6 Easy and Inexpensive Ideas for March Break

March break is right around the corner and whether you’re planner or a parent who just likes to wing it, it’s always smart to have a few ideas in your back pocket to fill in the inevitable gaps.

All of these activities are fun, but most importantly, many of them will cost you nothing other than things you already have in your home or gas money to get there. Saving money is always a good thing!

A Visit to the Maple Sugar Bush

If the weather is just right, your local sugar bush should be in full swing during March break. Be sure to take the guided tour and learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about delicious maple syrup. This is a fun activity that will show you and your kids how maple syrup is produced — from tapping the trees to collecting the sap to bottling the finished product. Many sugar bushes offer free parking and free admission, but some don’t, so just be sure to do a little research — find out which ones have the most free or affordable activities, for example — before you hit your local bush. Things can get a bit pricey if you partake in the pancake breakfast/brunch/lunch offerings, but eating there is not mandatory.

Bake

Baking is always a fun activity for kids, for good reason. They get to bake up sweet treats and then eat them, so what’s not to love? Try out this versatile muffin recipe, experiment with cookie butter or browse Pinterest  for ideas! Be bold! Choose something you’ve never baked before. You may just find a new favourite recipe! For families with allergies, this is a great list of recipe ideas I've found useful.

If you would rather take the baking outside of your kitchen, some grocery stores offer cooking classes for kids of all ages at a small fee. Depending on the age of your child, some classes are drop off and some require you to stay and take part with your little one. Explore the offerings at your local grocery stores or community centres! 

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Museums

During March break, museums offer inexpensive or free activities to keep the kids entertained. Keep in mind that in most cases, museum admission is required in order to access the activities. When the activities have ended, you’ll have a whole museum to explore!

Library

The library is a place I have taken my kids to since before they could read and it’s still a favourite place for us to visit today. Check out your local library’s schedule for their March break offerings, all of which are usually free. If there are no activities of interest being offered, a visit to the library to discover and check out some new books is always fun. And once they find new books to read, they'll have new ways to entertain themselves at home!

Crafts

My kids are very much into crafts, so when a craft activity is suggested, everyone is happy. We have not tackled slime yet, but I think it may be something on this year’s March break list (here's a recipe)!

Also, check your craft cupboard, bin or basket to see if you have any of these 25 supplies! Even if you have a few, there are so many crafts you can make!

Tobogganing

Depending on where you are in the country, toboggan hills are busy places during March break. We did this recently and I forgot how much fun it was (I had just as much fun as my kids did!). We’re all looking forward to doing it again during the break if the weather holds up. After you’re done, warm up with a warm cup of hot chocolate or peppermint hot chocolate. Snow not quite right for tobogganing? Take a hike as a family! (You can still have the hot cocoa when you return!) 

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Scavenger Hunt

This time of year, as things start to warm up again, it’s a nice time to take a walk at a local nature trail or park and take in some fresh air. A great way to keep kids entertained is to plan a winter scavenger hunt, which sounds like a lot of work but it's already here for you — ready to print! Be sure to also check out your city’s main website to see if there are any free activities taking place around town that may be of interest to your family.

Whichever way you choose to spend your March break, make it fun and memorable! There are many ways to occupy the week, these are just a few of many ideas. Are there any inexpensive March break activity ideas you’d add to this list?