by Anita DiGregory

The clocks have sprung forward an hour, and it is staying lighter longer. The weather is snow one day and 70 degrees the next…must be springtime in Maryland! For many moms—myself included—this time of year is celebrated. Partially, it is because we have survived yet another winter, almost made it through another cold and flu season, and the family’s de-hibernation process is underway. But it is also because with spring, as with Easter, comes a spirit of renewal, and with it, a renewal of hope. In our area, we are blessed by gentle reminders of this all around us. A Catoctin springtime is truly beautiful, with the new buds on the trees and flower blooms, with rainy days giving way to rainbows, with local farms celebrating new additions, and with more children outside enjoying the fresh air. Whether you are doing a little spring cleaning or enjoying some spring showers, this time of year promises to be a perfect opportunity for family bonding. Here are some family-friendly ways to turn spring days into some family fun time, as well as some great book recommendations to check out at your local library.

 

Create a Garden

Springtime is the perfect time to get started on a garden, and kids of all ages enjoy getting involved. From pruning to plotting to planning to planting, gardening can be a wonderful and rewarding family experience. The benefits of getting your kids involved in gardening can be almost as plentiful as the harvest. Gardening offers the perfect opportunity to teach your children about a multitude of scientific concepts, such as the water cycle, photosynthesis, healthy nutrition, seeds, soil, parts of a flower, Earth, and the environment. Getting physical exercise and being out in the fresh air and sunshine are added rewards. Children are more inclined to eat what they have helped to create, even if it happens to be vegetables. Additionally, kids gain a sense of pride in seeing their hard work come to fruition.

Recommended books: Grow Flower Grow! by Lisa Bruce; A Seed is a Promise by Claire Merrill; Paddington Bear in the Garden by Michael Bond; Seeds! Seeds! Seeds! by Nancy Wallace; A Tree for all Seasons by Robin Bernard; The Surprise Garden by Zoe Hall; The Magic School Bus Gets Planted by Joanna Cole; Mouse and Mole and the Year-round Garden by Doug Cushman.

 

Build a Fairy House

What is more magical than building a fairy home together? Ask your child to help you draw up some plans first. Read some fairy stories and check out some photos on Pinterest to inspire some fun, creative ideas.

Fairy homes can be made from any number of materials: clay pots, stone, birdhouses, clay, even vegetables! Many local craft stores have miniature furniture and accessories perfect for putting together the finishing touches. Many even have pre-fabricated fairy home kits ready to assemble if that is the route you decide to go. Limited only by the imagination, fairy homes can be small or large, minimal or lavish, and can even grow into a fairy village or garden.

Recommended books: Mistie’s Magic by Sue Whiting; That’s Not My Fairy by Fiona Watt; How to Find Flower Fairies by Cicely Barker.

Go Fly a Kite and Make a Mural

Catoctin springtime can be pretty windy, a perfect cloud gazing, kite-flying time! Try making your own kite and flying it together. Afterwards, take turns pointing out different cloud formations and what they look like. Read about Harold and his purple crayon and work together to make your driveway or sidewalk an original creation: a sidewalk chalk mural. Have fun blowing bubbles together.

Recommended books: The Cloud Book by Tomie dePaola; Wind by Marion Bauer; Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson.

 

Try Singing in the Rain

If “April showers bring May flowers,” why not enjoy it while we can! Watch the rain from the porch, while sipping tea together. Put on your big ole’ rubber boots and stomp in the puddles with the kiddos. Make mud pies. Watch for rainbows and paint rainbow pictures together. Read a book to learn more about the rain and rainbows.

Recommended books: Down Comes the Rain by Franklyn Branley; Rain Drop Splash by Alvin Tresselt; Muddigush by Kimberley Knutson; Rain, Rain Everywhere by Christine Leeson; A Rainbow of My Own by Don Freeman; The Magic School Bus Makes a Rainbow by Joanna Cole.

 

Take a Nature Walk

When the seasons change from winter to spring, it is the perfect time for little ones to learn more about the seasons of the year and how nature changes season-to-season. The books below do an excellent job of explaining how nature changes from winter to spring. After reading about it, take a nature hike and see how many things from the stories you can find together.

Recommended books: Let’s Look at the Seasons: Springtime by Ann Schweninger; Four Seasons Make A Year by Anne Rockwell; The Reason for Seasons by Gail Gibbons; When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes; Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit: A Book about Changing Seasons by Il Sung Na; Spring: A Pop-up Book by David Carter.

 

Learn a New Sport

After being cooped up all winter, children of all ages will find springtime to be the perfect time to get out and get some exercise. Try introducing the kids to a new sport. The Frederick County Division of Parks and Recreation offers many options for kids of all ages, including sports leagues, instructional classes, individual lessons, and competitions. More information can be found at www.recreater.com or by picking up the April-August issue of the Recreater, the official activity guide for parks and rec.

Recommended books: My Football Book by Gail Gibbons; Froggy Plays T-Ball by Jonathon London; The Berenstain Bears Play a Good Game by Jan and Mike Berenstain; The Berenstain Bears Get Their Kicks by Stan Berenstain.

 

Do A Little Spring Cleaning

Whether it is out with the old and in with the new, sprucing up the yard or doing a complete springtime cleaning, the old saying “many hands make light work” couldn’t be more timely. According to the Center for Parenting Education, research shows that children who help out with chores, “have higher self-esteem, are more responsible, and are better able to deal with frustration and delay gratification.” By working together with their parents, children are able to learn important skills, are able to feel the positive results of “giving back,” and are able to experience a sense of accomplishment in a job well done.

Recommended books: Poppleton in Spring by Cynthia Rylant; Spring Cleaning (Maurice Sendak’s Little Bear) by Else Holmelund Minarik; Spring Cleaning: Featuring Jim Henson’s Sesame Street Muppets by Pat Tornborg and Nancy Stevenson; Just for You by Mercer Mayer.

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