Spring is finally here – the mud is back, the birds are loud, and the kids are desperate to get outside after a long winter! As an outdoor mom of 3 in Wyoming, spring is honestly one of my favorite seasons to get out with the kids. Everything feels new and exciting, and there is SO much to explore.
Below I’ve rounded up 50 spring activities for kids covering nature, outdoor play, crafts, and even some camping ideas to kick off the season right. There’s something here for every age – from toddlers to teens!
Don’t miss the free printable spring scavenger hunt I’ve linked throughout – it’s one of the most popular things on this site and perfect to pair with any of these activities!
Table of Contents
Spring Nature Activities for Kids
Spring is the absolute best season for nature activities – everything is waking up, growing, hatching, and blooming all at once. These spring nature activities for kids take full advantage of everything the season has to offer.
1. Spring Scavenger Hunt
A spring scavenger hunt is one of the easiest and most effective ways to get kids engaged with nature at this time of year. Looking for specific things – a robin, a bud on a branch, a muddy puddle – trains their eyes to actually notice what’s around them instead of just walking past it. Grab my free printable spring scavenger hunt for kids – it’s already one of the most popular things on this site!
2. Build a Bird Nest
Spring is prime bird nesting season – and challenging kids to build their own nest using only natural materials is one of the most engaging outdoor activities out there. Twigs, mud, leaves, grass… it’s harder than it looks, which is exactly what makes it so compelling! Check out this full build a nest activity with free scavenger hunt printable for all the details.
3. Worm Activities
After a spring rain, worms come out in force – and kids are absolutely fascinated by them. Spring is a perfect time to turn that fascination into learning! From worm observation to simple science experiments, there are so many ways to explore. Check out this full list of worm activities for kids with crafts, science projects, and more.
4. Dandelion Crafts and Activities
Most people see dandelions as weeds – we see them as free art supplies! Dandelions are one of the first flowers of spring and kids are naturally drawn to them. From dandelion prints to sun catchers to nature crowns, there is SO much you can do. See all of our favorite dandelion crafts for kids here!
5. Nature Walk + Nature Journal
A spring nature walk is infinitely more engaging when kids have a journal to record what they find. Bring a simple notebook and have them draw or write about what they observe – budding trees, animal tracks, early insects, bird calls. This builds observation skills and creates a lovely keepsake of the season. Pair with the spring scavenger hunt printable for extra structure!
6. Bug Hunting
Spring brings bugs back in a big way – beetles, pill bugs, centipedes, and early butterflies all start appearing. Give kids a magnifying glass and a bug catcher jar and send them on a hunt. Lift rocks, logs, and leaf piles to find what’s hiding underneath. A simple bug identification guide makes this feel like a real scientific expedition!
7. Flower Pressing
Flower pressing is one of those old-fashioned activities that kids still genuinely love. Collect spring flowers – dandelions, violets, early wildflowers – and press them between sheets of paper weighted down with books. After 2-3 weeks they’re dry and can be used for art projects, bookmarks, cards, or framed as nature art. Simple, beautiful, and free!
8. Bird Watching + DIY Bird Feeder
Spring migration brings birds back that kids haven’t seen all winter. Setting up a simple bird feeder brings them close enough to observe, and a bird identification guide (or a free app like Merlin) turns a casual look into a real learning experience. Making a DIY bird feeder from a toilet paper roll, peanut butter, and birdseed is a great spring craft that keeps paying off all season!
9. Mud Play and Mud Kitchen
Spring mud is basically a rite of passage. Embrace it! Mud play builds sensory awareness, encourages creativity, and keeps kids independently occupied for a surprisingly long time. A mud kitchen is the ultimate spring outdoor play setup – check out our DIY wire cube mud kitchen that packs flat and works great for camping too!
10. Rock Collecting and Painting
Spring walks turn up all kinds of interesting rocks – especially after snow melt. Collect favorites and bring them home to paint. Spring themes like flowers, ladybugs, and rainbows work beautifully, or let kids paint whatever inspires them. Hide painted rocks around the neighborhood for others to find – a tradition that genuinely delights kids of all ages!
11. Puddle Jumping and Biking Through Puddles
Spring rain is not a reason to stay inside – it’s an invitation! Rain boots, a waterproof jacket, and permission to jump in every puddle is genuinely one of the best spring outdoor activities for kids. Check out more ideas for outdoor rainy day activities for kids – some of these are even better when it’s actually raining!
