Ahh, spring! That wonderful time of year between the spring equinox and summer solstice when everything is warmer, more colorful, and new again. With winter now behind us, it’s time to celebrate. Check out our 12 fun ideas to get the spring party started.
GAMES
1. Frog Flop. You will need two green bean bags for each team and one bean bag of any other color for the game. You can sew on eyes or decorate them with a marker to make them look like frogs and to differentiate for each team. The first team tosses out the colored bean bag. The object of the game is to get your team’s green bean bags as close to the colored bean bag as possible. One point is given to the closest frog. The game continues until a team reaches 15 points.
2. DIY Spring Bingo. This is both an activity and a game. Players are given blank bingo cards (check Etsy or make your own) and spring stickers. Players can place the stickers in any square on the bingo sheet. When they are done, play the game as usual, calling out the objects found on the stickers.
3. Spring Hedbanz. Write spring words like butterfly, tulip, and umbrella on separate index cards. Pass out an elastic headband to each player and have them sit in a circle. Players are given a card, but they may not look at it. Instead, they wear it on their forehead, held in place with the headband, with the word facing outward. Players ask and answer yes and no questions to guess what word is on their card.
4. Pick from the Garden. Place suckers (like Dum Dum pops) in a terracotta pot filled with moss or shredded green paper over a floral foam brick. The sucker sticks are marked with different colored ink. The game can be played as a match game (with a prize given) or as a task game. For a task game, each color represents a task category such as singing, drawing, or even spelling.
ACTIVITIES
1. Tic Tac Toe. Gather medium-sized river stones and let the kids paint them to look like ladybugs and bees. While they are drying, you can make a board on the back of a small cinch bag with colored tape or markers. When the stones are dry, they can be stored inside the bag so they are ready to play when you are.
2. Jelly Bean Towers. Pick up jelly beans and toothpicks at the store. Place kids in groups and have them construct a platform. When they finish, give the kids ballots to vote for the best in several categories. Give prizes for the highest, strongest, and most unique designs.
3. Crystal Rainbows. You will need glass jars, multicolor pipe cleaners, Borax, hot water, and dowel rods. Wrap the top part of several pipe cleaners around a dowel rod that will lay flat across the opening of the jar. Mix 3 tablespoons of Borax in a cup of boiling water. Pour mixture into jars and insert pipe cleaners into the jar. Crystals will start forming overnight. Remove them when fully covered in crystals and let dry.
4. Canvas Painting Class. Give all the kids a canvas, a brush, and the paint needed for the project. Have someone lead the group by showing everyone a step-by-step process to create a spring painting. Not sure how to do it? Check out YouTube for suggestions and a step-by-step guide.
CRAFTS
1. It’s for the Birds. Oriental Trading offers unfinished birdhouses and birdfeeders on its website. Gather decorating options such as paint, glitter, jewels, ribbons, and whatever other items you think will attract the birds. Let dry and hang from a tree near the window.
2. Make a Kite. A windy spring day is perfect for kite-making. You can use craft store dowel rods or collect small branches that have fallen from trees for the cross bars. For the sail of the kite, try newspaper, wrapping paper, or plastic garbage bags. Using plain craft paper allows for decorating with a personal touch. Attach a string to the front of the kite and fly it!
3. Tin Can Herb Garden. Collect empty soup or vegetable cans and remove the labels. Let the kids use their creativity to decorate the outside with paint or bling. When dry, fill the cans with dirt and seeds for herbs. You may also want to use plants that have already started a few weeks before. Make a matching herb plant marker so they know what they planted.
4. Welcome Spring Door Hanging. For this spring craft, your only limit is your imagination! Use a base such as wood, felt, a straw hat, a wreath, or even an old umbrella. Add craft moss, ribbons, artificial flowers, yarn, paint, burlap, etc. Personalize it with a saying, monogram, or your favorite spring animal.
