50 Local and At-Home Spring Activities for Kids and Families

Find a Fair

Carnivals and fairs are popping up as the weather gets warmer and people are looking for a fun way to take advantage of it — before it gets too hot to stand outside all day.

See Animals at a Farm or Petting Zoo

Take a hands-on approach to nature at a zoo or wildlife conservation and rescue grounds. An internet search may turn up surprising results about rescued animal sanctuaries, petting zoos, and private farms open to visitors near you.

Get a Set of Wheels

Teach your kids how to roller skate, ride a bike, or skateboard. There are many options for kids of different ages and abilities, and plenty of safety gear. Older kids will love their newfound sense of freedom.

Go To a Farmers or Flea Market

Community markets have plenty of cool foods and items for sale. Check local listings for where they’re hosted, and have fun browsing, people-watching, and spending a morning together.

Visit Museums

Museums are great because the exhibits can be broad or niche, and many of them have hands-on and interactive portions. If there’s one present, a museum docent can help you and your kids understand the pieces on exhibit.

Check Out the Library

A trip to the library is always a treat. In addition to books, you can rent movies, magazines, and online sources. Some libraries host family or age-specific programs, too.

Catch Fireflies or Butterflies

Grab a net and wait for nightfall, or head out during the day. Spend time chasing and swooping after insects and then releasing them back — safely — for a classic thrill.

Take an Art Walk

Search for murals, graffiti walls or alleys, and art installations around your city and then chart a route that will take you to each one. Bring drawing supplies or a camera with you to either sketch or take photos at each spot.

Horseback Riding

More adventurous kiddos may want to get up close and personal with some animals, and horseback riding is one way to get that experience. A trained handler will guide them through everything from mounting the horse to riding it around.

Create a Scavenger Hunt

Hide a few items around the house and write down some clever clues, or scour the internet for premade lists and ideas. If your kids are competitive, you can add prizes for the most creative finds.

Tie-Dye Clothes

A timeless activity, tie-dying is a fun, creative project. You can use the usual basic tee or try other items like socks and totes. And to take it a step further, look up different banding techniques beforehand to produce unique patterns.

Have a Lake Day

Spend the day lakeside and enjoy activities from wading in the shallow end to stand-up paddle boarding. If it’s a bit too chilly to be in the water, you can bird watch, find plants and insects, or walk a nature trail.

Feed Ducks

Ducks love visitors! If there is a pond in your area where ducks live, take food like oats, frozen peas, and sliced lettuce and grapes to them.

Enjoy Lunch in The Park

Take advantage of a beautiful spring day — the type that brings everyone outside — and have a meal outdoors. Pack some sandwiches and a few games to pass the time, then go enjoy the sunshine.

Mini Golf

The whimsical little worlds of mini gold help time pass by, and the game is so simple to learn and play that the whole family can get in on the fun together.

Grow a Garden

Whether in a community plot, the backyard, or on the window sill, get your hands dirty and start a garden. If starting from a seed seems a little intimidating, you can grow from cuttings too.

Care for the Birds

Make birdhouses and feeders for the birds that live nearby. This multistep project involves constructing, decorating, and hanging and will keep your kids engaged for a while.

Movies

Upgrade your movie experience by going to a drive-in theater or use a projector at home. Make your own concessions, have everyone get cozy, and enjoy your featured film.

Fishing

For the truly patient, fishing is a great way to spend time together and pass a day away. Before you head out, check for local regulations for what catches you can keep and what to toss back.

Have an Easter Egg Hunt

Celebrate Easter this April with the longstanding tradition of an egg hunt. Plastic eggs come in an assortment of styles, from neon to glitter and glow-in-the dark, and the little ones can further decorate them with festive stickers.

Tour a National Park or Historic Landmark

Governments have gone lengths to preserve natural and historical sites where visitors can experience the splendor of the natural world and learn what life was like in years past. Look for sites near you for an educational and exciting trip.

Hiking

This activity might be better suited for older kids, but don’t worry, you can find trails of differing intensity if you don’t want to climb all the way to the top. The views along the way are just as great.

Go to a Botanical Garden

Gardens are a pleasant experience, filled with plants of various colors, shapes, textures, and sizes, meaning that there are plenty of learning moments you can incorporate if you have little ones.

Visit Family

A family trip can be a fun break from routine and way to catch up casually (without the hustle and bustle of a holiday). You can do a family activity, or if your kids have cousins their age they can split off and bond with them.

Camping

Whether in the backyard or the great outdoors, sleeping under the stars is a great immersive experience. There’s many activities to keep the family entertained overnight from pitching the tent to rustling up grub and telling stories and jokes around the fire.

