by Dominique Storm

Created on: March 06, 2009

The promise of spring is right around the corner. As spring approaches it is evident in children's faces everywhere. The long nights, cool days and blustery winds are fading into winter memories. Sunny days spent outdoors fill their imaginings.

Start a Someday Jar *

Instead of making that special activity remain a "someday" create a jar full of someday activities. Every time your child asks to do a special outing write it on a slip of paper and put it in a jar. During sunny spring days pull out a slip of paper and announce that today is "Someday".

Plan a Scavenger Hunt:

Turn this fun game into a day that is both exciting and educational.

1. Start by picking a theme (for example trees)

2. Create a list of things to find (leaves, branches, pieces of bark, or items you have hid on the tree's)

3. Send them out to find all the stuff on their list

4. When they return talk about all the different items they found and put them in a springtime scrapbook.

Go back in time:

Play outdoor games from your youth. Remember how much fun you had playing outdoors as a child.

1. Red Rover Gather your family and friends together and create two teams. Send one team to one end of the yard and the other team to the opposite end. Take turns by team calling over someone from either side to try and break through your arms.

2. Hide and Seek Classic game that can be a blast played outdoors. Have someone count, while the rest of the players run and hide.

3. What time is it Mr. Wolf Designate one person to be Mr Wolf. Have them stand at the far end of the yard. The rest of the players will shout out "What time is Mr Wolf", when the wolf responds with a time they take one step closer to him for each hour. (if the wolf says 11 o'clock, they walk 11 steps closer to him). When the wolf shouts out dinner time he will turn around and chase them. The first person he catches before they get back to their starting place becomes the wolf.

4. Hopscotch Draw a simple hopscotch board on your sidewalk or driveway, and let the kids hop away the winter blues)

5. Blow Bubbles Bubble blowing is an inexpensive activity yet one that makes children everywhere laugh and giggle. You can buy bubbles at most department, toy, and bargain stores. You can also make your bubbles at home using everyday items: 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons light corn syrup, 4 tablespoons dish soap.

Swing on the swings:

If you don't have a swing set in your backyard find a local park, and take some time to swing!

Go on a nature walk:

Another fun and educational

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