School Break Resources
What are you doing this spring break? I know my children hated just sitting at home during winter break and I wanted to add some education into our activities (yes I'm that kind of mom and now grandma).
Museums. I love going through museums and with the Blue Star Museums you can often get in for free or a reduced price. If a museum you want to attend is not on the list check with your local Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) travel office or USO.
National Parks. Did you know you can get into national parks for free through a special program for military and veterans?
State and Local Parks. State and local parks can be amazing. We had a local park that had a huge display on the local history and a state park that provided presentations on animals.
Day Trips. Day trips can be a fun way to get away. Be sure to check to see what deals are available through Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) travel office and ask about military discounts. When I googled "day trips" from my area I found out about a waterfall trail!
Area Activities.
Child Youth and School Services (CYSS) have special activities for youth during school breaks.
Boys and Girls Clubs and YMCA also have activities or day camps during breaks.
Libraries have special activities and often themed events for different ages. A trip to the library was always fun for me and there is usually something for children of all ages.
Recreation departments may have special break activities or events for different ages that can include sports, Legos, robotics, and more.
Local museums are a great place to spend some time and learn about your local area. We have also done some fun local tours (even a ghost tour).
Home Depot has a monthly build project for children for free.
At Home Activities. Sometimes you just want to chill out at home. You can add an educational element to many activities.
Baking and cooking teaches measuring. following directions, and important life skills. There are lots of great recipes that are kid-friendly.
Create a reading campout. One of my children's favorite things to do was to create a "tent" or camp. They would use couch cushions and blankets. I would throw in flashlights and let them read in the dark which somehow made if fun.
Write and act out a play. Some children love to perform. Think about all they learn when they create their own play. They can write, create costumes and the set, and organize the audience. It is such a great way to have them show off their imagination.
Play games. So many games have an educational element. It is a great way to spend time with your children and teach them skills.
Learn about family. One of the coolest things we did was have our children interview their grandparents. They learned so much about what life was like to include that grandpa knew how to drive a team of horses and grandma had her own chickens.
OCONUS tips. Being stationed OCONUS provides additional opportunities!
Learn about your country's traditions. Traditions in each country are unique. It is fun to learn and compare traditions. Often your family center, DODEA school, or the USO will have information.
Attend local events and markets. Local markets and events can have a different feel and provide your family with an understanding of the local culture,
Learn how to say different holiday words in the native language. One of the things I did when we lived overseas is to learn basic words in the language.
Share your traditions with a local family. Ask your neighbors (especially with children around your children's ages) about traditions and share your own. This is a great way to build relationships. I remember having our neighbors over for Thanksgiving, which was a culture shock for them. They taught us about local Christmas traditions in return.
Please share additional resources that you know about in the HUB, where you can catch Rose’s weekly topics!
Rose Holland has served the military community for over 30 years in a variety of roles as a volunteer and family program staff. Through this work, she has seen many inequities imposed upon military families. Her passion to assist military families is driven by her own experience as a military spouse of almost 33 years and has shaped the service she provides. Rose became an activist for military families in the area of career and employment, serving as a career counselor and providing corporate and local organizations insights into the military world and helping the community understand the hidden talent pool of military families.
Rose has a BBA in Finance from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, a Master’s in Theological Studies with a focus on pastoral care from Saint Norbert College in DePere Wisconsin, and a Doctorate in Education with a focus in Educational Sustainability at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. Her dissertation project focused on military spouses in federal employment and their perceptions of perceptions of federal position during the pandemic.