Fun Ways To Get Involved With Your Kids This Spring

Spring is right around the corner. As the days get longer and the weather grows warmer, you and the kids won't have any excuse not to go outside and explore the great outdoors. So, if you're looking for fun things to do that'll bring your family closer together and begin enjoying spring, the following list is full of great ideas. 

1. Scavenger Hunts

Make nature walks and hikes more fun for your little ones with a scavenger hunt. Create a picture or words list of all the things you might see while out on the trail. Tailor the list to your location and climate. Have your kids search for the items during your walk. Participate along with them for some friendly competition. And have a prize on hand to award the winner. 

2. Catch Some Bugs 

While you're out in the woods, keep your eyes peeled for creepy crawlies. And keep a bug jar or a container with holes in it to catch a few. Whether it be crickets, praying mantises, earthworms or daddy long legs, let your kids capture and watch them. Bring them home for a week to feed and water, then release them back into the wild. You can also do this right in your own backyard or neighborhood.

3. Garden

What kid doesn't love to get a little dirty? Roll up your sleeves and help your child plant a small garden. Include plants that will easily grow in your climate. These may include tomato plants, watermelons, zucchini, strawberries, raspberries or other fruits and veggies. You may even plant herbs like basil, mint or chives. While you may rather plant flowers, allowing your kids to garden and watch their food grow can teach them about the importance of patience, responsibility and respect for the Earth and the food it provides. 

4. Build a Birdhouse 

While you're teaching them about the growth of plants and food, consider teaching them about the life cycle of nature, too. Building a birdhouse is a wonderful opportunity to do this. The project will take just a few hours and the materials cost less than $25. If your kids are very young, help them with the tools. Then, turn them lose to paint and decorate it. Then, set it up in your backyard and watch as your kids eagerly wait for a bird to make it home. 

5. Coach Little League 

Are your kids are more into sports than they are crafts? Sign them up for little league baseball or softball. And get involved by coaching the team. Of course, you'll want to review the rules just to refresh your knowledge. Additionally, you should build a roster or learn how to work with a pre-determined one. Find out how your league places its players and determine who might be a good pitcher. And get to know each individual player before your first practice so you can hit the ground running. 

6. Play in the Rain 

If practice gets rained out and you don't feel like staying inside during the storm, put on your raincoats and boots and head outside. A little rain never hurt anyone, right? Splash around in the puddles, look for earthworms that may have washed up and make mudpies. Revel in the simple joys of childhood together. If thunder rolls in, sit in the garage or on the front porch and watch the lightning. 

7. Fly a Kite 

On clear, windy days, head out to a flat, open space like a beach, a meadow or the park and fly a kite. You can either purchase one from the store or make your own. If you do decide to construct your own kites, all you need is clear contact paper, straws, scissors, string, ribbon and tissue paper. Then, build your kites in a few easy steps and let your kids decorate them with markers, stamps, tissue paper and other craft supplies. 

8. Dye Eggs 

Spring goes hand in hand with all things Easter — bunnies, carrots, peeps and dyed eggs. Make your own colorful eggs for a night of family fun. This craft is incredibly simple and hassle-free as long as you hard-boil your eggs first and be sure not to spill any dye. Of course, this may be easier said than done, especially if you have toddlers. So, if you'd rather not risk spills and stains, you can opt to paint or color your eggs with markers instead. 

9. Chalk It Up

There's a reason why sidewalk chalk has been around for decades — it's super fun. Make any surface a piece of art and do it again and again as the rain wipes it away. Let your kids draw whatever they want or make a game out of it. Draw a hopscotch board or shuffleboard, play tic tac toe or even twister. Whatever you draw, one thing's for sure, the creativity will definitely be flowing.

10. Blow Bubbles 

Another classic warm-weather activity is blowing bubbles. Children love to play with and chase bubbles and can easily go through a whole tube in a single sitting. However, you can easily make your own with a few simple ingredients so you always have bubbles on hand. Once you have bubble liquid stashed away, go ahead and purchase a few differently shaped wands to keep the activity engaging.