Hello, Spring! Fun Family Activities to Enjoy the Season
Shake off the winter blues and make the most of longer days, warmer weather, and fresh adventures together. 🌷☀️🐦
Midweek Musings is a cozy mix of book recs, parenting wins (and fails), and fun activities for the whole family. Intentional updates I’d bring up at a playdate.
There’s something magical about watching the seasons shift, especially after a long stretch of cold, gray days indoors. Kids (and let’s be honest, parents too) are more than ready to soak up the sunshine and fresh air. That’s why now is the perfect time to plan a spring bucket list filled with fun family activities to welcome the season in full bloom.
Even before the days turn truly warm and lazy, there’s a lot waiting just outside. Mud puddles to jump in, birds to spot, and sunshine to chase. If you're ready to swap winter boots for rain boots and cozy nights for sunny afternoons, you're in the right place. This Spring Bucket List is full of whimsical ways to welcome the season and make sweet memories along the way. Use it as your go-to guide or a springboard (no pun intended) for creating your own family traditions.
1. Swap your kids’ bookshelf with springy favorites
If your children have a bookshelf, let them help you sort out the wintertime subjects and swap in some spring selections. If you’re up to it, you can even style their shelves with spring-themed garland, mini stuffed animals, or other items that say “spring” to you.
2. Go on a spring scavenger hunt
Flowers are just starting to sprout and the birds have begun chirping early in the morning. It’s a perfect time to take a family walk or hike and point out the sounds and signs of spring. Have your kids look, listen, (and hopefully feel the warmer weather) on a nature-themed scavenger hunt.
3. Walk or bike somewhere you’d usually drive to
Pretty self-explanatory, but see the warmer weather as an open invitation to get outside and go somewhere on foot you’d usually get to by car… within reason, of course. Don’t forget sunscreen!!
4. Surprise someone with flowers
There’s just something about fresh blooms that can really brighten someone’s day. It’s why I can’t wheel past the flowers at Trader Joe’s without picking up a lovely $6 bouquet. On your next trip to the farmer’s market, grocery store, or TJ’s, pick up a second bundle and make someone’s day a little more special.
5. Have an egg hunt
This is a classic springtime activity for so many families—but if you don’t usually do an annual egg hunt, now’s the year to start! Whether you celebrate Easter or not, it’s always fun to hunt for colorful plastic eggs filled with tiny treats in the yard or around your house. I like to stuff a few of the plastic eggs with a fun treat, but you could also add in a cute note or a fun activity to do!
6. Sort through toys and clothes for donations
Spring cleaning is a big thing for most families, so there’s no reason to not get the kids involved. Have them try on clothes to see what’s too small and set it aside for hand-me-downs, storage, or donation. Help them go through their toys and toss broken, missing pieces and set aside things they don’t use much anymore. Finding what sparks joy isn’t just for the adult crowd.
7. Fly kites
Flying kites on a breezy spring day will really bring you back to your childhood. It’s exhilarating finally getting one up in the air (not always as easy as it looks!), and kids have so much fun chasing the kites to see which one will go higher.
8. Make a spring break staycation feel special
If you have school-aged kids, doing something for spring break matters, even if you aren’t traveling. Many parents may feel like they’ve exhausted all at-home activities to do as a family over the past few years, so consider exploring options beyond your home like a nearby state park or a day trip to the beach (remember, you don’t have to go in the water to build sandcastles!).
9. Try seed-starting
Seed-starting turned into a months-long activity for my kiddos last spring. We planted a dozen cucumber and tomato seeds in egg cartons in late March. My kids were checking for signs of growth, watering (and overwatering in my 3-year old’s case), and generally assessing the health of their “babies” each day.
10. Try a new spring recipe
A new season can bring new produce and flavors to your dinner table and if you’re looking for some fresh recipes to add to your weekly meal plan (I know I am!), now’s a great time. Check out my round-up of delicious spring dinner recipes here.
11. Celebrate Earth Day
Earth Day is a wonderful time to introduce your littles ones to concepts of conversation and sustainability and how we rely on our earth for so many simple necessities. Understanding why these things will help your little ones learn why it’s so important to clean up trash, avoid leaving the water running, or wasting an entire package of wipes on cleaning a baby doll’s bum.
