20 Fun & Safe Activities To Do With the Family This Spring

Whether growing veggies and herbs or just pretty flowers, a garden can liven up the yard and make a fun, teachable moment for kids. Colorful flowers like pansies and violas are perfect for planting in the spring, too.

Regardless of the location, hiking is a great activity to get outside, enjoy some quality family time, and staying safe at the same time. Pick a new trail nearby or an old favorite, pack some snacks, and hit it!

Here's an activity that doesn't require leaving the backyard. Now that the weather is getting warmer, have a picnic outdoors. Grill out or make sandwiches to bring outside, with plenty of fruit and maybe even a little dessert. Don't forget a picnic blanket — and to take plenty of photos.

The zoo is always a crowd-pleaser for adults and kids of all ages, and it's a solid outdoor activity that could take up all day. It feels like an adventure every time, and many zoos across the country limit capacity and let you book online in advance.

No matter what kind of DIY project the kids are into, a spring craft or two is a pretty fun way to spend an afternoon. There are a lot of ideas out there (especially for those of us who are Pinterest obsessed), especially involving Easter eggs.

After a long winter, take advantage of the warmer nights that are rolling in by enjoying a movie with the fam outside. Bring popcorn, drinks, an extension cord, and the TV outside, and spread out blankets in the grass. Feeling extra fancy? Try a movie projector!

Leave the plastic eggs empty or fill them — the real fun is running around the yard (and inside the house) trying to collect the most eggs. And for those who don't celebrate Easter, try a scavenger hunt!

Time for a little exploring, and a change in scenery. Find a park in the area that's new to the fam and head out. Bring a ball or even some lunch, play on the playground — make a day of it. Or even create a local park bucket list to complete by the time summer arrives.

Sure, this activity might not be as popular as it once was, but that doesn't mean it's not still just as fun. Teaching the kids (or maybe even ourselves) how to fly a kite in a big open field can be such a memorable experience.

The strawberry season varies across the country, but it usually kicks off in most places by April or May — perfect timing to take the kids to pick their own fruit (and some adorable photo ops in the process).

Cookies, cupcakes, or something else entirely? Older kids can help with the actual mixing and baking, while younger kids might want to stick to decorating with pretty pastel icing and spring-themed sprinkles.

They don't call them "April showers" for no reasons — it tends to rain a lot in the spring. But make the best of a rainy day by going out for a rain walk. Grab umbrellas and go explore the neighborhood, jumping in the puddles all along the way.

A craft and an adventure all in one! Have kids collect rocks outside, decorate and paint them, and to take it a step further, pick out a few to hide around the neighborhood. It could end up brightening someone's day!

This is a super easy activity that can keep kids busy for hours — and it's fun for adults, too. Sidewalk chalk can be used to decorate the driveway, the sidewalk, and the road (when no cars are coming, of course), and it presents us with the opportunity to finally teach our kids how to play hopscotch.

Been thinking about adding a new four-legged friend to the family this year? Now that the weather is getting warmer, it's a great time to take the plunge, because dogs do love walks. Not ready for a dog or cat? There are always goldfish, which are a bit less of a commitment but still a great way to teach kids how to care for a pet.

This could be in the living room, the backyard, or a full camping trip — whatever works! And if outdoors is the plan, then spring is the perfect time to do it before it becomes too hot to comfortably sleep outside!

Springtime means that clovers have started popping up, and it's a good time to get out there and look for a lucky four-leaf clover. Make it a game, or just use it as an excuse to spend a nice afternoon outside.

In 2023, Earth Day falls on April 23, and even for those who have never celebrated, it's a great time to start. Clean up trash at a public park, plant a tree — there's no limit to the ways we can teach our kids to care for the environment.

There are a lot of DIY bird feeders out there that are also kid-appropriate, and it can be a lot to fun to watch new feathered friends flock to something they made themselves! Even just bird seed, gelatin, and a cookie cutter can create an easy bird feeder.

For moms of younger kids who are still early birds, sunrise might be fun — sunset is probably better if there are preteens or older in the fam! Either way, stake out the best place to watch locally and enjoy the show.