If you're looking for the best way to welcome the new season, then you'll want to start brainstorming some fun outdoor activities for spring. If you've been cooped up in your house all winter, outdoor spring activities will help liven your spirit. Plus, embracing the nicer weather is a great way to spend time with your family.
Outdoor activities for spring may vary by your location, but surely you can find great ways to embrace nature. Simply being outdoors in the sun will make your family feel better. Being outdoors has a great effect on your mood, and outdoor activities for spring will keep the whole family active.
If you have younger kids at home, these are the best times to make memories. Outdoor activities don't need to be strenuous, nor do you need to spend a lot of money. If anything, they're a great way to get kids to put down a screen and breathe some fresh air. Here are some ideas if you're looking to plan ahead.
1. Have a Yard Sale
Yard sales are a lot of fun for kids and a great way for adults to get rid of unnecessary clutter. Yard sales also help teach children the value of a dollar.
Kids will love having a yard sale, since it'll be a fun way for them to spring-clean their room and make money so that they can buy new toys and crafts. It's also a great way for your family to meet your neighbors and your neighborhood.
2. Plant a Vegetable Garden
Want your kids to eat more vegetables? Then have them plant their very own vegetable garden. Kids will be more invested in the veggies, since they had a big hand in making them grow.
Gardening is a great outdoor activity for families, since everyone can participate. One of you can till the soil, one of you can pull out weeds, and the kids can make sure to plant and protect their seeds. You can also start this project early and inside, with some seed starter kits and a grow light.
Don't have the greenest of thumbs? In that case, you can get starter plants at a home improvement store if you want to up your chances of success.
3. Revamp Your Backyard
Do you have a backyard area? Maybe it's time to revamp it. Depending on what you have to work with, this could definitely be a spring activity for the kids as well. Maybe you want to utilize your space better. Or maybe you want to add a hammock to the two trees back there. By changing up your outdoor space, you'll feel more appreciative of your home. Even if it's adding a fairy garden or a butterfly garden to the back, it'll be a great change for springtime.
4. Start a Bonfire
Have your kids ever roasted marshmallows in the backyard before? In some cultures, a bonfire is the official welcoming of spring. Of course, you'll need to make sure that you're prepared ahead of time and don't create a hazard.
Buying or building a firepit is a great way to get started. You'll also want to make sure you read up on the proper protocols before lighting it, and make sure it's not too close to trees. In the evening, when it gets a little cooler, your kids will appreciate the time spent outside feeling like campers.
5. Make Birdfeeders Outside
Making birdfeeders is very easy. It could be as simple as putting some seed into a small container that's in close proximity to some backyard trees. You can also hang pine cones that have been spread with peanut butter and rolled in birdseed. Feeding the birds is a calming hobby that'll teach your kids the importance of nature.
It's important to take care of the birds outside, since they'll end up taking care of you. Attracting birds to your property means that you'll have your own at-home pest control service. They can also help pollinate your flower garden. This is an outdoor spring activity that can benefit your other outdoor spring activities.
6. Go on a Spring Color Hunt
What is a spring color hunt? It is much like it sounds. Print out a long list of colors for your kids, and let them wander around the neighborhood trying to match objects to colors. For example, if "blue" is on the list, they can add "the sky." If you want to take it up a notch — and if your kids have cameras to use — you can also make it a photography lesson. Let them photograph their outdoor finds, and then you can review them all as a family when you're back inside.
If you've ever wanted to check out a nearby park or a close neighborhood that seems very kid-friendly, this would be a great excuse to check it out. It'll make you feel more connected to your community.
7. Play Frisbee in a Field
When was the last time you actually played a real game of Frisbee? Frisbee is a wonderful game, since it's not hard to excel at and anyone can play. Even the family dog can get in on the action if they need a fun spring day out as well.
Chances are, you already have a Frisbee in the house. If not, you can order a flying disc easily — it's a purchase that won't break the bank.
