1. Nature Walks

Exploring the natural world can be a reflective experience for young ones while satiating their curiosity. Nature walks allow your child to examine the ecosystem up close, encouraging them to pay attention to the details of life around them.

The sense of freedom your baby enjoys from freely interacting with their surroundings can boost their confidence. Help get their creative juices flowing by asking them what they notice and what they want to take pictures of.

These excursions benefit your toddler’s physical health as much as they aid their mental development. Kids see nature as a giant playground — a productive place to practice their gross and fine motor skills until they drain their batteries.

2. Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt is a brilliant side quest during a nature walk. Your backyard or neighborhood should have enough treasures for your rugrat to scavenge.

An open-ended scavenger hunt where they find something that fits a basic description — such as long, green or rough — is perfect for toddlers learning the concepts of dimensions, colors and textures. The lax rules give them more latitude in completing the mission.

Preparing photographs of spring symbols like birds, bees and blossoms can also work wonders. Use it as an educational exercise for your child, encouraging them to find the closest examples they can out your windows or on your walk.

3. Seasonal Crafts

Arts and crafts is a multisensory activity that enables your little artist to engage their senses of sight, hearing, and touch. But don’t go shopping for too many supplies — spring is a wonderful season to source natural materials of various colors and textures.

A collage is a fitting project for toddlers. Collect leaves, flowers and twigs from your nature walk, and glue them to a piece of paper. Play a supporting role as they explore the depths of their imagination and exercise self-expression to create visual art.

If your little one likes bugs, you can also use the twigs and leaves you find to make an insect hotel. Cut the ends off of plastic bottles and cut openings in a milk jug to insert the bottles into. Have your child fill the bottles with sticks, moss and other findings, then put it out in your yard. You can watch as bugs crawl in and out of the tubes and create a home inside.

4. Basic Gardening

It’s never too early to teach your toddler about how food works. They can help you harvest carrots, garlic, lettuce, kale, and other hardy crops you planted in the fall or winter. When planting crops, let your young farmhand help. Removing weeds, digging holes, filling pots and watering plants can act as play activities for toddlers. Plus, the extra sunlight helps boost both your immune systems and headspaces. If they suddenly decide to drop everything and start making mud pies and bricks, let them be a kid — mud play is generally harmless. Use your gardening to diversify your toddler’s diet. Making them eat the rainbow can be a challenge, but they may become an adventurous eater when you consume your freshly harvested produce with them.

Make Spring the Highlight of Toddlerhood

Spring can be a fun and creative season for the whole family. Make fun spring activities a yearly tradition to create unforgettable memories your child can cherish forever!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cora Gold is a parenting writer and editor of women’s lifestyle magazine, Revivalist. She loves writing about her family life and connecting with other parents. Follow Cora on LinkedIn, Pinterest and X.