12. Visit your local farmers market
After months of cooking and eating root vegetables that are in-season during the fall and winter, a new variety of produce is so exciting. Sweet peas, strawberries, artichokes, cucumbers, and plums who can resist?! Visit your local farmers market to pick up some delicious seasonal foods.
13. Visit a butterfly conservatory
On a Spring Bucket List of family activities, it’s only right to include one of the best parts about spring—all the lively parts of nature. Take a family excursion to a local butterfly sanctuary. Not only will kids be in awe of all of the colorful flying friends, but they may learn something exciting, too!
14. Go berry picking
Springtime means the return of some of our favorite berries like strawberries and blueberries. Head out of town for an afternoon and venture to a local berry farm where you can all get busy picking away. When you get home, you can try a new recipe with your fresh picks. My cousins own a blueberry farm in Visalia, CA, learn more here.
15. Have a picnic
There’s just something about a family picnic that feels so nostalgic. Whether you’re in your backyard or head to a local park or, if the weather’s icky, just curl up on your living room floor sharing homemade sandwiches, chips, and treats while enjoying the fresh spring air is a simple activity everyone will enjoy. Don’t forget to pack napkins!
16. Make DIY bird feeders
Remember making DIY bird feeders as a kid? I do! This eco-friendly craft is simple: all you need is pinecones or a recycled milk carton covered in peanut butter and seeds and voilà! Once your feeder is hung, identify and learn about the different bird species that stop by for a snack.
17. Go to the park
If your kiddos have been missing playing on the playground since early fall, treat them to an outing to your local park. They’ll love using their imagination on the playground and will have an even better time if you join in on the fun. If there’s a pond at your local park, be sure to bring along some birdseed or rice to feed the ducks and geese (if allowed) niwho are back from being south for the winter.
16. Play some baseball
Aside from really little ones, baseball is a great game for kids of all ages. Whether you throw the ball back and forth, or set up a batting tee, everyone will love participating in the classic spring sport
17. Learn to rollerblade or skate
Another great way to get outdoors in the spring is by lacing up some rollerblades or skates. Even if you and your kids have never done it before, spring is a great time to learn. Either try at home, or head to a bike trail or large open parking lot for plenty of practice space.
18. Go to a drive-in movie
Movie nights are always a great idea. But we can make the experience even more special when the weather gets nicer by introducing our kiddos to the nostalgia of a drive-in movie theater. Many theaters open back up for the season in late spring, so pop the trunk and bring plenty of pillows and blankets for the coziest night out of the house possible. Here is a list of family friendly movies coming to the screen in 2025!
19. Head to a local farm or petting zoo
You may be surprised to find there are plenty of farms and petting zoos that are open to visitors starting in the spring. In my town, or at least right outside of it, there’s even a local alpaca farm families can go to and learn about these unique animals. There are hidden gems like this all throughout the country just waiting for you and your family to experience.
20. Host a spring tea party
I used to love having tea parties as a little girl and there’s something about springtime that feels like the right time to gather the kids around and have one. Pick some flowers from the yard or a local park and set the able before sitting down to enjoy some afternoon tea together.
21. Bake spring-themed treats
From Easter to Passover, Earth Day, Mother’s Day, and more, springtime is filled with special holidays and you’ll surely need some treats to celebrate! Have your kiddos pick out spring-themed desserts (think cupcakes, cookies, etc.) to decorate and enjoy as an easy at-home activity.
23. Visit a botanical garden
If you’re lucky enough to live close to a botanical garden, now’s the perfect time to visit to check out the spring blooms. Be sure to look into tickets before you go or, better yet, become a member to experience fun family outings there all year long. At many botanic gardens, kids under age 2 are free!
25. Make pressed flower art
Once the spring blooms return, do a family art project where you collect flowers and then make pressed flower art. Red Ted Art has great instructions for how to best do this activity with kids, plus ideas for what to create with your pressed flowers.
Spring is here to shake things up in the best way. It's sunny picnics, sticky fingers from berry picking, and giggles that echo through the park. Whether you check off every single thing on this list or just try one or two, the point is to soak it all in and make the most of this fresh, fun season. So grab your sunscreen, pack a snack, and follow the sunshine. There’s a whole world of springtime adventure waiting just outside your door. Let the memory-making begin!
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