Five Fun Spring Activities to Try with the Kids

Spring is finally here, which means – at long last – we’re able to get outside with the kids again! But if you’re on a budget and need some inspiration for what to do, it can be tricky to know how to entertain the family without it costing too much money.

Thankfully, there are lots of low-cost activities you can do, and they’re ideas that are a bit more inventive than simply heading to the park…

Let little green fingers play in the garden

Gardening is a hobby beloved by those of us lucky enough to have a gift for keeping plants alive, so why not see if your children like gardening too? With the promise of mud, worms and pouring water onto things, we don’t think you’ll have a hard time persuading them to give it a go.

All you need to do is buy some cheap child-sized gardening tools as adult shovels and spades are going to be too big and heavy for them to use. Little ones will be more than happy to help in the garden if they have their own ‘special’ tools for children, after all.

Eat outdoors

Granted, spring isn’t quite warm enough to sit outside for a proper picnic, but you can certainly dine al fresco if you wait for a sunny day and wrap warm! Treat the kids to a lunch in the garden at the weekend (a change of routine they’ll be thrilled by, no doubt), wearing coats and serving hot food to keep them warm. For some reason, kids seem to think homemade soup tastes so much better in a flask than it does from a bowl in the dining room…

Hunt for signs of spring

Winter seems to stretch on forever sometimes, so welcome spring by going on a nature walk as a family. Task the children to hunt for signs of spring such as budding flowers, leaves appearing on trees and the sound of birds tweeting from their nests: it’s a cheap and cheerful way to spend quality time together, but best of all, it’s outdoors and educational – perfect!

Play in the rain

Traditionally we want to keep kids inside from the rain, but where’s the fun in that? There’s no better time for a downpour than spring, so head outdoors as soon as the heavens open. Just be sure your little ones are wearing the right clothing for the weather… High-quality waterproof coats and a pair of Muddy Puddles kids’ wellies are something you should invest in, without a doubt. Wet weather gear like this won’t break the bank, and you’ll get plenty of use out of it all year round too.

Visit a local farm

Finally, spring is the perfect time to visit a local farm, with lambs being born and opportunities arising for your children to try bottle feeding one or two of them. See if there’s anywhere open near you: you can often enjoy tractor rides too, and children love getting up close and personal with the farmyard animals they don’t tend to see.

Which of these activities will you try with your kids this spring?