Happy Spring!
Ahh! It’s a new season! Spring has sprung. I love to celebrate with seasonal things to do with my eight-year-old son Caleb. In Texas, it’s hit or miss with the weather this time of year. One week, the temperature drops and brings cold and rain. The next week, perfect sunshine! Below, I’ve rounded up fun indoor and outdoor spring activities with kids. No matter the temperature…we have you covered!
1. Plant seeds and explore garden centers and greenhouses!
We had a blast discovering different greenhouses and garden centers around Plano to learn about what plants may work best in our yard. One location that surprised me was IKEA! We discovered a kid’s planting workshop at IKEA Frisco over spring break: IKEA gave out complimentary pots to decorate with stickers while teaching kids how to plant seeds. Within DAYS, the seedlings grew. We also toured Calloway’s Nursery, Lowe’s, and Home Depot, gathering new plants along the way! I gave Caleb the opportunity to help me plant a variety of new annuals in our front yard. We planted and watered together. It was a mess but totally worth it for the REAL planting experience. Inside our house, I’ve added TONS of plants to make our home feel alive and awake for spring (especially since the time changed…we need ALL the awakening we can get around here!)
2. Try something new! What’s in season for spring?
There are plenty of fruits in season for March, April, and May like peaches, plums, and strawberries. We celebrated down the produce aisle and grabbed a bright new fruit to try—dragon fruit. Adding seasonal fruits to your meals can be a fun way to celebrate the season. Caleb absolutely LOVES when I sneak strawberries or blueberries in his pancakes. Yum!
3. Visit a local Collin County farmers market!
Springtime is when local farmers markets shine. Fresh and flavorful produce, locally roasted coffee, and sometimes music and activities for kids. We love meeting the farmers dressed in overalls and straw hats! Our favorite is the McKinney Farmers Market. It’s worth the early morning drive! Not close to McKinney? Check out our list to find a farmer’s market near you.
4. Spring-themed movies
We love a good movie. Peter Rabbit The Movie just released in theaters! It’s a new take on the classic Peter Rabbit story—pperfect choice for a rainy spring day. Other favorite movies to curl up with a cozy blanket and watch at home: Hop, It’s The Easter Beagle Charlie Brown, Here Comes Peter Cottontail: The Movie, and Every Bunny Loves Spring with Max & Ruby.
5. Springtime animals!
We absolutely love the animals that are coming out of hibernation for spring. From the Heard Museum in McKinney to the Dallas and Fort Worth Zoos—the critters are out and active after a long winter! In our own neighborhood, we spend time listening to the birds chirping early in the morning. Caleb LOVES bird watching. Painting a bird house is the perfect spring activity and it looks adorable in the backyard.
6. Discover and connect with your community.
There are so many ways to give back to our community AND celebrate spring. I took Caleb with me to the 18th Annual Beeping Easter Egg Hunt that benefits The American Foundation for the Blind. It was a great way to get outdoors and teach Caleb how he can make a difference for kids who wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to participate in an Easter egg hunt. We gathered supplies and volunteered over Easter weekend. Our favorite upcoming spring event is Earth Day Texas. It’s a weekend Caleb looks forward to ALL year long. This is the weekend that inspired us to start our planting adventures a couple years ago. It’s an educational-filled event with TONS of kid-friendly activities.
7. Parks, playgrounds, and bluebonnets
We just discovered Frisco Central Park not far from our house. It’s unique with western-themed sculptures and scenic trails. Our go-to park has always been the Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano, which is gorgeous for spring and a prime locale for bluebonnets. For even more ideas, check out our post on 7 Places to Enjoy Nature in Collin County.
Get your cameras ready and be on the lookout in April around Collin County! These are just a few inexpensive spring activities for kids—what would you add?
