12+ Springtime Activities For Children

Spring is a season bursting with colour, energy and new life, making it the perfect time to engage children in playful, educational activities that connect them to the world around them. At Fennies Nurseries, we believe in harnessing the natural curiosity of children through seasonal learning. From books and music to science and art, spring is an exciting opportunity to inspire young minds. Here are our top springtime activities for children that can easily be enjoyed at home or in nursery settings.

If you’re new here, feel free to explore our website to learn more about our unique Early Years approach and find more inspiration.

Blossom Art Inspired by Nature and Artists

Spring’s arrival brings an explosion of blossoms, offering the perfect opportunity for a creative still-life art project. Take a small blossom branch and place it in a vase at home. Encourage children to observe its colours and shapes carefully before drawing or painting their own version. This can be an excellent time to introduce them to Henri Matisse, one of our celebrated artists of the month here at Fennies, known for his vibrant floral still lifes. Through this activity, children can explore colour mixing, name plant parts like the stem, leaves and petals, and develop their fine motor skills, all while enjoying the beauty of spring.

Witnessing Nature’s Magic: The Butterfly Life Cycle

Nothing captures a child’s sense of wonder quite like watching a caterpillar transform into a butterfly. Explore the metamorphosis through non-fiction books and classics like The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. You can even order live caterpillars from reputable, ethical sources and house them in butterfly nets. Observing each stage of the life cycle encourages scientific thinking and emotional connection with nature. Releasing the butterflies at the end of the process is a joyful and memorable moment for children and adults alike.

Spring Gardening: Sunflowers, Beans, and More

Introduce children to the joy of growing their own plants by planting sunflower seeds, beans or herbs. Choose a sunny windowsill and show children how to plant seeds in moist soil. Give them responsibility for watering and caring for their seedlings, as it can help nurture their patience and observation skills. Once the seedlings are strong enough, they can be moved outdoors. At Fennies, we love turning this into a competition: who can grow the tallest sunflower? This fun twist helps children learn about measurement, comparison and even basic maths vocabulary.

Pressed Flowers: A Creative Keepsake

Spring walks are the perfect time to collect fallen blossoms and petals. Once home, press them between sheets of paper using heavy books. After a few days, children can uncover their delicate, flattened flowers and use them in collages or to decorate cards. This simple, low-cost activity helps children develop patience and appreciation for natural beauty.

Cyanotype Printing: Sunlight and Science

Cyanotype paper offers a magical way to explore light and shadow. Arrange flowers, leaves or other spring items on special sun-sensitive paper, leave it in the sunlight for a few minutes, then rinse under cold water. Children are always amazed to see their designs appear as silhouettes, and it’s an engaging introduction to photography and the science of UV light.

Garden Potions and Spring Sorting

If your child enjoys sensory play, they’ll love creating “garden potions.” Collect petals, grass, leaves and water, then let children mix their magical ingredients in a big bowl. Add an easy-pour jug to help them practice pouring skills. This imaginative play supports language development, as children create spells and describe their concoctions using expressive vocabulary.

Play Dough Bugs and Insects

Make play dough at home (or use shop-bought) and encourage children to craft ladybirds, butterflies, or bees. Adding different colours or natural textures like twigs and stones makes this activity even more engaging. Moulding dough builds hand strength and coordination, crucial for pencil grip and writing skills. It also supports social development through sharing tools and taking turns.

Leaf and Flower Clay Prints

Air-dry clay is a brilliant medium for sensory exploration. Children can roll out clay and press in flowers or leaves to create beautiful imprints. These tactile creations can be painted once dry and displayed proudly at home. Clay play supports fine motor skills and introduces basic artistic techniques like relief printing.

Shadow Drawing: Art Meets Science

Sunny days are ideal for exploring shadows. Provide children with chalk and encourage them to trace shadows of toys, their own hands, or even kitchen items like forks and teapots. This activity fosters creativity while introducing early concepts in light and perspective.

Colour-Changing Flower Experiment

Teach children how plants absorb water with this visually striking science activity. Place white flowers like carnations into coloured water. Over a day or two, the petals will begin to take on the colour of the dye, showing how plants transport water. This is a brilliant way to combine science and awe.

Frogspawn Spotting Adventures

Spring also marks the beginning of the frog life cycle. Visit local parks or nature reserves with ponds, especially those rich in plant life like reeds, duckweed or water lilies. These environments are perfect for spotting frogspawn and observing the gradual transformation into tadpoles and eventually frogs. This hands-on experience is a powerful way to teach children about animal life cycles, change and environmental awareness.

Spring Flower Printing with Creative Tools

For a fun twist on painting, try using large-headed flowers like daisies as natural stamps. Dip them in paint and press them onto paper for beautiful abstract art. Alternatively, create flower patterns using forks or cardboard tubes snipped and shaped at one end. These tools are perfect for mimicking tulip or daisy shapes and encourage creative expression through everyday materials.

Spring Book Recommendations for Children

Story time is a lovely way to reinforce seasonal learning. Some of our top spring book picks include:

• Sam Plants a Sunflower by Kate Petty
• Tilly Plants a Tree by William Petty
• What to Look for in Spring by Elizabeth Jenner
• All About Plants in Spring by John Krenz
• Spring by Allie Busby (Board Book)
• That’s My Flower! by Alice Hemming (National Trust)
• When Spring Comes by Ekaterina Trukhan
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Each of these books ties beautifully into the themes of growth, change and discovery.

Summary

No matter how you choose to celebrate the season, make time to point out the subtle and not-so-subtle signs of spring to your little ones. From blooming flowers to buzzing bees and longer days, it’s a season full of wonder and a chance to create lasting memories together.