Moms Talk Q&A: What Do You Do On February Vacation?

Question: What do you with the kids on February vacation?

Johanna Corcoran answers: "We tend to avoid the often overcrowded 'school vacation week"' offerings and try new things that don't get a lot of press.

We also plan our days around a certain theme. For example, this week we'll have a "Space Day" with a trip to the Planetarium at The Museum of Natural History in Roger Williams Park, and we'll have a "Cupcake Day" with a road trip to a make-your-own-cupcake bar in Massachusetts.

I don't go crazy scheduling too many activities every day because it's also a great time for kids to learn to create their own fun and stay home a bit so they can rest from their hectic school/extracurricular activity schedule."

April Barber answers: It can be handled different ways depending on your circumstances. Some moms work outside the home, and some moms are stay-at-home.  Do you use daycare or have a relative watch the kids? Do you spend quality time with the kids or do you catch up on the cooking and cleaning?   

School vacation can be challenging! What to do  — when and how to do it...

Just remember: Love and hugs are always free — they can be given quickly, but can last for eternity.

Rhonda Sasa answers: In today's economic times, being a mother to one middle school and one high school child can be very challenging, especially during school vacation.

A vacation to a warm sunny climate close to the equator is not always an option, or you may have to work during their school vacation and you only have the option of day trips.

I have come up with some affordable alternatives to a full-blown vacation, and I involve the children in choosing off of a pre-chosen list. 

A day trip to Yawgoo Valley Ski Area in Exeter is always a great day vacation close by with skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing for the day, a 40-minute drive from Johnston. If the kids enjoy skating, add to the list a day in Downtown Providence's ice rink located at 2 Kennedy Plaza, about a 10-minute drive from Johnston.  

If you work all day and only have the evening with the children and still want the feel of a vacation to another country, what better way to experience a country than by tasting their food? 

I suggest the following: For each night of the week the children get to choose from a list of either different ethnic foods or different ethic restaurants. Example: Chinese food, Italian food, Mexican food, Middle Eastern or Indian. They either pick a restaurant or find recipes that you can make together at home, like tacos for Mexican night or spaghetti and meatballs for Italian night. 

While eating the food from the country of their choice, you can talk about famous landmarks that are located in each country, like China's Great Wall or India's Taj Mahal. The children also get a great education from this idea.  

Whatever example you choose, make sure to involve the children and, most of all, have fun!