Spring is typically an exciting and joyous season, especially for kids. It’s also a great opportunity for learning, creativity, development, and spending time together in innovative ways.

Here are just some “spring” activity ideas for your kids to start the season:

S – Science

The first signs of spring can bring out the scientist in almost anyone, especially kids with their innate curiosity and desire to learn. Parents can foster their kid’s inner scientist by practicing the first step of the scientific method, which is making observations and asking questions. This is a great activity to do as a family while enjoying the outdoors and noticing seasonal changes. Here are some ideas to get started:

• Watch the sky and wonder with your child about weather, cloud formations, how the wind blows, etc.
• Consider the wildlife in your area (small animals, insects, etc.) and how they live in their “homes”
• Investigate colors found in nature and how the world would differ if those colors were to change

Once you have some observations and questions, you and your child can come up with creative “answers” or do some simple research to learn more.

P – Poetry

The spring season has always been among the greatest inspirations for poets, and the first day of spring is a wonderful opportunity to introduce poetry to your child. Parents may be shy about exposing their kids to poetry due to lack of experience with it themselves. However, reading, listening to, and creating poems are all invaluable ways for children to strengthen their vocabulary and literacy skills, recognize speech patterns, and enjoy figurative language.

Here are some fun spring activities to spark your child’s interest in poetry:

• Make a list of all the words you and your child can come up with to rhyme with spring, and make fun poetic lines (for example: “Bring the ring to the spring king!”)
• Create an acrostic poem with words that are associated with spring and begin with each letter of the word (S-P-R-I-N-G)
• Develop similes, comparisons of unrelated things using “like” or “as,” to describe the spring season (for example: “Spring is like nature’s alarm clock,” or “Spring is wet as a bedtime toothbrush.”)
• Check out some fun poetry books at the library such as My Thoughts Are Clouds, A Child’s Garden of Verses, Where the Sidewalk Ends, etc.

R – Recreation

Like the spring breeze, kids are ready for the recreation and movement of the spring season. Parents can take this opportunity to incorporate fun recreational activities that enhance their kid’s gross and fine motor skills. This can include outdoor games such as jump rope, hopscotch, running through sprinklers, hula-hoop, playing catch, or even taking a nice long walk for gross motor skills. To work on fine motor skills and still enjoy outdoor recreation, consider sidewalk chalk, bubble wands, finger painting, and water games. Your child will enjoy the fresh air and healthy physical play.

I –  Imagination

Spring is a time that can inspire imagination. Unfortunately, recent studies have shown a decrease in imaginative behavior among children, resulting in less long-term creative and original thinking. Part of this shift is due to increased access and lengthy exposure to digital media, which creates passive viewing and thinking. However, a lack of free playtime is also related to underdeveloped imagination. Today’s kids are often over-scheduled with their time and “directed” in their play, leaving them with little opportunity for solitary play sessions.

Therefore, an important activity to include each day for your child is free play. This means allowing them to entertain themselves without any predetermined arrangements, “assistance” from electronic devices, or “guidance” from parents (other than supervision for their safety). If your child is not used to playing independently, you can point them towards interesting toys, books, puzzles, etc., and incrementally increase their free play sessions. However, it’s important to let them (safely) be in charge of their playtime without any outside participation. This will allow their imagination and creativity to blossom.

N – Nature

Whether you live in an urban or rural setting, or somewhere in between, nature is the star of springtime. It’s also a great instructor for your kids in terms of learning empathy and appreciation for the environment. One activity to promote this is to experience nature through the five senses and discuss with your child the importance of protecting and preserving the planet’s precious lifeforms and resources. You can do this in a park, at the beach, or even in your own backyard:

• Sound: Listen to the music of birds singing, insects buzzing, and leaves rustling.
• Sight: Look closely at the patterns of flower petals, blades of grass, or grains of sand.
• Touch: Feel the sun’s warmth, a shadow’s coolness, and how the breeze moves.
• Smell: Inhale the scent of flowers, the grass, and even water.
• Taste: Try fresh fruits and vegetables, especially those grown locally.

G – Growth

Springtime is a season of growth and new beginnings. Part of your child’s healthy growth and development is learning to set goals and how to achieve them. This instills motivation, responsibility, complex thinking, and even time management. In addition, setting and reaching goals will enhance your child’s self-confidence and perseverance.

The best way to start a goal-setting activity is to keep it simple and easily attainable. Fun visual aids, such as a poster with pictures and stickers, can help measure and reinforce progress. Here are some steps for springtime goal setting, which you can adjust to your child’s personality, age, etc.:

1. Ask your child or make gentle suggestions about something positive they’d like to achieve each day for one week, such as reading for 10 minutes, cleaning up their toys, practicing brushing their teeth, etc.
2. Make a visual aid that shows the goal and tracks daily progress.
3. Talk about their success, any obstacles that came up, and build on their accomplishments for future goal setting.

At Cognisprings, we understand parents who are searching for experiences to help their child develop curiosity and natural wonder. This includes providing educational toys and materials that inspire children to discover who they are by exploring stories, building imagination, and applying critical thinking. Our books, puzzles, games, and toys are thoughtfully designed for individual creativity and fun for the entire family. In addition, Cognisprings prioritizes educational activities that are screen-free, promote healthy cognitive development, and encourage personal growth through independent play and lifelong learning.