Spring is here! Time to get out of hibernation and embrace this cheery season! Though our family had a lot of fun in the snow this past winter, I gladly say goodbye to those frigid temperatures. Here is a bucket list for your family to make the most of springtime! So long winter, see you next year!
Spring in the Backyard
- Plant a vegetable garden. A fun book to read about growing food is Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert. Learn more about gardening with children.
- Build a stick fort.
- Get artsy with sidewalk chalk.
- Pitch your tent outside for a mini-camp out.
- Go on a nature scavenger hunt.
- Set up an obstacle course.
- Plant a tree or a seed plant for Earth Day.
- Employ your kids to help you weed. (The going rate is 1 cent per weed, I believe.)
- “Paint” the driveway with colored water and real paintbrushes.
Spring At Home
- Play an April fool’s joke on your kids. I am still laughing from my kid’s reaction to his frozen bowl of cereal two years ago.
- Make homemade popsicles.
- Have fun blowing bubbles.
- Grill out for dinner. If you need ideas, here are 6 freezer meals for the grill.
- Create nature rubbings with found leaves, sticks, and seeds.
- Make homemade ice cream in a bag.
- Tackle a spring cleaning job. Your outside windows, perhaps?
- Wash the car with the kids- and get soaked in the process!
- Read a book about springtime.
- Make a homemade mother’s day card with your kids.
It’s Spring: Get Outside!
- Go puddle jumping in the rain.
- Play in the mud. (Life is short, just let them get dirty.)
- Fly a kite on a windy day.
- Attend a free Metro Parks nature program. Children 17 and under receive a patch after attending five programs within the year.
- Feed the ducks. A great place to spot ducks is at the Whetstone park pond.
- Pack a picnic lunch or dinner.
- Go fish, literally. A popular fishing spot is the lake at Sharon Woods Metro Park.
- Take a tram ride through a Metro Park. Check the website for tram schedules at the various parks.
- Go on a camping trip with friends. Hocking Hills State Park is an excellent, family-friendly campground.
It’s Spring: Get Moving!
- Go on a family bike ride.
- Teach your kids a jump rope rhyme.
- Jump on a (neighbor’s) trampoline.
- Explore a new park! Check out one contributor’s list of parks to check out this spring.
- Sign up your kids for swim lessons. Goldfish Swim School, anyone?
- Run a 5K with your kids! Find an Ohio race here.
- Take a wildflower hike at one of these Metro Parks.
- Play an old-school game of tag with your kids.
- Play a round of mini golf or practice your baseball swing at Westerville Mini Golf and Batting Cages.
Explore Columbus in the Spring!
- Visit the animals at the Columbus Zoo. Download this free zoo scavenger hunt.
- Pick strawberries starting in late May. Check out Mitchell’s Berries.
- Attend the popular $5 OSU spring game. Go Bucks!
- Visit a Farmers’ market. Most markets start up in May. Here’s a comprehensive list of farmers’ markets that we published last year (update coming soon).
- Check out the new Scioto Peninsula Park and playground adjacent to COSI.
- Visit a farm. Stratford Ecological Center has great programs throughout the season.
- Stop by Rita’s on the first day of spring for a free Italian ice.
- Build a project at a kid’s Home Depot class.
- Attend a Touch-A-Truck event. Many suburbs including Pickerington and Powell host an event in May.
- Attend a baseball game. Go Clippers!