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This post was in partnership with Melissa & Doug but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend products we genuinely love.

5 Ways to Get Your Kids Playing Outside This Spring

written by ROBERTA CORREIA

This post was in partnership with Melissa & Doug but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. The Everymom’s product selections are curated by the editorial team. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely love.

spring"
spring
Graphics by: Anna Wissler
Graphics by: Anna Wissler

Have you been counting down the minutes to better weather? Months of below-freezing temps and nasty winter weather have me and my family desperate for outdoor play time.

When spring weather finally hits, all I want to do is be outdoors with no iPads in tow and taking advantage of the warmer temperatures all day long. Even though we love the playground, it sometimes takes a little something extra to get the whole family excited for an outdoor adventure.

If you’re like me and looking for new ways to encourage your kids to play outside this spring after a winter spent indoors, we’ve found five foolproof ways to get them out the door. Don’t forget to remind them to get wet, dirty, and messy—sometimes that makes all the fun!

 

1. Try a Scavenger Hunt

Is there anything more fun than going on an outdoor hunt? It’s a great way to get outside, learn about new things in nature—trees, bugs, animals!—and even get a little exercise. Melissa & Doug’s Scavenger Hunt Play Set takes the guesswork out of this activity and makes it really easy to set up a quick hunt, outside or inside. The ‘Let’s Explore’ kit makes it a real game with cards, a timer, and even a bag for each player to collect items. A blast for kids to explore!

melissa & Doug let's explore scavenger hunt set
Melissa & Doug
Let's Explore Indoor/Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Play Set

Use code EVERYMOM20 to get 20% off any Melissa & Doug product!

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2. Make the Outdoors Your Art Studio

Have a little one who loves art? My little artist loves to take his drawings to the sidewalks and driveway with some outdoor chalk. He actually first learned to write his name using outdoor chalk, so as soon as the temperature goes above freezing, we’re outside creating and coloring. Make it even more enticing for the littles with a fun-shaped coloring pack like Melissa & Doug’s Ice Cream & Cake Chalk Set—who doesn’t love ice cream and cake?!

melissa and doug ice cream chalk
Melissa & Doug
Ice Cream & Cake Chalk Set

Use code EVERYMOM20 to get 20% off any Melissa & Doug product!

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3. Plant Your Food

Take advantage of the season and introduce kids to gardening. Your little ones will get a kick out of planting herbs, vegetables, and fruits they can watch grow and later eat. Gardening is also an amazing way to teach kids about the environment, our impact on it, and how taking care of plants and flowers is so important to our ecosystem. Give the littles their own kid-sized tools and they can get in on the action right next to you.

melissa & doug gardening set
Melissa & Doug
Giddy Buggy Tote Set

Use code EVERYMOM20 to get 20% off any Melissa & Doug product!

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4. Play in the Rain

Embrace the mess and let your little ones call the shots by going out to play in the rain. Invest in a good pair of rain boots and a waterproof jacket and give the kids free rein to jump through puddles, splash, fill buckets of rain water, and even play with a little mud (mud pies for the win!). Getting that free play time is crucial for young kids, and this way makes rain fun, not scary.

best rainboots for kids
Maisonette
Pluie Pluie Rain Boots
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little girl playing in the rain

Source: Shutterstock

 

5. Try Backyard Camping

Getting kids to embrace the outdoors doesn’t necessarily have to involve packing up the car and going on a big camping trip in the woods. Introduce them to the concept of backyard camping with a simple night in tents outside. It’s just as fun as hitting a camping site, particularly for younger kids, and takes way less planning and organizing—but still has all the benefits of a screen-free excursion. Don’t forget to pack the tabletop s’mores roaster for an experience they won’t soon forget!

smores roaster
Crate & Barrel
Chef'n S'mores Roaster
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smores play set
Melissa & Doug
Let's Explore Campfire S'mores Play Set

Use code EVERYMOM20 to get 20% off any Melissa & Doug product!

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This post was in partnership with Melissa & Doug® but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend products we genuinely love.