Baking

There are many parts to baking, from choosing the type of dessert to decorating to using kits or making from scratch. You can easily spend an afternoon whipping up something special and delicious. And if dessert isn’t your thing, try breads or pretzels.

Stargazing

Find a local almanac or astronomical tracker to find out what’s happening in space, and the best times to view it. Then, grab a telescope, thermoses, and head out away from areas with light pollution for a night under the sky.

Write Letters

These days, receiving physical mail feels super special. Finding a penpal is a cool way to receive mail and make a friend, and kids can write to relatives, professionals, magazines, or use a penpal matching program to write to other kids.

Volunteer

Giving back is a fulfilling activity, and many nonprofit and local organizations look for volunteers, either for special events or for day-to-day tasks. Cultivate empathy and add extra hands on deck.

Create a Photoshoot at Home

Tap into your creative lane and brainstorm concepts, costumes, and poses for an at home photo shoot. Drape a few sheets for a backdrop and then have a blast snapping up silly photos.

Have A Get Together

An afternoon spring tea or slumber party is a fun way to welcome the season. Guests can do spring-themed activities and make simple, tasty bites.

Donate Clothes

It’s time to clean out those closets and transition into clothes better suited for the season. If your kids are growing up fast, they’ll need new threads and this is a great time to pass down items or see who needs what.

Do a Little Spring Cleaning

There’s just something so right about spring cleaning. You shake off the heaviness and chill of winter and enjoy fresh linens, sparkling windows, and shiny floors.

Visit Flower Fields and Orchards

As the seasons change, different species of flowers blossom. Bring your sketchbooks and art supplies to flower fields to draw the colors peeking through.

Chase Thrills at an Amusement Park

Check the websites of popular theme parks for their calendar. As the weather gets warmer, their hours may change. You can also check out smaller chains or local parks with multiple attractions that are open year round and are plenty of fun.

Organize or Join a Community Clean Up

Volunteer to beautify your neighborhood, which could be activities from picking up trash and litter to planting saplings and creating butterfly highways. These activities can cultivate a sense of environmental responsibility.

Create a Pop-Up Shop

Get your young entrepreneurs started on their business journey with a snack, craft, or jewelry stand. They’ll spend time perfecting their technique, creating their wares, and learning how to market and sell products — and if they’re a little older, parents or caregivers can help them set up an online shop.

Have a Field Day

Reach out to some of the other parents and caretakers in the neighborhood to organize a tournament for group games like kickball, basketball, or relay races. You can create teams based on age categories and award prizes at the end.

Join a Competitive League

Bring out the competitive spirit and build teamwork! There are plenty of spring sports to sign up for, but if athletics isn’t their thing, you can look for other activities like poetry slams, trivia bowls, or building competitions.

Complete an Obstacle Course

Create an obstacle course right in the backyard complete with jumps, sprints, and throws. Add an imaginative storyline, and your kids will have plenty of material for make believe play.

Have Fun with a Viral Trend

Trending videos come and go, but the memories are forever. Round up the crew to recreate some of your favorite dances, skits, or prank videos.

Report the News of the Day

Put together a podcast, newsletter, or mini publication centered on your kids’ interests or family news.

Create a Short Film

All it takes is a camera, basic editing software, and a lot of creativity, and your kids can create a short film — or series — worthy of a family movie night debut.

Learn a Skill

Pass down life skills to your kids, such as cooking simple meals, the basics of sewing, or repairing bikes. Start with a skill they’re showing natural curiosity for and go from there. This is also a chance to create one-on-one time.

Find a New Hobby

If your kids are looking for something to do, have them try something new. A hobby that aligns with their interests and gives them a healthy challenge or creative outlet is perfect for this time.

Attend a Celebration

Spring brings many holiday and cultural celebrations, like Holi, St. Patrick’s Day, Women’s History Month, Easter, and Mother’s Day. Check local publications and community groups for events happening in celebration of them.

Bounce Around at a Trampoline Park

Spending an hour or two jumping through inflatable courses and trampoline mazes will definitely tire your kids out in one afternoon. And, if you think a full-on investment is worthwhile, try springing for a trampoline.

Fly Kites

On a breezy day, catch the wind beneath the spread of a kite and see it soar. You can spend some time making your own, or purchase one that’s ready to go.

Enjoy a Beach Day

Pack your cooler, chairs, blankets, and sunscreen — it’s time for a day at the beach. If it’s too chilly to get in the ocean, you can enjoy the sun and sand while listening to the waves.

Go Bowling

Bowling is pretty serious business. From bumpers to spin techniques, there are many ways to improve your game. Get your kids started now, and they’ll be bowling perfect frames in no time.

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