This past year has been challenging in many ways, but it has highlighted the importance of spending quality time with loved ones. With spring break approaching, you may be looking for some activities that will capitalize on your free time without taking you far from home. Although the suggestions below are organized by age group, some are suitable for any age.

Activities for Elementary-Aged Children

For elementary-aged children, consider some classic activities like backyard camping or showing off your best moves at a silly dance party. Add a few simple supplies to bump up the fun. For example, you can pick up a sound-activated mini laser light on Amazon that will transform any room into a disco that your children will adore —prepare for smiles, laughter, and shenanigans! If you opt for backyard camping, s’mores supplies and mildly spooky stories are essential. A good recommendation could be to download Alvin Schwartz’s classic folklore collection, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and reading the section dedicated to silly jump scares and ridiculously funny twist endings.

If you’re looking for something a little out of the ordinary, geocaching might interest you. In case you’re unfamiliar with geocaching, think of it as a GPS-powered “treasure” hunt. The treasure may not be rubies or gold, but the memories you’ll make with your kiddos are definitely precious. To get started, visit geocaching.com and watch the introductory video. After your geocaching adventure, find a steep hill and try some grass sledding. You can locate various tips and tutorials for this activity on the internet, but most sources agree that a flattened cardboard box “sled” works best. Have your kids problem-solve to perfect their sledding technique and compete to see whose specific approach achieves the slipperiest results.

Another great local option to consider is The Oil Ranch in Hockley. They offer a huge variety of outdoor activities and hands-on experiences that will delight your elementary-aged children. Visit their website at oilranch.com for details and pricing information.

Activities for Children in Junior High and High School

Encourage pre-teens and teens to get creative with at-home spring break activities. Challenge them to a cooking competition — choose one dish or meal and see whose execution is superior, have a family pot luck, or hold a “Chopped”-style contest in which each competitor has access to the same challenging ingredients but must combine them to develop a unique and tasty dish. Your kids will be so proud to serve you their creations, and they will sharpen valuable life skills in the process!

Get some fresh air and spend the day at Stephen F. Austin State Park. Take a picnic and a book to read and discuss, do some birdwatching, walk or bike the trails, identify plant specimens (you can download free apps for this), and visit the nearby museum to learn about the early settlers of the region. Budding artists might also enjoy bringing a sketchpad, watercolor set, or camera along to capture the beauty of the natural scenery.

If you don’t mind a bit of a drive, there are many other great activities within an hour of Sealy that are suitable for both pre-teens and teens. Paintball, ax-throwing, indoor skydiving, and go-kart tracks are all available locally. Many facilities are well-reviewed and offer a variety of packages to suit your needs. Do a little research and plan a day or weekend trip.

Activities for College Students and Beyond

For college students and anyone else, spring break is an excellent opportunity to explore a new hobby. YouTube is a great place to find tutorials on almost any subject, and some — like painting tutorials — easily lend themselves to being group activities. Gather your friends, art supplies, and snacks and have some laughs as you follow instructions to create your own masterpieces. Need help finding a hobby? Visit discoverahobby.com and browse the categories or use the random hobby generator to get some ideas.

Movie buffs might enjoy working their way through The American Film Institute’s 100 Greatest American Films of All Time. Use the checklist to mark off the ones that you have seen, select one or two that you haven’t, and prepare a themed dinner and cocktails (or mocktails) for the occasion. To add to the fun, research your picks and develop a trivia game to play as you watch with your family or friends. You might also consider moving your dinner-and-a-movie experience outside with the help of a portable movie projector. Add a fire pit and some comfy chairs, and you have a thoroughly enjoyable evening on your hands.

If you are looking to get out of the house for a bit, consider challenging yourself with a puzzling escape room or going wild in a smash room. Smash rooms, also known as rage rooms, offer a guilt-free opportunity to release your pent-up frustrations through demolition. A Google search will return a few options within reasonable driving distance.