Check out the local park to find a big field, making the game even more memorable for your family.
8. Collect Bugs
Looking for outdoor activities for spring that are also very educational? Why not collect bugs? You'll want to make sure that you live in an area where the bugs are friendly enough. Mosquitos, wasps, and many spiders are off limits. But ants, ladybugs, and crickets can be a lot of fun.
Bugs are very important in the world. Even though some may be a little terrifying or intrusive, they're beneficial to plants and other animals. Learning more about friendly bugs will be a lot of fun, and kids can continue to research them after the bug hunt is over.
9. Go to a Garden Center and Buy Flowers for Your Neighbors
If you live in a friendly neighborhood — or just moved into a new neighborhood — why not spread a little spring joy to everyone? Go to a garden center with your family and find some flowers that'll really flourish in early spring weather. Marigolds are a great choice, as they're hearty, colorful, and great for beginners. They also control and repel other garden pests, so they're quite a useful addition to any garden.
Your kids can personalize these gifts by making special cards for each neighbor. Even if your neighbors don't choose to plant them, it's still a kind gesture that'll spread joy and make a positive difference.
10. Plant Wildflower Seeds
On the topic of flowers, why not plant some wildflower seeds? Wildflowers are a wonderful addition to any garden area. They attract birds and bees — with bees being quite important these days — and are also easy to grow. Wildflowers are great for kids and beginners.
Wildflowers might also include a little bit of research. You'll want to grow flowers that are native to your area. Your children can join in on the research before you go outside and decide where your wildflowers would thrive.
11. Clean Up Trash in the Park
Family outdoor activities for spring can make a difference for your whole community. Why not go to the park and clean it up? It's important for kids to know that we need to take care of our planet. By picking up trash or beautifying areas, you're making a difference. And even better, you may inspire other families to do the same.
To make this a better activity for kids, you can even turn it into a treasure hunt. Make a list of items you're hoping to bring back. That, or you can turn it into a competition if you have multiple children: See who can find the most cans to recycle.
12. Discover a New Playground
Sometimes, small little playgrounds are tucked within your community that you may not realize. Take a family walk around your neighborhood and see if you can spot any. Even if you can't find a playground, you may find some useful areas you didn't know about before. Maybe you can find a nook with some benches that'd be good for outdoor learning. Or maybe you'll find a fun pond or stream that can teach your kids about nature.
Exploring your neighborhood is always a fun idea for spring days. And if you can find a small place for your kids to blow off some steam, even better.
13. Visit a Farm
Farms don't necessarily need to have cows, pigs, and sheep to count as farms — but if you have one in the area, you might as well check it out. Many areas have local farms where you can also purchase jellies, pies, and fresh produce. It would be a fun family trip outside and serve as a memorable moment.
Farmers markets are also great places for families. You can support local farmers and buy some of the best produce you've ever tasted. Even if your nearest farm or farmers market is a drive away, it'll still be a great spring experience for your family on a weekend.
14. Collect Rocks and Pebbles
You might have a future geologist in the household and not even know it! Rocks are wonderful keepsakes, and they can also be used in crafts. Find a bunch of rocks to paint, and consider leaving them all around your neighborhood to spread some joy.
Kids can also put googly eyes on rocks to make them "pet rocks," if they're feeling creative.
Older kids can also keep the rocks in a collection to study. Rocks don't take up too much room, so it's not a bad first collection for a child.
15. Go on a Family Hike
Nature trails are fairly easy to find, and many of them are great for beginners. As far as outdoor activities for kids go, hiking really has everything. Kids can explore, get some exercise, and learn more about nature. They may also build courage with it comes to outdoor bugs and small animals they might encounter along the way.
Nature walks with kids will also allow plenty of time for you, as a parent, to chat with your child. Make the adventure a personal experience they'll cherish. The change of scenery may inspire them to open up in a brand-new way.