12. Sensory Nature Bins
For toddlers especially, a simple spring sensory bin is incredibly engaging. Fill a bin with fresh soil, grass clippings, pebbles, flower petals, and small sticks – add some scoops and cups and watch them play independently for a surprisingly long time. This works indoors or outdoors and uses completely free, natural materials.
13. Plant and Grow Something
Spring is the perfect time to introduce kids to gardening – even in the simplest way. A few bean seeds in paper cups on the windowsill, a small container garden on the porch, or a dedicated patch of the yard to dig and plant. Watching something grow from seed to sprout to plant is endlessly satisfying for kids and teaches real patience and responsibility.
14. Nature Rubbings
Place a sheet of paper over bark, leaves, or textured rocks and rub a crayon over it to reveal the pattern underneath. Spring is great for this because there are so many fresh textures available – new leaves, bark, flower petals, interesting rocks. Kids are always amazed at how different surfaces look when transferred to paper this way.
15. Make a Nature Crown
Weave together flexible twigs, flowers, leaves, and grasses into a crown – it’s easier than it looks and absolutely magical for kids. Spring gives you the perfect materials: bendable new growth, dandelions, wildflowers, clover. Even toddlers can participate by gathering materials while older kids do the weaving.
Spring Outdoor Activities for Kids (Active + Physical)
After a long winter cooped up inside, kids have energy to burn! These spring outdoor activities for kids get them moving, playing, and making the most of the warmer weather.
16. Fly a Kite
Spring wind is perfect kite flying weather – and there’s something genuinely joyful about watching a kite climb higher and higher. Head to an open field, a park, or (if you’re lucky like us) a wide open space near water where the wind is strongest. Give each kid their own kite and let them race or see who can get theirs highest!
17. Sidewalk Chalk Art
Sidewalk chalk is a spring classic – but make it more interesting by giving kids specific challenges. Draw a nature mural with spring themes, outline each other’s bodies and decorate them, create a hopscotch course with nature facts at each square, or make a giant map of your neighborhood. Spring rain will wash it away and you get a fresh canvas for next time!
18. Bike Riding + Obstacle Courses
Spring is the best time to dust off the bikes! Set up a simple obstacle course in the driveway or yard – chalk lines to follow, cones to weave through, a “jump” made from a board. This works for kids of all ages and skill levels and can keep them busy for hours with very little setup. Bonus points if there’s been a spring rain recently and they can ride through puddles!
19. Try Rollerskating
Rollerskating is not only a great workout, but you can do it anywhere that’s paved – the sidewalks, streets, and my kids favorite, empty parking lots! Search your local thrift store for a pair before investing – I’ve bought all of my daughter’s there and they have been a good deal!
20. Outdoor Picnic
You don’t need to go anywhere special for a picnic – just take whatever you were going to eat inside and bring it outside. A blanket on the grass, some snacks, and the sun on your face makes even a regular lunch feel like an event. Let the kids help pack the picnic basket for extra investment!
21. Hike a Local Trail
Spring is an incredible time to hike because everything is changing so fast – you can almost watch the green coming in week by week. Start with an easy, short trail appropriate for your kids’ ages, and bring a nature journal or scavenger hunt list to keep them engaged along the way. Even a short 20-minute trail walk counts!
22. Build an Outdoor Obstacle Course
Use whatever you have – jump over a stick, balance along a log, crawl under a tarp, hop between stepping stones. An outdoor obstacle course requires almost no equipment and can be redesigned every time to keep it fresh. Great for burning energy on a warm spring afternoon!
23. Water Play and Sprinklers
As the weather warms up, water play becomes irresistible. Set up a simple water table, turn on the sprinklers, or fill a bin with water and cups. Add spring elements – float flower petals, catch rainwater to play with, or make “spring soup” with natural materials. Simple, free, and endlessly entertaining!
24. Neighborhood Cleanup + Invasive Plant Hunt
After winter, there’s often a lot of debris and litter that accumulated under the snow. A neighborhood cleanup walk teaches kids to care for their environment and gives them a real sense of contribution. Bring gloves, garbage bags, and make it feel like a mission – kids genuinely love having a purpose on a walk rather than just walking!
