How to Plan a Staycation with Preschoolers

For example, try this forest ranger theme. Read a book about forest rangers or park rangers (see list below) and encourage your kids to pretend to be forest rangers. Find hats, boots and binoculars to dress the part. (Preschoolers love making binoculars out of empty toilet paper tubes!) Mix up some trail mix and go on a hike, or head to the nearest nature preserve. If you have walkie talkies, a GPS and/or flora/fauna guidebooks, bring them on your hike. Look for animal footprints, plants, birds and animals on the way.

When you get back home, kids can continue to pretend to be forest rangers as they perform forest ranger jobs: perhaps there is an imaginary forest fire that needs to be put out, or a stuffed animal/doll is lost and needs to be rescued, or perhaps some litter needs to be picked up. Toys can also be played with in a different way. Suggest that a toy pick-up truck is a forest ranger's truck, make a forest out of blocks, and help injured stuffed animals with a toy doctor kit.

For more fun, consider a backyard campout (or an indoor campout-young kids love making a tent with a blanket over a table). Or have a preschool family game night. Play animal charades, or an animal matching game. The most important part of a family staycation is to make memories together as a family!

Special meals or snacks can make your staycation even more memorable! Meals don't need to be expensive or difficult to prepare. With a little creativity, kids will think your staycation is the best vacation ever!

For example, if you are doing a forest ranger theme as mentioned above, enjoy family time preparing fun food together. Make a forest or nature themed meal. On a platter, arrange a broccoli or asparagus "forest." Serve kielbasa sausage and pretend it is a snake or caterpillar (to make it a caterpillar, add pepper strips for the legs and antennae). Serve "bug juice" (flavored drink mix) for your beverage.

Other meal ideas for a forest ranger theme? Rename favorite foods or sides. Serve "forest ranger french fries" or "park ranger pierogies" with "forest ranger fried chicken." Perhaps you will want to make or order a "park ranger pizza."

Snack ideas? Serve berries and pretend they are berries you picked in the forest. (Or actually go berry picking!) Make "kiddie trail mix" with kid favorites such as o-shaped cereal, cheesy crackers, pretzels and raisins.

Meals are often the highlight of a traditional vacation. Make them the highlight of your staycation too!