Keeping kids entertained during Spring Break may be a challenge, but getting them to do arts and crafts that are also educational may seem almost impossible. It isn’t! You can create fun, inexpensive, and educational spring break crafts with your kids with just a few tips and hints.

Anatomically Correct Hungry Caterpillar

Chances are, your kids have read “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle, but it’s always good to read it again. Read it to your kids, and then have them make their own anatomically correct hungry caterpillar. You can use pictures from online, construction paper, colorful pipe cleaners, buttons, and any other scrap supplies you have lying around. Use your imagination! Whatever you choose, allow your kids to be creative and have fun. This will teach them about one of Springs most recognized icons- the caterpillar and butterfly- as well as help them develop critical thinking skills as they build their caterpillar from scraps.

Castle Building

About a week before Spring Break, tell your kids you want them to start gathering materials to build a castle. This will challenge them to see everyday objects in a different light, teaching them about recycling and reusing. When they actually build their castle, have them draw it out first. This teaches about planning ahead as well as shapes. Then, when they actually build the castle, they will learn critical thinking skills on how to use the materials they’ve gathered to make a castle.

Picnic Time

Tell your kids you are going to have a picnic- but they have to make the food! Challenge them to make it with certain colors, as well as three servings of fruits and vegetables, one serving of grains, a serving of protein, and so on. This teaches them to look at the foods they normally eat, as well as to read nutrition labels. It also teaches them about colors (great for younger kids) and how to make a nutritious meal.

Photography Challenge

Every day, give your child a list of things they’re to take photos of. One day you can focus on shapes (a round table, a rectangle shape of any kind, and so on) and another day you can focus on colors (a blue sky, a red flower, etc). Each day, give your kids the list, a camera, and let them make their own art as they complete the list. Each evening, go through the photos on your computer with them, or through your phone (if you’re using a mobile camera). Any that they don’t complete should go on a “make-up” list for the end of the week and you can help them with it.

Grow Something Good

During the Spring, plants come to life and flowers bloom. Have your children start their break by planting some herbs, flowers, fruit, or other plant. This will help teach them about gardening, as well as show them the effort it take to actually grow something. It can even teach them about math and science, too!

Nature Hike

Take your kids on a nature hike and have them draw pictures and write about the things they see. Bring along a reusable bag for them to gather pebbles, sticks, leaves, and other things they find interesting. When you get home, have them attach these things to poster board and then share them with the whole family. This teaches all about nature, shapes, textures, colors, art and writing.

What is your favorite way to incorporate inexpensive and educational fun over Spring Break?