There’s something about spring that makes us giddy with excitement. The longer days, the baby animals, the clean smell after a good spring rain, and the mud that follows the rain are just some of the reasons we love this season.
Spring is also a time when kids can get outside again for longer stretches and comfortably use all of their senses to discover and connect with the Earth.
To make the most of spring’s arrival, check out four of our favorite ways to welcome the season and celebrate the changes that are happening in the natural world where you live.
Though most of us celebrate the “new year” in January, many cultures have looked at springtime as the Earth’s birthday—and for good reason, since it is a time of rebirth and renewal in the natural world. The chance to stage a birthday party for the Earth is a marvelous, age-appropriate way to celebrate a new season and our beloved planet itself. You’ll also inspire the kind of mess-making and pretend play that boost kids' creativity, plus a genuine connection to and appreciation for the natural world. To kids, it’s just a good old time.
Kids can whip up some birthday treats for the Earth using dirt, water, and whatever natural treasures are available in your outdoor space. Mud pies, cakes, and cupcakes along with stone soup make a great spread, and sticks make great birthday candles. Enjoy a pretend feast and sing "Happy Birthday" to the Earth. See the full DIY activity for even more ideas for pretend food, decorations, and even gifts for the Earth. [Ideal for explorers age 1-100]
Among animals, birds are particularly fascinating to kids. They come in a variety of colors, make captivating sounds, and fly! Plus, they also do remarkable things like build nests—cozy, pop-up architectural marvels that are triumphs of spring time.
To engage kids in marveling at how birds build their nests, help kids make a life-sized nest of their own. Start by working together to create an outline of a large circle on the ground. Then, gather sticks, grass, dried leaves, and bits of things to lay on top of the circle and form the nest.. Then, kids can keep adding sticks to the shape to create a thick outline. Gather soft and light materials and fill in the inside of the nest. Once the nest is complete, kids can enjoy playing mother bird, sitting on imaginary eggs. Or, kids can be the baby birds, chirping for their snack. With little modeling required, let the play, quite literally, take flight. Read the DIY version of this activity for more tips and step-by-step guidance. Great for kids ages 2 to 10.
Spring shows up in different ways, depending on where you live. No no matter where you are, all you need to do is slow down, use your senses and pay attention, and you'll start to see how spring makes its entrance in your neck of the woods—and it's pretty magical to notice the change as it's happening!
Download or print our Signs of Spring activity sheet. Then, head outside and invite kids to use each sense to find things that tell them spring is on the way! Kids can write down or draw what they find, or just use the activity sheet to guide their exploration. The value is in the journey and the sensing! Get more ideas for prompts in our full Signs of Spring activity. Ideal for kids ages 3 to 10.
Try some of these outdoor adventure ideas from Highlights to spark kids’ curiosity and connect with nature. Got a kid who’d rather dip their fingers in paint than dirt? Let your child turn the woods into a canvas! They can arrange sticks and leaves to create pictures on the ground, pile rocks to make simple sculptures, or create their own paintbrushes from nature objects.
Got a science lover? Offer binoculars, a magnifying glass, a pocket knife, and/or collecting jars to help kids observe nature up close. Gather samples to identify later or start a field journal where you and your child can record your findings. Use a field guide that covers local animal and plant species to learn more about the things you discover. Find these outdoor adventure ideas and more here.
