As spring peeks around the corner at us, it is time to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. Children naturally love being outdoors and now that the weather is nicer it’s easier to be outside more. Going for walks and listening to the sounds of nature has more benefits than you may think. It’s good for our health and it’s good for our minds. Being outdoors is a sensory experience, but it doesn’t seem to overstimulate! There is light and shadow from the sun, the breeze pushing the clouds across the sky and brushing your skin. The feel of grass, or rocks warmed by the sun. The smell of dirt, flowers, and fresh cut grass. The sight of buds opening, bugs crawling, and birds flying. The sound of birds chirping or maybe just silence. There are so many things to explore outdoors.
If you’ve enjoyed all that and are looking for something more, here is a list of favourite spring activities to do with your children.
Scissors
Scissors are fun. Not only are you building muscles and developing fine motor skills, snipping grass, weeds, and leaves will keep toddlers and preschoolers busy for a long time. Teach safe scissor holding when walking and then let them get some practice cutting. Save your snips in a bowl or pail to add to stone soup after!
Rocks
Count them, sort them, paint them, stack them, and then make some stone soup! Children love to collect rocks!
Mud
Mud kitchens are lots of fun, but you don’t need a whole outdoor play kitchen! Gather an old pot or tin pie plate, some dirt, and some water. Let your children mix and stir. While they are doing that, they are also learning some science about density and more. Add some rocks, sticks, leaves and more and serve stone soup. Deciding what’s in it and who it’s for is great pretend play and lets their imagination grow.
Puddles
If it’s recently rained, your children might find some puddles. It is so much fun to jump in puddles, measure how deep they are, make a path from one puddle to the next and watch how the water moves. Make a paper boat and let it sail. Add some science to the activity with sink or float predictions. Will a rock float? Will a leaf?
Bucket and Paint Brushes
Put a bit of water in a bucket and add some old paint brushes for loads of play “work” that is fun! Children can then “paint” the house, fence, sidewalk, and more. They watch how the sun dries the water and then they can paint all over again and again.
Car Wash
Put some soapy water and sponges in a pail and let children wash their bikes, wagons, and cars. It’s good, clean, fun.
Good Old Bubbles and Sidewalk Chalk
Children never get tired of bubbles or sidewalk chalk. Watch the bubbles fly up in the sky and try to catch them. There are recipes for homemade bubbles on the internet, so you never need to run out. Sidewalk chalk is fun to use on sidewalks, brick walls, decks and more. Try using it wet or dry for different experiences.
There are so many fun activities to try outside in the spring so get outside today before the mosquitos and blazing heat are here. EarlyON has many outdoor programs and always has fun activities to try in the spring, summer, fall, and winter! You can find out more about EarlyON programs at www.keyon.ca