Parenting guide: Spring activities for children

The weather is warming up, the flowers are blooming and the trees are turning green. It is a time to rejoice before the hot summer months take over and leave us confined to our air-conditioned rooms. So put away your winter attire and prepare to get messy with your children. Here are some spring activities to not only have fun with the tiny tots but also give them some much need outdoor exercise 

The Rainbow Snake: 

This idea not only keeps children occupied for hours but the different colours are also fascinating and fun to play with.

You will need

•  An empty plastic water bottle

•  Tape or a rubber band

•  A sock

•  Dish soap

•  Food colour

How to

Cut off the bottom of the empty bottle and pull a sock over it. Secure it with tape or rubber bands. Next, prepare a mixture of dish soap, water and food colouring. Dip the sock in the mixture and gently blow out. The result: fantastic, colourful soap bubbles everywhere!

Caution

Please ensure that your children are blowing outward lest they swallow the dish soap mixture.

Some spring days are hotter than others. On these days, it is best to go out and beat the heat with some serious water fun.

Water Games:

You will need

•  Sufficient water supply

•  Balloons

•  Water guns, buckets and any other water toys

How to

A water fight is the perfect answer to a particularly hot day. Invite your children and their friends into the garden and convert it into a mini water park with water balloons, guns, buckets and plastic kiddie pools.

Get Physical:

Who said children don’t need to exercise?

You will need

•  Joggers for yourself and your child

•  Trampolines, skipping ropes, balls or racquets (depending on the sport) and water

How to

Nature walks, backyard exercise and even kiddie games like tag can provide much-needed physical activity for children, especially in today’s world where most of them are too tied down by TV and video games to go outside. Invest in some sporting goods like balls and racquets and encourage them to play. Who knows, you might just have a rising sports star in the making!

Plant a Flower:

Want to teach your children something useful this spring? Introduce them to nature by planting a small plant in your garden and tending to it with your child. This will not only give them a sense of responsibility but watching the plant grow gradually will also teach them patience and inculcate a love for nature.

You will need

•  A pot

•  Soil

•  Water

•  Seeds

•  Sunlight

How to

Take your child to a local nursery and allow them to pick out their favourite one. Once they have made a selection, purchase the seeds for it and plant away! You can do this in a tiny pot indoors or in the garden outside — it doesn’t matter so long as your child is helping you monitor the plant as well. If you have more than one child, turn this activity into a competition, offering a treat to the best gardener or the biggest plant.

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, March 16^th, 2014.