Spring ideas to get homeschool kids outside again!

Spring is the perfect season to get homeschool kids outside and explore the natural world. With the warmer weather, budding flowers, and chirping birds, there’s no shortage of outdoor activities to keep your little ones engaged and learning. Here are some spring ideas to get homeschool kids outside and have fun while learning.

1. Gardening Spring is the perfect time to start a garden and teach homeschool kids outside about the plant life cycle. You can start with simple plants like herbs, vegetables, or flowers. Kids can learn how to sow seeds, water plants, and monitor their growth. Gardening helps children develop responsibility, patience, and an appreciation for nature.
2. Nature Scavenger Hunt – Getting homeschool kids outside in nature tends to be a lot of fun. Create a list of items that can be found in your local park or backyard and challenge your kids to find them all. You can include things like a bird’s nest, a butterfly, a four-leaf clover, a pinecone, or a rock with a fossil. This activity encourages children to explore their surroundings and develop their observation and problem-solving skills.
3. Outdoor Science Experiments – Science experiments are always fun, but they are even better when done outside. You can set up simple experiments like creating a volcano with baking soda and vinegar, exploring surface tension with soap bubbles, or studying insects with a magnifying glass. These experiments can be fun and educational, and they are a great way to encourage curiosity and scientific thinking.
4. Bike Riding – Riding a bike is a great way to get some exercise and explore the outdoors. You can plan a bike ride in your local park or nature reserve and teach your kids about bike safety and trail etiquette. Bike riding helps children develop physical coordination, balance, and confidence.
5. Picnic – Pack a picnic basket with some snacks and drinks, and head to your local park for a relaxing afternoon. You can bring books, board games, or a frisbee to play with. Picnics are a great way to enjoy nature and spend quality time with your family.
6. Nature Journaling – Encourage your kids to start a nature journal and record their observations and thoughts about the natural world. They can draw pictures, write descriptions, or collect leaves and flowers. Nature journaling helps children develop their creativity, writing skills, and appreciation for the environment.
7. Birdwatching – Set up a bird feeder or birdhouse in your backyard and observe different bird species. Keep a journal of the birds you see and their behavior.
8. Nature Art – Use natural materials like leaves, flowers, and rocks to create art. Kids can make nature collages, paint rocks, or even create sculptures using natural materials. So many fun outdoor activities for kids.
9. Photography – Teach kids how to take photographs and encourage them to capture the beauty of nature. Take a photography walk and see what they can find to photograph.
10. Outdoor Reading – Bring a book outside and read while enjoying the sunshine and fresh air.
11. Camping – Plan a weekend camping trip and teach kids about camping skills like setting up a tent, building a fire, and cooking outdoors.
12. Flying Kites – We happen to live a few hours from the beach and while the Atlantic ocean here is still too cold to swim in, the beautiful empty beach is fantastic to fly kites in! You don’t have to get your homeschool kids to the beach for outside spring time though, any open area should be wonderful to fly kites in.
13. 4-H Clubs — These clubs were once all about agricultural, and I personally was in a horse 4-H club despite not owning a horse. Now there are all kinds of 4-H clubs from robotics to art and ecology groups. A few of my children are looking to join an ecology group as the local amazing Kinder Farm 4-H group has a wait list. Spring is a great time to join clubs.
14. Make play dates! – Find other homeschool parents online who have kids that need more friend time and outside time and make a play date for them. Meet up at a park once a week and let the kids show you just what they are interested in doing together. The myth is that homeschooled kids are not social. The fact is that they are social with a wide age range of people, from young to adults. They have gotten their manners more from those who already have good ones rather than kids the same age in the same classrooms who all have the same experiences… so if a lot of them have bad social skills than chances are that spreads rather than improves. Homeschooled kids might seem shy or “odd” but they actually tend to be grounded and well adjusted, self-regulating, and highly emotionally intelligent. Time outside with others just further improves those skills.

Spring is a wonderful time to get outside and explore nature with your homeschool kids. These ideas can help you create fun and educational outdoor activities that will engage your children and help them develop important skills. So, put on your sunscreen, grab your water bottles, and let’s head outside!