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“Sometimes You Will Never Know The Value Of A Moment Until It Becomes Memory“ – Dr. Suess
Your holiday is cancelled. Or you don’t have the budget to take a trip. So why not plan a staycation with kids at home instead! Our guide on the best staycation ideas for families will have you creating amazing memories, without having to leave your backyard!
It’s always disappointing when a planned vacation needs to be cancelled, but there is no reason why you can’t have a fun, exciting and memorable staycation’s with kids instead!
The same goes for having no travel budget and instead deciding to create a vacation at home! There are plenty of benefits to taking a staycation for families and couples, as a budget-friendly way to enjoy holiday vibes at home!
If you want to know how to make the most of a staycation with your family, consider the following guide that will have your kids laughing all “staycation’ long—all without leaving your home.
Choosing a staycation theme can be a bit overwhelming, but a little planning can go a long way towards finding the perfect staycation theme or idea for you and your kids.
Why not ask your kids what they might want to do for a staycation?
Ask them if there are any specific countries or themes they would be interested in recreating for the staycation. This can help you springboard towards more unique staycation ideas.
After all, a staycation with kids should be something they genuinely enjoy!
Here are some fun general staycation themes:
- Summer holiday
- Winter warmer
- Road trip
- Tropical cruise
- Camping trip
- Spring break
INTERNATIONAL THEMES
Since travel is out of the picture, it’s time to bring travel into your home! An international theme staycation based on another country—such as Italy, Japan, France, etc, can be a great platform for a wide variety of ideas. It’s also a perfect way for kids to learn about a new country.
For example, visiting “France” can begin with a traditional recipe for a French breakfast; watching children’s cartoons in French; taking a virtual tour of France’s famed Palace of Versailles on a tablet or smart TV; creating a bucket list of Paris attractions for your future real visit, and ending the day with an attempt at homemade macarons.
For Mexico, you may enjoy a day of tacos, quesadillas and nachos, non-alcoholic mojitos and take your afternoon siesta before an afternoon of Day of the Dead inspired crafts and dress ups.
PREPARING FOR A STAYCATION
You may need to do a little planning before you kick off your staycation if you have the time and stock up on themed supplies such as international foods and decorations.
For example, with a Polish themed staycation, you won’t want to forget the pierogi!
Crafts involving your theme are also a wonderful way to add fun to your staycation, all while teaching your child more about your staycation destination.
There are plenty of fun activities you can do at home, from indoor activities to backyard adventures, like a scavenger hunt. No need to spend a thing!
And don’t forget the music! Spotify is a great music streaming service with plenty of international playlists!
BACKYARD CAMPING
If your family loves to camp and you already have everything you need, why not turn your backyard into a camping staycation? Set up the tent and beds, get out the sleeping bags and prepare for a night under the stars. Sure you could just sleep in the backyard and eat meals inside like normal, but why not make it more like an authentic camping trip and pack the esky, seeing if you can avoid going inside for anything other than to use the bathroom.INDOOR MOVIE MARATHONS
You can recreate the experience of a movie theatre in your own home with a bit of planning and DIY set-up. To make an indoor movie night different from any other night watching a movie on the TV, try these tricks:- Hang thick blackout curtains over the windows to simulate the darkness of a cinema
- Make movie theatre style popcorn with extra butter
- Dip your ice cream cone in chocolate to make homemade choc-tops
- Set up a mock ticket counter and let your kids “buy” their popcorn, tickets and other treats
- Decorate paper bags to look like cinema popcorn bags
- Make movie tickets for your kids to ‘buy’ and give to the usher—that’s you!
HOW TO MAKE A STAYCATION FEEL LIKE A VACATION
Whatever type of theme you choose for your family’s staycation, don’t forget the following ideas. These tips will help your staycation feel much more like a family vacation to your kids:- Make sure the house is clean and clutter-free
- For an international theme, have your kids pack a suitcase with clothes to suit (don’t forget dressing up for dinner!)
- Let your kids be on vacation mode during your staycation—set aside the remote learning work for a day or two!
- Be a little more relaxed on your usual routine with things like bedtime
- Keep to holiday traditions you normally have as much as possible
And remember to take plenty of staycation photos!
You can share them online with friends and family. Or print them out to place them in your treasured family albums.
For whatever reason you are opting to have a fun staycation with kids at home, there is no reason you can’t make it just as memorable as your vacations. What a wonderful, budget-friendly way to turn your home into a weekend adventure destination for the whole family!