It might not seem like it just yet, but the first day of spring is right around the corner. Before we know it, all of this ice and snow will melt and all of the colors will return to the outdoors. The transition from winter to spring is one of the most beautiful things to witnessāand after living through so many long, dark days cooped up inside during the winter, no one is more excited to get back to nature than children and their parents.
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Even though it can take much longer to thaw than weād like, we can start to enjoy spring as soon the weather warms up just the slightest bit. Thereās plenty to do outside while we wait for the lazy, hazy days of spring, and there are many ways to celebrate the onset of another beautiful season. If you’re looking for fun ways to embrace the springtime this year, look no further. Check out The Everymomās Spring 2024 Bucket List of family activities for our favorite ways to swing into spring.
The Everymomās Spring Bucket List of Family Activities
1. Go on a scavenger hunt to find the first signs of spring
The perennials are just starting to poke through and the birds have begun chirping early in the morning. Itās a perfect time to take a family walk or hike and point out the sounds and signs of spring. Have your kids look, listen, (and hopefully feel the warmer weather) on a nature-themed scavenger hunt.
2. Surprise someone with flowers
Thereās just something about fresh blooms that can really brighten someoneās day. Itās why I canāt wheel past the flowers at Trader Joeās without picking up a lovely $6 bouquet. On your next trip to the farmerās market, grocery store, or TJās, pick up a second bundle and make someoneās day a little more special.
3. Fly kites
Flying kites on a breezy spring day will really bring you back to your childhood. Itās exhilarating finally getting one up in the air (not always as easy as it looks!), and kids have so much fun chasing the kites to see which one will go higher.
4. Swap your kidsā bookshelf with springy favorites
If your children have a bookshelf, let them help you sort out the wintertime subjects and swap in some spring selections. If youāre up to it, you can even style their shelves with spring-themed garland, baby stuffed animals, or other items that say āspringā to you.
5. Walk or bike somewhere youād usually drive to
Pretty self-explanatory, but see the warmer weather as an open invitation to get outside and go somewhere on foot youād usually get to by carā¦ within reason, of course.
6. Sort through toys and clothes for donations
Spring cleaning is a big thing for most families, so thereās no reason to not get the kids involved. Have them try on clothes to see whatās too small and set it aside for hand-me-downs, storage, or donation. Help them go through their toys and toss broken, missing pieces and set aside things they donāt use much anymore. Finding what sparks joy isnāt just for the adult crowd.
7. Make a spring break staycation feel special
If you have school-aged kids, doing something for spring break matters even if you arenāt traveling. Many parents may feel like theyāve exhausted all at-home activities to do as a family over the past few years, so consider exploring options beyond your home like a nearby state park or a day trip to the beach (remember, you donāt have to go in the water to build sandcastles!).
8. Learn about another spring holiday your family doesnāt usually celebrate
Easter, Passover, and Ramadan all happen in the spring. Whatever your family celebrates, make an effort to teach your kids about the holidays other friends or neighbors may also be celebrating at the same time. Childrenās books are a great place to begin!
9. Try seed-starting
Seed-starting turned into a months-long activity for my girls last spring. We planted a dozen cucumber and tomato seeds in egg cartons in late March. My kids were checking for signs of growth, watering (and overwatering in my 4-year oldās case), and generally assessing the health of their ābabiesā each day. By June, we were able to transfer six healthy plants to an outdoor garden.
10. Celebrate Earth Day
Earth Day is a wonderful time to introduce your littles ones to concepts of conversation and sustainability and how we rely on our earth for so many simple necessities. Understanding why these things will help your little ones learn why itās so important to clean up trash, avoid leaving the water running, or wasting an entire package of wipes on cleaning a baby dollās bum.
11. Get outdoors on a rainy day
As theĀ Scandinavians say, āno bad weather, only bad clothes”āand this applies to springtime, too. What kid doesnāt like jumping in a puddle? Get on their boots and raincoats, grab the umbrellas, and venture outdoors for worm spotting, puddle splashing, and more rainy day fun.
12. Visit your local farmers market
After months of cooking and eating root vegetables that are in-season during the fall and winter, a new variety of produce is so exciting. Sweet peas, strawberries, artichokes, cucumbers, and plumsāwho can resist?! Check out this site, which lists spring produce to watch for by region, and visit your local farmers market to pick up some healthy and delicious seasonal foods.
13. Visit a Butterfly Conservatory
On a Spring Bucket List of family activities, it’s only right to include one of the best parts about springāall the lively parts of nature. Celebrate this by taking a family excursion to a local butterfly sanctuary. Not only will kids be in awe of all of the colorful flying friends, but they may learn something exciting, too!
14. Go Berry Picking
Springtime means the return of some of our favorite berries like strawberries and blueberries. Head out of town for an afternoon and venture to a local berry farm where you can all get busy picking away. When you get home, you can try a new recipe with your fresh picks.
15. Go to the Park
If your kiddos have been missing playing on the playground since early fall, treat them to an outing to your local park. They’ll love using their imagination on the playground and will have an even better time if you join in on the fun. If there’s a pond at your local park, be sure to bring along some birdseed or rice to feed the ducks and geese who are back from being south for the winter.
16. Play Some Baseball
Aside from really little ones, baseball is a great game for kids of all ages. Whether you throw the ball back and forth, or set up a batting tee, everyone will love participating in the classic spring sport.
17. Learn to Roller Blade
Another great way to get outdoors in the spring is by lacing up some roller blades. Even if you and your kids have never done it before, spring is a great time to learn. Either try at home, or head to a bike trail or large open parking lot for plenty of practice space.
18. Go to a Drive-In Movie Theater
Movie nights are always a great idea. But we can make the experience even more special when the weather gets nicer by introducing our kiddos to the nostalgia of a drive-in movie theater. Many theaters open back up for the season in late spring, so pop the trunk and bring plenty of pillows and blankets for the coziest night out of the house possible.
19. Head to a Local Farm or Petting Zoo
You may be surprised to find there are plenty of farms and petting zoos that are open to visitors starting in the spring. In my town, there’s even a local alpaca farm families can go to and learn about these unique animals. There are hidden gems like this all throughout the country just waiting for you and your family to experience.
20. Make a Sensory Bin
Even though spring means welcoming warmer temps, often along with that comes quite a few rain clouds. Don’t get discouraged on a rainy day. Instead, get creative with your time indoors by making a spring sensory bin for little ones with spring themed items like plastic insects, gardening tools, and flowers.
