Tile Tips: Spring Break Edition
Whether you’re traveling by plane, train, or automobile this spring break, we’ve put together some tile tips that will help your family enjoy the journey.
Vacation:
Maintaining pieces of family routines during vacation gives children a sense of stability and comfort and can make trips run smoother for everyone. Small, familiar rituals like a consistent wake-up time or a special bedtime routine help children adjust and feel secure. If it’s feeling really tricky to maintain a routine on vacation, don’t worry! Focus on anchoring the day with just a few predictable moments, like quiet time before bed or an afternoon snack break.
Sunscreen:
Sunscreen can be one of the most annoying parts of prepping for any day in the sun. Use your Springboard to show your child when putting on sunscreen will happen in their routine. Whether at home or on vacation, try designating a “sunscreen spot” where you will apply the sunscreen each day. Adding a predictable location helps everyone know what to expect and ensures you’re prepped and ready before you head out the door.
Car Ride:
Embarking on a road trip this spring break? Take on the role of DJ for a seated version of Family Freeze Dance. Create a playlist of your family’s favorite songs and encourage everyone to “dance” along from their seats. When you pause the music, shout “freeze!” Offer different prompts to keep your youngest passengers engaged. “When the music stops, put your hands up high!” “This time, put your feet in the air!”
Airplane:
Pack simple materials that inspire play with no mess. Pipe cleaners and Wikki Stix offer travel-friendly fun for children (and adults) of all ages. Be sure to have a flat surface, such as a hardcover book or airplane tray, available for the Wikki Stix. You can press the Stix directly onto this surface. Creative play becomes more interactive when everyone takes turns shaping an object or animal. Clues are always helpful! “I made a pipe cleaner animal that lives in the ocean. It has 8 wiggly arms. Can you guess what I made?”
Beach:
Embark on a Color Hunt. Walk along the beach together and take turns spotting items in every color of the rainbow. “I see a red umbrella, an orange surfboard, a yellow bucket..."
