In my house, spring is a much welcomed season after the long, cold winter months! The moment the air turns warm outside, I very much enjoy opening the windows and letting it blow through the house, letting the kids run crazy in the backyard (something I’m sure my neighbors don’t enjoy as much due to their volume), and finding a spot in the sun to put my feet up and sip on an iced coffee (as much a mom can sit with her feet up! HA!).
Some of my favorite memories have been made outside during these warm spring days and cool evenings! I wanted to share some of our family’s favorite spring activities with you and encourage you to let those kids run wild and truly enjoy all the fun this season has to offer (while getting that vitamin D)! Make some memories that both you and your kids will remember for years to come!
Fly a Kite:
Something my in-laws do frequently with my kids in spring is take them kite flying. I enjoy tagging along as well, not minding at all that my in-laws “run the show”! We usually find ourselves at a nearby park, so if the kids happen to get tired of the kites, they can run and play for a bit. You can pack a picnic lunch or some simple snacks to take it up a notch. It sounds so simple, but the smile on my kids’ faces proves you don’t need fancy, expensive outings to make great memories.
Skateboard or Take a Bike Ride:
Skateboarding and bike riding is a newer activity to our family. A couple years ago, we moved to a great neighborhood with a little cul-de-sac, so it’s easy for my boys to ride their skateboards and bikes in front of the house. If you don’t have an area for kids to ride safely, check to see if there is a kid friendly skate park nearby, or an empty parking lot they can ride bikes in (that’s where my boys learned to ride bikes). We found that our local skate park is great for kids earlier in the day, but by noon, the older kids start coming out, so it’s not ideal for my younger ones to skate. We have also enjoyed taking family bike rides around our neighborhood or to a local ice cream shop. My husband has a toddler seat on his bike my daughter rides in. There’s the best little hill on the way and my daughter’s face lights up every time she goes down it! It may be more difficult if all your kids are younger, but start out small. Keep it to just your block or neighborhood. That’s the best place to learn how to stay together and safe for longer bike trips further from home.
Make a Fire:
Our family really enjoys a good little fire in our backyard fire pit! We found a relatively cheap one at our local hardware store. We’ve roasted hot dogs and marshmallows over it, making it perfect for smores! Sometimes we just sit and talk, sometimes my husband and I sit and watch the kids play as the sun sets, and sometimes, we even read a chapter or two of a book we’ve been reading as a family. (We have really been enjoying The Chronicles of Narnia) Now is the perfect time to invest a bit in your backyard/outdoor space. You can do it little by little and it doesn’t have to be expensive. You will get your return back in laughter and the silliest memories made on those cool spring evenings.
Take an Afternoon Drive:
A super simple activity my kids honestly LOVE is just riding in the back seat of my husbands old pickup truck. We let them pick the music and turn it up while rolling the windows down and just driving. Sometimes we have a destination in mind (once again, the local ice cream shop is perfect for this), sometimes we don’t, but they love it all the same! You can incorporate this into your picnic plans and/or kite flying afternoon. If we have a destination in mind, we usually take the long way to give more time in the truck.
Plant Something:
Last year was our first year of homeschooling and for science, we learned about butterflies and planted a butterfly garden. My kids enjoyed it so much, they asked to do it again this year (the butterfly garden, that is). I found a “butterfly garden” seed packet at our local store and there were four different kinds of flower seeds in it. They had so much fun planting them, then watching them grow over the next few weeks! We also enjoyed watching the butterflies that came around. If a butterfly garden isn’t your thing, find something that is! It doesn’t even have to be flowers. I saw the cutest vegetable garden planter for kids at our local Walmart recently. There’s so much you can plant!
Play in the Rain/Puddles:
(They wore clothing while playing in the rain. This picture was taken after they took it off in the garage before showing.)
While we all look forward to the beautiful spring days, all too often our outdoor plans get ruined thanks to those “April Showers”. One of mine and my kids favorite activities/memories is playing in the rain and the warm rains of spring are perfect! Yes, it’s messy and I’ve learned how to minimize the mess, but it’s such a great way for them to get some of their energy out on a day that may not be the most desirable to get outside. I let them run, dig, play catch, and pretty much anything they would usually do if it weren’t raining. If playing during the rain is not something you're into, try puddle jumping after a rainstorm. It can still be a little messy, but not nearly the same level.
Go Fishing:
Now I can’t say this is one I’ve personally done with my kids, but my father, father-in-law, and husband have taken my boys fishing a few times and they love it! They talk about their fishing trips often and can’t wait to go again! When my daughter is a bit older, I may tag along and take her, but until then, I will just enjoy the fishing stories and pictures I get.
Check Your Local Area for Discounts:
This one may seem like a no-brainer, but I often get so caught up in my day-to-day activities that I can forget to check out the local spots for great deals and discounts! We don’t live too far from a big summer tourist town, so as the weather gets warmer, many of the local tourist attractions begin to open up. During the spring, they will often run great discounts for locals to take advantage of, before the summer crowds come in. There’s a local hotel my family and I go to almost every March that has an indoor pool. They run a two for one night special and we can have access to the pool for three days. Check around to see if anywhere around you offers “locals specials” or even “spring discounts”! Whether it’s the zoo, a museum, mini golf, or a hotel, mini vacations are a great way to spend time together as a family, relax and unwind, and make lasting memories!
These are just some of the things my family enjoys and where some of my favorite memories have been made. There are so many other great ideas out there! Find what works for you and your family, get outside, enjoy that sunshine, and make some memories!!
Terri - General Manager at Milk + Honey Jewelry