Spring Break! Make the best To-Do list for your family

Spring Break can be a wonderful time to accomplish things as a family, but that doesn’t always have to mean completing all those projects that have gone neglected around the house.  In almost every household, there’s usually one member of the family who is ready to conquer the “To Do” list.  Yet, the best “to do” to accomplish is to re-connect the family as a unit.  Take time to play games, visit local sites, spend a day at the beach, and entertain each other; rather than allowing the TV to entertain us.

An additional way to make your spring break special is to give back by helping those in need in your community.  Consider spending a day doing a mini missions trip as a family.  Many churches use breaks to offer international missions trips, but a family missions trip doesn’t have to leave the city around you.   There are many opportunities to teach your kids to be selfless right in your backyard.

As a family, volunteer at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen.  Nursing home facilities are also a wonderful place to give of your time.  Elderly people love to see children and many of them don’t have family nearby.  Your church can be another great resource for volunteer projects.  Check with them to see if there are any church members who need a meal delivered to them or need their house cleaned or yard work done.

Creating this experience with your family may take some time to plan, but it is a lesson worth teaching and time well spent.  Involve your children in the process of planning the week to get them even more excited.  Spend some time around the table tonight bouncing ideas off each other.  You may be surprised at how creative they can be.  Remember, excitement is contagious; so if you want your kids to be excited about helping others you must communicate your excitement!

It’s important to have a break in your family’s routine, but the goal should be to finish the week with everyone thinking, “That was a great time we spent as a family.”

ParentingToday.org is a blog developed by Sheridan House Family Ministries dedicating to helping families on parenting in today’s world.  Visit it today at www.parentingtoday.org for additional practical parenting tips.

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