|
Spring is a time for new beginnings, so take this time to begin some new traditions and celebrations with your family.
Take a Nature Trip
Spring is a wonderful time to be outdoors and watch the rebirth of nature. Take your family on hikes, bike rides, or even canoeing through a wooded area, local park, county preserve or state park. Talk to your kids about how every spring nature starts over and replenishes itself. Plants begin to grow again, animals come out of hibernation and soon baby animals are born. See if you can spot any birds building a nest. Perhaps you will even see baby animals, deer are very common in many parts of the United States.
Plant a Garden.
Although the rototilling part of putting in a garden needs to be done by an adult, kids can have a lot of fun planting a garden. They are also more likely to eat vegetables they have grown themselves rather than fighting with them to eat a teaspoon of store bought canned beans. Kids can dig rows, plant seeds, water and help weed – just make sure they know the difference between the garden plants and the weeds.
Star Gazing
Spring is a good time for star gazing as daylight still ends early enough to be able to take the kids outdoors at night, but it’s not as cold as the dark of winter. Have your kids check out astronomy books from the library and learn different constellations. Check your local newspaper or call an area planetarium to find out if there should be any meteor showers visible near you.
Spring Cleaning
Take the idea of spring cleaning outdoors. Clean up any debris leftover from fall and winter – garbage, along with dead leaves. Plant flowers. Explain to the kids how keeping the outdoors clean is just as important to keeping the indoors clean. Plan a special activity to help clean up a park or some other nature area on Earth Day.
Help Out Wildlife
Create a wildlife area in your back yard. Make sure you have a water supply, food supply and shelter. This can be as simple as an on the ground bird bath (this way other animals can reach the water too), feeders with different kinds of seed and food, and bird houses or thick bushes. Do not mow this area of your yard. Let it grow wild and create a natural habitat for your backyard friends. Also do not enter this area except for when refilling food and water. Kids will enjoy both “building” this area, and watching to see what comes to visit. Try to make sure your area is visible from a window, and if it’s far away from the house, keep a pair of binoculars handy for little eyes to use.
| 
