After a long winter, ushering in those first days of warm weather can feel downright joyful. And let’s face it: both parents and kids love spring. But days spent cooped up inside may mean that you need help finding spring activities for families to enjoy all that newfound coat-free freedom.
Not to worry. We’ve rounded up plenty of fun spring activities for families that everyone will truly enjoy — especially when they get to go outside and enjoy that sunshine!
Plant a Garden
Whether growing veggies and herbs or just pretty flowers, a garden can liven up the yard and make a fun, teachable moment for kids. Colorful flowers like pansies and violas are perfect for planting in the spring, too.
We also love the idea of starting seedlings indoors if your spring weather is a little unpredictable or not quite warm enough to plant outside yet. Then, when the danger of frost at night is over, you and the kids can transplant your new little seedling plants outside.
Go Hiking
Regardless of the location, hiking is a great activity to get outside, enjoy some quality family time, and staying safe at the same time. Pick a new trail nearby or an old favorite, pack some snacks, and hit it!
Also, a pro parenting tip: Yes, the kids will grumble and complain, yes, it’s normal for them to do, and yes, it’s still 100% worth it.
Host a Picnic
Here’s an activity that doesn’t require leaving the backyard. Now that the weather is getting warmer, have a picnic outdoors.
Grill out or make sandwiches to bring outside, with plenty of fruit and maybe even a little dessert. Don’t forget a picnic blanket — and remember to take plenty of photos. You could make an outdoor picnic even more special by letting each of the kids pick a favorite food to pack.
Another suggestion? A themed meal! Let the kids get creative in their picks.
Spend a Day at the Zoo
The zoo is always a crowd-pleaser for adults and kids of all ages, and it’s a solid outdoor activity that could take up all day. It feels like an adventure every time, and many zoos across the country limit capacity and let you book online in advance.
Even better, some zoos offer free visits on select days or discounts for certain individuals, like military or health care workers. If you plan on visiting the zoo a lot, it may also be worth to spring for a membership — in some instances, the cost of a membership can pay for itself after only a few visits.
Make Spring Crafts
No matter what kind of DIY project the kids are into, a spring craft or two is a pretty fun way to spend an afternoon. There are a lot of ideas out there (especially for those of us who are Pinterest-obsessed), especially involving Easter eggs.
Enjoy Movie Night Outside
We love this idea! After a long winter, take advantage of the warmer nights that are rolling in by enjoying a movie with the fam outside.
Bring popcorn, drinks, an extension cord, and the TV outside, and spread out blankets in the grass. Feeling extra fancy? Try a movie projector! You could also set up tents to let the kids get extra comfy.
Plan an Easter Egg Hunt
Leave the plastic eggs empty or fill them — the real fun is running around the yard (and inside the house) trying to collect the most eggs. And for those who don’t celebrate Easter, try a scavenger hunt!
(Pro tip: if you have other families who want in on this spring activity, host a kids’ and adult-only egg hunt — the laughs will be real!)
Visit New Parks
The easiest types of spring activities for families are those that get you outside and cost no money, which is why parks are the No. 1 destination on our list.
Find a park in the area that’s new to the fam and head out. Bring a ball or even some lunch, play on the playground — make a day of it. Or even create a local park bucket list to complete by the time summer arrives.
Fly Kites
Remember flying kites? Sure, this activity might not be as popular as it once was, but trust us, it’s still as fun as you remember. Teaching the kids (or maybe even ourselves) how to fly a kite in a big open field can be such a memorable experience.
Our kids even get kits every year in the Easter basket so then they have the kites ready to fly on the next windy day.
Go Strawberry Picking
The strawberry season varies across the country, but it usually kicks off in most places by April or May — perfect timing to take the kids to pick their own fruit (and some adorable photo ops in the process).
If you end up with a surplus of strawberries, be sure to check out delicious strawberry recipes to use them up! Strawberry cheesecake in a jar, anyone?
Bake Spring Treats
Cookies, cupcakes, or something else entirely? Older kids can help with the actual mixing and baking, while younger kids might want to stick to decorating with pretty pastel icing and spring-themed sprinkles.
Take a Rain Walk
They don’t call them “April showers” for no reason — it tends to rain a lot in the spring. But make the best of a rainy day by going out for a rain walk. Grab umbrellas and rain boots and go explore the neighborhood, jumping in the puddles all along the way.
Paint Rocks
A craft and an adventure all in one! Have kids collect rocks outside, decorate and paint them. To take it a step further, pick out a few to hide around the neighborhood. If your kids can write words, add a few inspiring messages — they could end up brightening someone’s day!
Draw With Sidewalk Chalk
This is a super easy activity that can keep kids busy for hours — and it’s fun for adults, too. Sidewalk chalk can be used to decorate the driveway, the sidewalk, and the road (when no cars are coming, of course), and it presents us with the opportunity to finally teach our kids how to play hopscotch.
Adopt a Pet (Just for an Afternoon)
Been thinking about adding a new four-legged friend to the family this year? Now that the weather is getting warmer, it’s a great time to take the plunge, because dogs do love walks. If you don’t have a dog, call your local animal shelter, which may offer an “adopt a dog” for a day program or just have opportunities for you and the kids to come play with the dogs.
Not ready for a dog or cat? There are always fish, which are a bit less of a commitment but still a great way to teach kids how to care for a pet.
Go Camping
This could be in the living room, the backyard, or a full camping trip — whatever works! And if outdoors is the plan, then spring is the perfect time to do it before it becomes too hot to comfortably sleep outside!
If it’s still not warm enough to camp outside, you can take this time to plan a camping trip for later this summer with the kids. Talk about destinations, make a list of games to play, and ask them for their snack suggestions. Planning is half of the fun!
Hunt for Clovers
Springtime means that clovers have started popping up, and it’s a good time to get out there and look for a lucky four-leaf clover. Make it a game, or just use it as an excuse to spend a nice afternoon outside.
Celebrate Earth Day
Earth Day usually falls on April 22nd, and even for those who have never celebrated, it’s a great time to start. Clean up trash at a public park, plant a tree, or teach the kids about sustainability with upcycled crafts you can make together — there’s no limit to the ways we can teach our kids to care for the environment.
If you missed it, put a note on your calendar to add spring activities for families related to Earth Day for next year.
Make a Bird Feeder
There are a lot of DIY bird feeders out there that are also kid-appropriate. Kids will have a lot of fun watching new feathered friends flock to something they made themselves! Even just birdseed, gelatin, and a cookie cutter can lead to an afternoon of making easy bird feeders. How’s that for ideal spring activities for families?
Watch the Sun Rise or Set
For moms of younger kids who are still early birds, sunrise might be fun. Sunset is probably better if there are preteens or older in the fam!
Either way, stake out the best place to watch locally and enjoy the show. (And a mug of coffee might be a must-have for this activity, too!)