We also love trying to help keep the invasive weed population down while we’re out – for us, we get rid of all the hounds tongue we can see!
25. Classic Yard Games
Spring means yard games are back! Cornhole, frisbee, badminton, croquet – dust them off and get the whole family moving. These work for all ages, require almost no prep, and are perfect for those warm spring evenings when everyone wants to be outside but nobody wants to organize anything elaborate.
Spring Crafts and Creative Activities for Kids
26. Spring Nature Collage
Collect natural materials on a spring walk – leaves, petals, small sticks, feathers, seeds – and bring them home to glue onto paper or cardboard. Nature collages are endlessly unique since every child picks different materials and arranges them differently. Frame them when dry for beautiful seasonal art!
27. Paint Rocks with Spring Themes
Spring-themed rock painting – ladybugs, bumble bees, flowers, rainbows – is a great rainy day or outdoor activity. Use outdoor-safe paint for rocks you plan to hide outside. Kids who are less into “crafts” often love this because it feels more like making something real and useful rather than just art for art’s sake.
28. Nature Printing with Leaves and Flowers
Apply paint to leaves or flower petals, press them onto paper, and lift – the print left behind is detailed and beautiful. Spring leaves with their fresh veining make especially lovely prints. This works with almost any kind of paint and even very young children can do it with minimal help.
29. Make a Life Cycle Craft
Spring is when metamorphosis actually happens outside – which makes it the perfect time to learn about life cycles. Make a simple craft showing the stages of a butterfly or frog (egg, tadpole, frog) using clay, paper, or found materials. Pair with a nature walk to look for real examples – frog eggs in ponds, caterpillars on leaves, chrysalises on branches.
30. Color Changing Flower Science Experiment
This simple science experiment never gets old – place a white flower (carnations work perfectly) in water tinted with food coloring and watch it slowly change color over a day or two. It teaches kids about how plants drink water and is genuinely magical to watch. Spring is perfect timing since flowers are available and fresh!
31. Build a Fairy Garden
A fairy garden is one of the best spring activities for kids because it combines outdoor play, creativity, and nature all in one. Use a container, pot, or patch of garden and fill it with tiny plants, moss, sticks, pebbles, and miniature found objects. Kids can spend hours designing and adding to it throughout the spring season.
32. Make a Spring Sensory Bottle
Fill a clear plastic bottle with water, small spring treasures (tiny flowers, a few blades of grass, small pebbles), and a drop of blue or green food coloring. Seal it tight and shake for a beautiful spring sensory experience. These are especially great for toddlers and can double as a calm-down tool!
Spring Camping Activities for Kids
Spring is one of the best times to go camping – the crowds are down, the wildflowers are blooming, and everything feels fresh and new. If you haven’t taken your family camping yet this season, here are some great reasons to go – plus activities to do once you get there!
33. First Camping Trip of the Season
Spring camping is genuinely different from summer camping – cooler temps, quieter campgrounds, and nature that’s actively waking up around you. If you’re planning your first spring trip, check out the ultimate guide to camping with toddlers and the baby camping checklist to make sure you’re prepared for cooler spring nights!
34. Spring Scavenger Hunt at the Campsite
A spring scavenger hunt at a campsite is even better than in the neighborhood – there’s so much more to find! Animal tracks in the mud, budding wildflowers, bird nests, early insects, and fresh spring smells. Grab the free spring scavenger hunt printable and bring it along on your next camping trip.
35. Spring Nature Journaling at Camp
Camping with a nature journal in spring is a wonderful slow activity – kids sketch what they see, record the weather, note what birds they hear, and document the wildflowers they find. Over multiple camping trips it becomes a beautiful record of the season. Check out the kids camping journal for a ready-made option!
36. Campfire Cooking in Spring
Spring campfires feel extra special after a long cold winter. Get kids involved in the cooking – foil packet meals, campfire popcorn, or classic s’mores. Check out easy camping meal ideas for budget-friendly inspiration for the whole family!
37. Build a Nest at the Campsite
Spring is prime nesting season for birds – which makes this one of the most perfectly timed camping activities for kids. Challenge them to build a nest using only natural materials found at the campsite. The full build a nest activity includes a free scavenger hunt printable too!
