminder on your mobile device to give yourself plenty of time to register. "I do everything by my calendar," she says. "A bell rings and tells me where I am supposed to go and what I am supposed to do." No matter what your child is into—basketball, karate, ballet or art—a camp probably exists that is dedicated to that activity.
Something New
If you can work from home during your child's spring break, find a way to get your work done but still spend quality time with your child. "It's easy to plop a kid in front of a TV, and sometimes when you've got a wicked deadline it's necessary," says Oshirak. "But you need to spend at least an hour of each day really being present." To make the rest of the day fun for your child and "workable" for you, Oshirak recommends identifying "that shiny bright object that is going to capture your child's attention, such as a puzzle, a new game or a building activity—what I call good, old-fashioned fun. You won't get three hours of engagement out of something that is old."
School Spirit
For the sake of your child, yourself and the teachers, make an effort to stick—at least somewhat—to the daytime schedule he follows at school, advises Oshirak. If your child normally plays outside in the late morning, eats lunch at 11:45 a.m. and rests at 1 p.m., try to do the same. He'll be back at school in a week or two, so maintaining that routine is recommended for a smooth reentry afterward. "The teachers have a well-oiled machine at your school, and your kid is just one spoke on the wheel," she says. "If you don't stick to their schedule, it makes life difficult for them."
Shut Down
At the same time, Oshirak thinks it's important to take a break from the educational part of school. "There are definitely families who enroll their kids in after-school learning programs like Kumon because they want to get ahead," says Oshirak, "but I think they deserve a break. I don't think that's what spring break is for." Instead, she suggests spending the day at the beach or finding another activity that's new and fun and will engage your child. "We have a beautiful beach near us, and though we have to pay $7 to park, it's so worth it." Think of the time spent building castles, chasing crabs and collecting seaweed as another kind of learning experience.
Get Away
"I don't recommend taking a whole week off from work for a stay-at-home spring break," says Oshirak. "Everyone deserves some downtime, and if you're just home watching your kid, you'll be fried at the end." Plus, she says, your kid will have way more fun leaving town because it'll provide the opportunity to see and experience new places and things. When Oshirak is able to take time off, she commits four or five months in advance and books flights using miles and a hotel. "I've found that if you do it far in advance, a lot of hotels and resorts will give you a 20 percent discount," she says.
