25 Fun and Free Spring Activities For Kids (2025)

Spring is in full bloom—the flowers are vibrant, the sun is shining, and the air feels crisp and refreshing.

But for parents, the season often brings a familiar question: How can I keep my kids entertained and active during these spring months, especially during spring break?

That’s why I’ve created this list of simple and fun spring activities that your whole family will enjoy. From outdoor adventures to creative crafts, these ideas are perfect for burning off all that energy while making the most of this beautiful season.

As a camp counselor, teacher, and parent with over 20 years of experience, I’ve personally tried and loved each of these activities. Best of all? They’re completely free and don’t require a lot of supplies!

So, let’s dive in and discover 25 fun-filled ways to keep your kids entertained this spring—without breaking the bank.

Bonus: You don’t need to stock up on materials, and all these ideas are easy to do at home!

Pro Tip: This list is just a small part of our ultimate guide—100 Fun Things To Do At Home With Kids.

Outdoor Spring Activities

1. Bubble Art

Looking for a simple, fun, and educational spring activity? Bubble art is perfect for sparking creativity and teaching kids basic science—all while keeping the mess to a minimum!

To start, mix paint, dish soap, and water to create a vibrant bubble solution. Choose spring-inspired colors like purple, blue, green, and pink. Then, using a straw or bubble wand, blow bubbles onto paper or canvas and watch the colors burst into whimsical designs.

Why Bubble Art is Great for Kids:

• Boosts Creativity: Encourages kids to explore colors and patterns.
• Hands-On Learning: Teaches the science of bubbles and liquids.
• Mess-Free Fun: Easy to set up, with minimal cleanup.

This activity is the perfect mix of art and science for any spring day!

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2. Release a Butterly

One of the most enchanting spring activities for kids is using a butterfly kit. This hands-on experience allows children to witness the entire butterfly life cycle, making it a perfect outdoor learning activity, especially during spring break.

Start with a caterpillar and watch as it forms a chrysalis before emerging as a beautiful butterfly, ready to be released into the wild. It’s a magical transformation that sparks curiosity and excitement in kids as they observe nature up close.

This butterfly kit includes a pop-up, reusable mesh habitat perfect for butterfly viewing, a feeding dropper, and complete instructions. Plus, the coupon to order the caterpillars is inside the box & you can order them online.

As the butterfly takes flight, children not only enjoy an unforgettable experience, but they also develop a deeper connection to the natural world, fostering empathy, responsibility, and respect for living creatures. This activity is both educational and memorable, making it a must-do for spring.

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3. Make Mud Pies

Looking for a hands-on way to inspire your child’s creativity and deepen their connection with nature? Making mud pies is a timeless and imaginative activity that combines creativity with natural materials.

Kids will love getting their hands dirty as they use mud, sticks, stones, and colorful leaves to create their very own works of art.

To get started, grab an old pie pan or shallow container and fill it with dirt and water to create a perfect mud mixture. Then, head outside and gather natural materials like flowers, twigs, leaves, and even small stones to add unique textures and colors to your creation.

Let your child’s imagination take over as they sculpt, mold, and decorate their mud pies. It’s a fun sensory experience for kids of all ages.

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4. Adopt A Tree

As the snow melts and warmer weather arrives, it’s the perfect time to get outside and connect with nature. This spring, invite your kids to adopt a tree—a new “family member” you’ll observe and care for all year long.

Head to your backyard or a local park and choose a tree to adopt. Watch as it changes through the seasons: from budding leaves in spring to vibrant autumn colors. This activity teaches kids about patience, observation, and the beauty of nature’s cycles.

Check in regularly, take photos, draw pictures, or even start a logbook to track its growth. Give it a name and make it part of the family—after all, it’s your Family Tree!

5. Hopscotch

Hopscotch is a fun spring activity to play with friends and stay active, and it has entertained generations of children.

Here are the steps to play hopscotch with sidewalk chalk:

1. Find a location: Choose a flat, smooth surface like a sidewalk or driveway.
2. Draw the grid: Use chalk to create a hopscotch grid with numbered squares (1 to 10).
3. Start the game: Toss a marker (like a rock) onto the grid, aiming for square 1.
4. Hop through the grid: Skip the square with the marker and hop on one foot through the rest.
5. Pick up the marker: On the return trip, pick up the marker, then continue.
6. Win the game: The first player to complete the grid without mistakes wins!

For the full hopscotch grid, rules, and variations, check out our hopscotch guide. YAnd for more sidewalk chalk activities, visit 25 creative sidewalk chalk ideas for kids.

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6. Leaf Counting

Spring is the perfect time to explore the outdoors with your little ones, and leaf counting is a great way to do just that.

Start by collecting leaves of different shapes and sizes, then encourage your child to count them and group them based on their similarities and differences.

This activity not only teaches children about counting, grouping, and pattern recognition, but it also promotes their observation skills and appreciation for the natural world. 

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7. Mud Paint

Look for spring art activities? You don’t need to put together complicated sensory bins or detailed projects.

instead, you can paint with mud!

Grab some containers you don’t care much about, some plain paper, and a handful of old paintbrushes. You may want to wear old clothes, too.

Outside, scoop a healthy amount of dirt into each container, and then add a small amount of water and good amount of food coloring. 

If you don’t have food coloring, this will be just as fun with plain old mud. 

(Some recipes call for dish soap to help prevent stains in clothes, but it’s also optional.)

You’re ready to mud paint! You can decorate rocks, sticks, or even a canvas. 