38. Spring Camping Crafts
Rainy spring days at camp are perfect for crafts – and nature provides most of the materials for free! Stick art, leaf prints, rock painting, and nature weaving all work beautifully at the campsite. See the full list of camping crafts for kids for more ideas!
Spring Activities by Age
Spring Activities for Toddlers (Ages 1-3)
Toddlers need simple, sensory-rich spring activities that don’t require fine motor skills or sustained attention. The best spring outdoor activities for toddlers are:
- Mud play and mud kitchen
- Spring sensory bins with soil, petals, and grass
- Puddle jumping
- Collecting rocks and flowers on a walk
- Water play outside
- Simple nature rubbings with chunky crayons
- Blowing dandelion seeds
Check out even more camping and outdoor activities for toddlers!
Spring Activities for Preschoolers (Ages 3-5)
Preschoolers can handle slightly more structured spring activities with a clear goal. Great options include:
- Picture-based spring scavenger hunt
- Bug hunting with a magnifying glass
- Planting seeds in cups
- Leaf and flower printing
- Making nature crowns
- Sidewalk chalk art
- Color changing flower experiment
Spring Activities for School Age Kids (Ages 6-12)
School age kids can handle more complex spring nature activities and love a challenge or competition element:
- Nature journal with written observations
- Build a bird nest challenge
- Spring scavenger hunt race with a team
- Gardening with responsibility for their own plot
- Worm science experiments
- Kite flying and kite making
- Flower pressing and nature art
Spring Activities for Teens
Teens respond best to spring activities that feel like their choice and involve some independence or competition. See the full list of camping activities for teens for more ideas! Highlights for spring specifically include geocaching, photography nature walks, foraging, outdoor cooking challenges, and trail hiking.
Free Printable Spring Scavenger Hunt
The best way to combine almost all of the nature activities above? A spring scavenger hunt! This free printable gets kids looking for specific signs of spring – buds on trees, robins, muddy puddles, and more. It’s been downloaded thousands of times and is perfect for backyard play, neighborhood walks, hikes, and camping trips alike.
Grab the free printable spring scavenger hunt here!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good spring activities for kids?
The best spring activities for kids take advantage of what makes spring unique – the mud, the rain, the blooming flowers, and the returning wildlife. Nature walks, bug hunting, spring scavenger hunts, puddle jumping, kite flying, planting seeds, and mud play are all classics that work for almost every age. The key is getting outside and letting kids interact with the season rather than just observing it from a window!
What outdoor activities can kids do in spring?
Spring is actually one of the best seasons for outdoor activities with kids because the weather is mild, the world is actively changing, and there’s so much to discover. Great outdoor spring activities include nature walks, scavenger hunts, bike riding, kite flying, gardening, mud play, water play, hiking, camping, rock collecting, and bug hunting. Most of these cost nothing and require very little preparation!
What spring activities work for toddlers?
Toddlers love sensory-rich, open-ended spring activities with no rules and lots of freedom to explore. Mud play, puddle jumping, water tables, collecting rocks and flowers on a walk, blowing dandelion seeds, and simple nature sensory bins are all perfect for ages 1-3. The simpler the better – toddlers don’t need elaborate activities, they just need permission to get messy and explore!
What should I pack for spring outdoor activities with kids?
For spring outdoor activities, the essentials are: rain boots, a waterproof jacket, layers (spring weather changes fast!), a magnifying glass, a small backpack for collecting nature treasures, and sunscreen for sunnier days. A clipboard and the spring scavenger hunt printable turn any walk into a structured activity. If you’re camping, check out the camping checklist printables to make sure you’re fully prepared!
There you go – 50 spring activities for kids covering everything from mud play and bug hunting to spring camping and nature crafts! Spring goes by fast, so get outside and enjoy every muddy, bloomy, rainy moment of it.
Which spring activity is your family’s favorite? Drop it in the comments below – I’m always looking for new ideas to add to our list!
More outdoor fun for kids you’ll love:
- Free Printable Spring Scavenger Hunt for Kids
- Build a Nest Activity for Kids (+ Free Scavenger Hunt Printable)
- 15 Fun Dandelion Crafts for Kids
- Outdoor Rainy Day Activities for Kids
- DIY Mud Kitchen from Wire Cube Shelves
- 51 Camping Crafts for Kids
- Easy Camping Activities for Toddlers
