Spring break is just around the corner, but do you have a safety plan in place?

You made through one half of your school year and you most certainly deserve a break from all of it. Good thing spring break is just around the corner! Whether you are going on vacation with your family or just hanging out at the beach with friends, it's good to have a safety plan in place during spring break.

Here are a few things you should keep in mind when planning your trip:

• Make sure you pick a hotel that is centrally located. You don't want to be stuck out in the middle of nowhere.
• Stay in touch with family and/or friends — whether by email, social media or phone. Make sure that you are staying in contact and letting them know you are safe. This is especially important if you go without your parents.
• Don't carry a ton of cash with you; take a little and use mostly credit cards. You are less likely to be robbed.
• When you go out, don't go out by yourself. Make sure you have people with you.
• Make sure you use sunscreen and drink plenty of water when you are out in the sun.
• If you are old enough to drink, make sure go easy on the alcohol and make sure you designate a driver or have the number to a cab service handy.

So now that you have your safety plan in place, all you have left to do is to pick your destination! Where ever you decide to go, make sure to follow the safety tips above. Find more spring break safety tips by visiting the CDC website. Be safe and have fun!

If you would like to learn more about LiveFree! and our mission to reduce youth substance abuse, visit our website. And if you want to join our mailing list, just text LIVEFREE to 22828, and don't forget to include your email address!

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Keeping (Kids) Busy Over Spring Break

Racking your brain over Spring Break this year? You may not have anything on your to-do list for your children, but here are some activities you probably want them to avoid:

- Spending the week watching television

- Getting into trouble with their friends

- Putting in endless hours mastering their video games

One thing you can do is plan your family vacation around Spring Break. Use that week to get away with your family and spend quality time doing activities where you can learn, have fun, and talk to your children all week long.

Vacation doesn’t have to be a far-away destination. If you live in the Tampa Bay area, there are plenty of local vacation options. You could go camping in Ocala, spend a week in Sarasota, or tour historic St. Augustine. You can also find plenty to do in downtown St. Pete—going to baseball games at Al Lang Field, visiting the Holocaust Museum and the Dali Museum, and just enjoying the downtown atmosphere!

If taking vacation is not possible, there are other options, but one thing is for sure: if you are not going to be around all week, you should plan things for your children to do. Being in the loop with other parents could be a huge help. If your kids’ friends have plans, talk to the parents about your kids joining in. This will ensure that they all have fun, stay busy, and keep out of trouble.

In Tampa, there are several museums that can make for all-day activities:

- MOSI, with its new interactive bug exhibit

- The Glazer Children’s Museum

- The Tampa History Museum

- The Salvador Dali Museum (in St. Pete)

Volunteering can also be fun for your children and is a great way to teach them the importance and value of giving back to the community. There are a ton of volunteer organizations that teens can be involved in, whether it is through the local church or a nonprofit like the Boys and Girls Club, Community Stepping Stones, or Feeding America. For more ideas on volunteering, follow the link to our post: Community Activities Kids Can Do Instead of Drugs.

You could also try taking them to the library and recreation center or look for family classes around town. Sometimes there are classes offered in the library, the county extension office, a local church, or even a community garden or CSA.

Last but not least, there is always camp. Whether your kids are into sports, crafts, dancing, or music, there is always a camp that offers week-long options for Spring Breakers!

For more ideas, or specific information on drug-free living and anti-drug avocation, visit our website by clicking here: LiveFree!

Source:

Parenting.com

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