Not only is mud painting a great way to foster your child’s creativity and sensory play, but it also teaches them about natural materials and the world around them.

8. Signs Of Spring

After a long winter, it’s the perfect time to get outside for a spring scavenger hunt!

Have a chat about the signs of spring that are happening outside at this very moment.

There are birds singing, frogs hopping around, spring flowers blooming, buds on the trees, worms in the dirt, and nests way up high.

Head out for a walk and see which signs of spring you can spot with your own two eyes.

Snap some photos to send to a friend or relative.

Customize it:

Need binoculars? If you have two small toilet paper rolls, tie them together to make a pair of binoculars to take on your walk.

Bring Your Stuffy: Would your child like to take their favorite stuffed animal on a stroller walk to show them all the signs of spring? That stuffy probably needs some fresh air, after all.

Find The Rainbow: Try to find an item for every color of the rainbow.

9. Sunny Sit Spot

On the next sunny day, go searching for the perfect sunny spot with your kids.

A sunny sit spot is a designated outdoor area where you can sit and observe the natural surroundings, typically in a sunny location.

It’s a place where you can take a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life and simply relax and take in the sights, sounds, and smells of nature.

A sunny sit spot can be a great way to connect with the natural world, reduce stress, and promote mindfulness.

By spending time in your sunny sit spot regularly, you can also observe changes in the natural world over time and deepen your appreciation for the beauty of nature.

10. Dirt Writing

Find the perfect writing stick. One that’s sturdy with a fairly pointy tip, and just the right length.

Then, find some dirt to write in!

Write the alphabet. Write your name. Write the word “Spring”. Write a sweet message to a loved one. Just write! Chat about what sounds the letters make, and if a letter is upper case or lower case. Follow your child’s lead!

Alternative: Is it feeling like more of a math day? Write all the numbers you can. Solve simple equations. Draw shapes. Make patterns with the shapes. The possibilties are endless. We can’t wait to see which direction your child takes it.

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11. Cloud Meditation

Remember when you were a child, how mesmerizing clouds could be?

You could stare at them for a long time, finding new shapes and animals, watching them form and dissipate.

Lie down with your kids with a good view of the clouds. You can make some observations with them.

Are they fluffy or thin? Are they moving? What color are they? What shapes do they make?

Or, you can just be silent and watch them together.

12. Shadow Tracing

This fun idea involves tracing the shadows of everyday objects using chalk, pencils, or markers.

Not only is shadow tracing a great way to get kids excited about art and drawing, but it’s also a wonderful way to teach them about the concepts of light and shadow, as well as shapes and proportions.

To get started, simply find a sunny spot and some objects with interesting shapes, such as leaves, toys, or even your child’s own body. Place the object on a flat surface and trace its shadow onto the ground using your chosen drawing tool.

Then, let your child’s imagination take over and color in the traced shapes as they wish. It’s so much fun!

13. Spring Hide & Seek

Ask your child what they think is hiding in your yard, neighborhood, or favorite park. Then invite them to go find out!

Turn over logs, sticks, rock, bark, and leaves. What can they find?

Then, pretend you are little potato bugs and play your own game of Spring Hide & Seek.

Later, draw some pictures or write a list of what you found. 

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14. Water Painting

Water painting is a simple and fun activity that’s perfect for spring!

All you need is a bucket of water and a paintbrush, and you’re ready to create beautiful works of art on sidewalks, driveways, or any other surface that can be painted with water.

Not only is water painting a great way to keep kids entertained, but it also promotes their creativity and imagination.

Plus, since the “paint” is just water, there’s no mess to clean up afterwards! To get started, simply dip the paintbrush in the water and start painting.

Watch as the water leaves a temporary mark on the surface, then fades away as it dries.

15. Here Is A Nest

Teach your child this springy poem:

Here is a nest for the robin (make a nest with your hands)
Here is a hive for the bees (Ball up your fist)
Here is a hole for the bunny (make a hole with your hands)
And a house for you and me. (Point your fingers together in the shape of a roof)

Throughout your week you can recite this poem and talk about habitats. What other habitats can you spot on your walks and time spent outside? You can even add to the poem yourself. (Here is dirt for the worm, here is a hole for the squirrel, etc.)

16. Tackle Your To-Do List

Whether it’s spring cleaning or a little yard, we’re sure you have loads of things you’d like to get done on your to-do list. Invite your child into your world to work alongside you.

Sure, it will slow you down a bit, but it’s one of the best ways for them to learn. Outside, you’re sure to find worms and bugs that will mesmerize them. Inside, they can help fold, sweep, and wipe things down. They’ll be naturally curious about what you’re doing and why. And, if they lose interest and scamper off to play, just keep right on going! 

17. Alphabet Rocks

Invite your child to head outside for some fresh air. Begin collecting some rocks and pebbles. If rocks are not aplenty near you, find some sticks, leaves, acorns, or other natural materials.

Start making letters out of the materials, and invite your child to do the same. You can practice saying the sound that each letter makes. Can you spell your name? Your favorite animal? A message to a loved one?

You can also take a sharpie and write one letter on each rock. What words can your child spell?

18. Play Catch (With A Spin)

Ask your child if they’d like to go play catch. Find an open space, and practice playing catch. Try throwing underarm, overarm, sideways, under your legs, and any other way you can think of.

Then, try throwing items besides a traditional ball. Can you spare an oval-shaped egg? What would it be like to throw and catch a wet sponge? A coin? A square pillow?

Spring Crafts

Leaf & