As spring break drags on, chances are your kids have broken into the all-too-familiar chorus of “I’m bored.”

So, in the interest of your sanity and their fun, I’ve come up with some ideas to keep your kiddos occupied that don’t involve hours in front of the television or computer.

Explore the outdoors

With little to no rain and warm temperatures in the forecast for the rest of the week, take advantage of this gorgeous weather and get your children active and outside. Take them for a walk, go hiking or take a picnic to the park. Sidewalk chalk is another good outdoor activity.

If you’re feeling really ambitious, you could set up a camp out in your backyard – set up a tent and sleep under the stars as a family.

Need an indoor solution?

If the great outdoors aren’t your family’s thing, there are plenty of fun activities to keep your kids busy inside.

Make a blanket fort with sheets, quilts, pillows, tables, chairs and other furniture.

Play board games such as Chutes and Ladders or Candy Land. Card games are great too, especially for older kids.

If you’re looking for a way to combat a serious case of the wiggles, try GoNoodle!

I’m breaking my “no computer” rule here for a minute, but hear me out: GoNoodle! is a collection of silly (and often nonsensical) music videos designed just for kids.

Although its intended purpose is for brain breaks in the classroom, it works just as well to get the wiggles out at home.

I first discovered GoNoodle! a few months ago when I was volunteering in a first-grade classroom and the kids absolutely loved dancing around to the songs, especially, “Pop See Ko.”

Parents can sign up for a free GoNoodle! account at www.gonoodle.com.

If you’re feeling crafty, make Play-Doh, goo, gak, foam, flubber or slime – whatever you want to call it — these concoctions stimulate creativity and are a whole lot of fun.

There’s no shortage of Easter crafts available on Pinterest, and dyeing Easter eggs is another crafty option that also happens to be seasonally appropriate.

Letting your kids help in the kitchen can be mutually beneficial – you get some extra help and they get a sweet reward when you’re through.

Try baking cookies (the funfetti cookie recipe below is delicious), or let them add toppings to their own personal-sized pizza.

Read

For some kids, reading is a treat, but for others, it’s a chore.

Make reading fun by reading to your kids, or encouraging them to read something fun or about a topic they enjoy.

To add some extra excitement to reading, take them to the library and let them choose from their large selection of books.

 

Funfetti cookies (from Pillsbury)

• 1 package of Funfetti cake mix
• 1/3 cup of oil
• 2 eggs
• Funfetti frosting

Heat oven to 375 degrees. In large bowl, combine cake mix, oil and eggs; stir with spoon until thoroughly moistened. Shape dough into one-inch balls; place two inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. With bottom of glass dipped in flour, flatten to 1/4-inch thickness.

Bake at 375 degrees for six to eight minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool one minute; remove from cookie sheets.

Spread frosting over warm cookies. Immediately sprinkle each with candy bits from frosting. Let frosting set before storing. Store in tightly covered container.