5 Ways to Celebrate Spring with Kids

1. Picnic

The word alone makes me smile. I just love the idea of a picnic. In practice, a picnic with my toddler doesn’t exactly look like the beautiful picnics you see in movies and watercolor paintings; but it’s still a lot of fun! I love to pack all my son’s favorite finger foods and snacks at the park. There’s something inherently fun about eating outside.

Want to make it even better? Try choosing a picnic spot near water and you might get the added bonus of feeding ducks or fish after your picnic. I always take along extra bread just for the ducks.

2. Fly a kite

Another fun way to get outside is to go fly a kite. You can have a great time making your own kite with the kiddos; get cheap versions featuring their favorite Disney character at the dollar store, or go all out with an elaborate box kite. I love taking the time to make our own kite using dowel rods from our local craft store, butcher paper, tape, and yarn. We have almost as much fun decorating them and piecing them together as we do flying them.

If you want to make a day of it, you can do the picnic and kite flying in the same day.

3. Plant flowers

I think it’s really important to teach kids about how things grow. Seeds are inexpensive and kids can have fun choosing the flower seeds they would like to plant. It’s also a great opportunity to talk about what grows well in your area. I’ll never forget the great sense of accomplishment I got watching the flowers I had planted with my grandmother grow. It’s one of my favorite childhood memories.

You can also try planting vegetables and fruits if you’re not a flower person.

4. Go barefoot

Trust me on this one. It is an experience. There’s something to be said for the squish of mud between your toes and the feel of your bare feet sinking into the grass. I’m usually a stickler for wearing shoes. I even insisted that my babies had shoes at all time before they were old enough to walk. However, there’s something magical about walking with bare feet in the spring time. So, we all go outside with bare feet in the spring and enjoy the season tactilely.

5. Local festivals

Perhaps my favorite thing about this season is the festivals! All the small towns in our area have their own festival to celebrate. There’s a strawberry festival, a clover festival, and our local “come see me” event. Some of the festivals last only one day, but others are much longer and include many free activities for families ranging from educational events, to free shows, to more traditional carnivals and picnics. We really enjoy getting out in our community and participating while learning and having fun!

Check your local news outlet to see what’s going on in your area.

So what are your favorite things to do this time of year? I’d love for you to add them to my list in the comment section.