Spring is here! Warm weather, sunny days and new plant life make this season the perfect time to help your little one exercise their natural curiosity. Try these fun and engaging science activities to encourage your young explorer without going far from home:

1. Enjoy a spring scavenger hunt: Spend time in the great outdoors while also helping your child make observations about their environment. Take a walk together and look for signs of spring. (Download or screenshot this checklist for fun ideas!) You can even take pictures along the way and print them at home to make a “Signs of Spring” book.

2. Create your own garden: There are many easy nontoxic plants to grow — no green thumb required! Have your little one help with planting and watering, then return each day over several weeks to observe how the seedlings transform. As you play and explore, discuss the resources that are needed for seeds to grow — like soil, water and sunshine. Opt for easy-to-grow vegetables, such as carrots or lettuce — then, you and your child can eat your homegrown produce together when it’s time for harvest. If gardening at home isn’t an option, Primrose Schools® gives children the opportunity to explore in their school’s very own Primrose Patch garden, too!

3. Read books about spring: If you don’t have garden space, or if colder weather is keeping you indoors, you can still enjoy spring and explore gardening with your little one by reading books together. Talk about the different plants and animals you see in the book and discuss how a seed becomes a flower, fruit, vegetable or tree. Some of our favorite books about spring for kids are “The Tiny Seed” by Eric Carle, “Jack’s Garden” by Henry Cole and “Flower Garden” by Eve Bunting.

4. Play in the mud: With rain comes mud. While it can quickly become a parent’s nightmare if tracked in the house, splashing and playing in the mud can be a fun, sensory and exploratory activity. Plus, all that time spent out in the dirt has numerous benefits for your child’s health — just keep a hose nearby for cleanup!

The best thing about these fun and engaging activities is that they can easily be done around the house, in your own backyard, or at a local community garden or park.

Check out more resources for tips on how to help teach your child conservation:

• Help Your Child Go Green This Earth Day
• Watch Along as Megy the Pig Teaches About Conservation
• Celebrating Earth Day: Primrose Patch and Mud Pies
• 12 Easy Foods to Grow at Home

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