Berry Picking

Once again, we’re getting outside and enjoying nature with this activity. At the end of the activity, you get berries as a snack! Bonus! Even if you’re not planting them yourself, this is a fun activity. Many berry farms both sell berries and also let you pick your own. Did you know they charge extra for the ones they pick and less for you picking your own? Come on! The best part is picking your own berries. After the berries are picked, you could make jams, jellies, pies, cakes…or just eat the berries. Go HERE to find a pick-your-own spot near you!

Planting Flowers

There’s nothing like really getting your hands dirty. Even kids know it. From burying their hands in a dinner of spaghetti, mashing their palms in wet cement, or sticking their hands in…um…other messy thing, children know that there’s no better sense of accomplishment. Embrace that with a little bit of garden time while teaching your kids how things grow. Spring is planting season after all. Let them really get their hands dirty by helping you plant some flowers. Maybe it’s an early Mother’s Day gift! Plus, once the plants grow and the flowers bloom, the kids will be excited to be able to say, “I did that”.

Visit a Farm

A spring activity that doubles as an educational one.They’re seeing farm animals and learning the way farms run. Since farming is how most of us end up with food, it’s good to let children see their contribution. Also, some kids don’t even know the difference between a horse and a cow. (crazy, right?) It can be cool for them to learn different animals by seeing them in real life. If you live on a farm, well, I guess you can skip this one.

Gardening

More on the planting theme! This time leave the flowers alone, and work on things like vegetables. Most kids have no idea the work that actually goes into growing the food on their plates. There’s nothing like seeing that first sprout poke its way through the dirt!  Here is a handy list that shows germination rates. This will help guide you in determining what you plant based on how long it takes to sprout. Some kids may want that immediate gratification (by immediate we mean 5 – 6 days), while others may have the patience to wait longer (up to 30 days). Planting vegetables is also a great way to get kids to try new foods, as it’s something that they actually grew from scratch.

Go Fly a Kite

"National Fly a Kite Month" is in April. Find a really windy day and let it take off!

Obstacle Course Racing

Over the last few years, springtime has ushered in a new favorite activity that has become extremely popular. People have a range of intentions when signing up for these races. Some people come to win the race. Some race for the exercise or to prove they can do it. Other just race for fun with friends or family. These races aren’t just for adults. The whole family can enjoy them. They have races just for the kids, so your pint-sized runners can join in the fun at their own level. What started with Tough Mudder and Spartan races has evolved to include other offerings as well, like Rugged Maniac and Zombie Mud Runs. Either way, you can expect fun obstacles, grueling running…and LOTS of mud. Looking for a race in your area?  This might help.