Important Dates
Important Dates
- Mon 3/30-Mon 4/3 - Spring Break - No school
- Mon 4/6 - No school
- Tues 4/7 - No school (Teacher Institute & Election Day)
- Wed 4/8 - Classes resume
- Thurs 4/30 - Spring Open House, Book Fair & Ice Cream Social
Due to a short week, no spelling the week of April 6th.
Best Of Chicago
March 13, 2015 7:00 AM
Ask An Expert: Spring Break Staycation Activities For Kids In Chicago
(Photo Credit: Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum’s Facebook)
With spring break just around the corner, you might be scratching your head and wondering what to do with your child during that time off from school. Whether you want ideas for activities the family can do together or you need to know which camps will be available for spring break, read on. We spoke with parenting experts on what to do and where to go in Chicago during spring break. You can get additional ideas with this article, too.
An online resource guide, Chicagokids.com was started 14 years ago and provides families with information on upcoming events in the Chicago area. “I have seen events that come back year after year. I know what parents respond to, and I know what readers are interested in,” Sue Zeiler, the site’s founder, explained.
Nina Taluc and Jean Lemke co-founded the website Kidwinks.com in 2008. According to Taluc, the site is a resource for parents who are looking for places to go and things to do with kids in the Chicagoland area. “We spend every day all day on great things to do with kids so it’s there for other parents on our website,” said Taluc.
The experts gave several ideas on what families can do during spring break, depending on the parents’ availability.
Sign Up For Camp
Zeiler recommends signing up for camps during spring break. “One great place is Wishcraft Workshop(3907 N. Damen Ave., Chicago). They do fun art projects for kids,” Zeiler said, noting that some options include street style art. Drop-in classes are also available. Zeiler also recommended signing up budding comedians for the spring break camp at Second City (1608 N. Wells St., Chicago). Children can learn the basics in improv, stand-up and clowning during the camp.
Visit Play Cafes
Consider bringing your laptop or meet up with friends at a play cafe in Chicago. “Play cafes are great because parents can be with their kids and play, and they also have spots where mom can sit and work while the kid plays,” Zeiler said, and recommended Little Beans Cafe (1809 W. Webster Ave., Chicago and 430 Asbury Ave., Chicago).
Check Out A Museum
Chicago is home to a number of museums, and spring break is the perfect time to visit a few with your child. Zeiler recommended Art Institute of Chicago (111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago) for families. The museum’s exhibit “Puppets!” is currently underway and allows children to experiment with props to make their own puppets.
Explore Nature
If the weather is iffy during spring break, Taluc recommended a visit to Garfield Park Conservatory (300 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago), noting the conservatory has scavenger hunts families can use to find certain plants. She also pointed out that the conservatory has activities and is free.
Have Fun In Lincoln Park
Consider packing a lunch and heading to Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. Taluc suggested visiting the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (2430 N. Cannon Dr.) “There’s an outside area at the museum, and you can walk over to the Lincoln Park Zoo and Conservatory,” she said.
Tips
Don’t leave the house just yet for a day of activities in Chicago. The experts gave tips on how to have a fun and relaxing spring break with your child.
Do Your Homework
For a successful outing during spring break, Zeiler recommended planning your day. “There are going to be lines, so plan ahead. Research parking options, and research food options if you want to pack a lunch or have ideas as to where to eat, and try to purchase tickets in advance so you don’t have to stand in line at a destination,” she said.
Don’t Overdo It
Taluc cautioned against cramming in every activity into just a few days. “Don’t overdo it, because then everyone’s exhausted. Maybe do one big activity, then relax and get ready for the next day. Take your time and enjoy that one activity,” she said.
Make Getting To The Destination Fun
Taluc also recommended making the process of getting to your activity fun, and consider taking a boat or train to get to your destination. She also recommended the hop-on and hop-off trolley tour to see more Chicago landmarks.
Megan Horst-Hatch is a runner, reader, baker, gardener, knitter, and other words that end in “-er.” She is also the president of Megan Writes, LLC. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/top-lists/ask-an-expert-spring-break-staycation-activities-for-kids-in-chicago/
