Spring is such a magical time of year, especially when you’re experiencing it through the eyes of a child! The longer days, warmer weather, and blossoming nature make it the perfect season to head outside and soak up all the seasonal sights, sounds, and sensations. Whether you’re in the garden, at the park, or strolling through the woods, nature has so much to offer curious young minds.
Here are 10 lovely things to spot and chat about with your children this Spring;
1. Lambs – Spring is lambing season, and there’s nothing quite as heartwarming as seeing playful lambs bouncing around the fields. As you wander on your next countryside walk, keep an eye out for them leaping and skipping beside their mums. You could even turn it into a game, how many lambs can you count before they dash out of sight?
2. Beautiful Blossom – Blossom is one of Spring’s most stunning signs. Look out for delicate pink, white, or even pale green blooms on trees like hawthorn, cherry and apple. Talk about the colours, shapes, and sizes of the petals with your child. You could collect a few fallen petals to use in a craft project later , press them in a book, make a nature collage, or create blossom crowns!
3. Buzzing Bees – With the arrival of blossom comes the busy buzz of bees. See if you can spot a bee collecting nectar or even spot the elusive Queen Bee! Take a quiet moment to listen to their humming sound, observe the stripes on their bodies, and chat about how bees help flowers grow and make the honey we enjoy at breakfast time.
4. Singing Birds – Springtime is nesting time for birds. Look up into the trees for nests, or gather some twigs and moss to build your own pretend one on the ground. Keep your ears open for birdsong, can your child mimic the sound? Apps (Like Merlin) or books can help you identify which bird is singing. It’s a fun way to connect children with the wildlife around them.
5. Textures of Spring – Spring is full of fascinating textures just waiting to be explored with little hands! Encourage your child to gently touch soft new leaves, bumpy tree bark, fuzzy catkins, or cool, smooth stones. Feel the tickle of grass under your fingers or the squish of mud between your boots. Talk about how each thing feels – soft, rough, sticky, bumpy – and help build their vocabulary while connecting them to the natural world.
6. Frog Spawn and Tadpoles – Ponds come to life in the Spring! If you’re walking near water, keep a lookout for frog spawn, those jelly-like clumps filled with tiny black dots. Talk about how they’ll grow into wriggly tadpoles, then into hopping frogs. It’s a lovely way to introduce children to the life cycle of animals in a hands-on way.
7. Colourful Spring Flowers – From snowdrops and crocuses to tulips and daffodils, Spring is bursting with colour. Can your child spot different flowers and name the colours? Maybe even pick a favourite? Maybe take some paper and pens and take a moment to draw the flowers you see. If you’re lucky enough to live near a bluebell wood, take a slow stroll and enjoy the sea of violet-blue together, it’s a magical experience.
8. Fluttering Butterflies and Crawly Caterpillars – Warmer weather means butterflies are back! See if you can spot one fluttering by, and talk about the different colours and patterns on their wings. Maybe even bring a butterfly net for a gentle catch-and-release. Don’t forget to look for caterpillars too, they’re on their way to becoming butterflies!
9. Springtime Scents – Spring doesn’t just look beautiful, it smells amazing too! Take a deep breath as you walk through the garden or woods and see what you can smell. Maybe it’s the sweet scent of blossom, the fresh aroma of cut grass, or the earthy smell after a light rain. Encourage your little one to close their eyes and guess what they’re smelling. It’s a lovely way to help them slow down and connect with the world around them.
10. Budding Trees – As trees wake up from their winter rest, you’ll start to see tiny buds and fresh green leaves unfurling. Take a closer look at the branches, some buds might be sticky, fluffy, or smell a little sweet. It’s a great time to encourage observation skills and spark a conversation about how trees grow.
Spring is a season of discovery, and there’s no better way to explore it than side-by-side with your little ones. So pull on those wellies, grab your jackets, and head outside, you never know what wonders you’ll stumble across together.
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? And don’t forget to check out our Little Muddy Boots classes – perfect for toddlers and preschoolers who love to get hands-on with nature and play outdoors in all seasons!
