Fun Friday activities are quick-and-simple ways to explore nature in your own backyard.
I spend a couple of hours in the big explorer’s school garden each week helping the kids plant, explore and enjoy the 1-acre space. Last week, we couldn’t help but to take note of some major changes starting to take place.
Our little magnolia tree has produced its first blooms of the season, much to the delight of one of my son’s classmates, who finds it “the most beautiful thing ever” (his words, not mine).
Not to be outdone, one of our mature peach trees is full of blossoms.
The veggies are coming to life as well, like this artichoke.
And the burgeoning broccoli we planted not so long ago.
But looking isn’t all we do in the garden. The kids also love to smell new things.
And touch things, too, of course. One student discovered Bird of Paradise seeds – something I’d never seen myself.
They also love to look under rocks, in the dirt and anywhere else they can for bugs. Always the bugs!
Get outside this weekend and see what signs of Spring are emerging in your backyard or neighborhood. You might be surprised what you find!
Take-Home Tips
- Involve as many senses as possible. Kids love to look at nature, but smelling and touching are fun, too (provide it’s safe, of course)!
- Explore beyond your backyard. Sometimes the subtle changes of the season are harder to see in your own backyard. Take a walk around the block or head to a favorite park to see what you can discover.
More Ideas for Spring Outdoor Fun
- Start a windowsill garden.
- Build a birdhouse.
- Search for a four-leaf clover.
- Download the Nature Rocks Spring Activity Guide.
- Or try one of these 50 ways to explore nature in your own backyard.
And if you live in the Los Angeles area, go adopt a caterpillar at Kidspace Museum. While you’re there, check out the great outdoor space, which features gardens, a pond, a stream and a water play area. Caterpillar adoptions run March 19 through April 17.
Happy exploring!
