Spring Has Sprung, Fun Activities Inside and Out

Spring is such a beautiful time of year, the sun warms us, flowers bloom, grass turns green, the leaves return. The earths rebirth is abounding. There is so much to look forward to. However, mother nature loves to play games too. One day it is warm, the next is cold, it rains, snows, it may even feel like summer. You never know what you will be able to do from one day to the next. Some days your plans are ruined because of the weather and you are left thinking now what can we do besides sitting in the house on another rainy day. Don’t get me wrong it is nice to sit and just be at home doing whatever but to many days like that just don’t keep our littles interest. So what can we do?

Inside Fun and Learning:

Activities:

• Confetti Rice Bin: Buy cheap white rice and food coloring. Leave some of the rice white and dye some pink, green, and blue. Place it all in a bin.
  • Hide plastic letters in it for them to find. When they take out the letter have them tell you the letter name, sound, and a word that starts with that sound.
  • Hide plastic numbers. When they take out a number have them name it and then count to that number, or older children can find 2 numbers and add them together or subtract them.
  • For toddlers hide shapes or color blocks in it and they have to name them and find something that matches them.
• Bubbles: Bubbles are just fun inside or our, but they can also be educational. Science abounds in bubbles from wind to how to make them. There is never a dull moment with bubbles.
• Ribbon Dance with Music: Children love to move to music and they love to shake things around. Why not let them do both. Turn on some upbeat music and hand them a stick with a long ribbon attached and watch them go. They will love this and want to keep going. It will be nice to help get rid of some of that energy on a rainy day. Toddler Ribbon Dancing
• Crafts:
  • Making Bugs: There are so many ways to make bugs. You can use thumbprints, construction paper, or pipe cleaners to make them. Littles also love to paint so hey can paint pictures with bugs in them. When doing these activities you can talk about the different types of bugs and what they would need to have to make them an insect.(Image from: Homeschoolmasteryacademy.com )
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  • Making Flowers: Making flowers can also go in many different directions. They can paint them , use hands and feet and fingers to make them, or use construction paper for them. Children love to create things they find in nature.
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  • Finger Painting: Just plain old finger painting is so much fun. Put some paint on the paper and let them just feel the paint on their hands and see what they do with it. Give them different colors and have them mix the colors to see what new colors they create. This is a wonderful experience for young children.

Library: They library is a wonderful place to take children. They have many different activities for children. Mackenzie’s favorite thing is story time. She loves the rhymes, stories, and movement activities. Then she loves getting new books to take home and explore. It is also just fun to go and take a book off the shelf and find a quiet corner to read in. We love the library, especially on days we cannot get outside.

Museums: Find a museum close to you to explore. A children’s museum is ideal for littles because they can touch and explore.

Indoor Play Areas: There are indoor bounce houses for children to jump in. Many of them have designated times for younger children. Look in your area to see if one is near you. Some areas also have indoor play areas. We went to one in California with our grandson called Kiddos 101. He loved it.

Outside Fun and Learning:

Activities:

• Bubbles: Bubbles are just fun inside or our, but they can also be educational. Science abounds in bubbles from wind to how to make them. There is never a dull moment with bubbles.
• Water Table: Water tables are so much fun for children, they LOVE water. The spring maybe warm enough to splash in and play with water, but maybe not warm enough to get in the pool. There are so many things children can experiment with in the water. Water tables get them outside and having a good time. (Watch for another post devoted to using water tables)
• Gardening: Children love to play in the dirt. What a perfect time to have them help grow a vegetable garden, so they are growing the food they will eat. Flowers are always beautiful and they would love to learn to be gentle with some beautiful seasonal flowers growing in the garden. Just wait til your rambunctious little is so careful with that flower. The conversations you can have about plants and growing food are excellent science lessons with no planning on your part. Enjoy the time for conversation.

To read more about gardening with littles

Farms or Zoo: Do you have farms near you? children would love to go to a farm and visit the animals. the littles can begin to recognize the animal sounds and older children can learn about the animals and how to care for them. If there isn’t a farm near you maybe a zoo. Children love animals and this gets them out and exploring. Enjoy these trips. Take a picnic lunch to enjoy while you are on your visit.

Parks: Nothing like a little while at the park. Running, jumping, climbing, swinging, sliding so much fun and gross motor activity. the gross motor play is helping them with there learning. They are learning problem solving skills, building muscles, and stamina. Gross motor play helps them to focus and control themselves. Not to mention they are having so much fun.

Strawberry Fields or Farms with Self Picking Programs: Children are more likely to eat food they are involved with. If you cannot grow these things at home find a place to visit where they can help pick them. The conversations you can have about plants and growing food are excellent science lessons with no planning on your part. Enjoy the time for conversation.

Of Course Books are Fun to Read Inside and Out

Enjoy books on the couch, under a tree, in the park, sitting on a blanket in the grass or any other comfy place you love to read.

When Spring Come  by Kevin Henkes

And Then It’s Spring  by Julie Fogliano

When Will it be Spring  by Catherine Walters

Who Likes Rain?  by Wong Herbert Yoe

Feel The Wind  by Arthur Dorros

What Will Hatch  by Jennifer Ward

Miss Rumphius  by Barbara Cooney

Planting a Rainbow  by Lois Ehbert

The Tiny Seed  by Eric Carle

Spring Is Here  by Will Hillenbrand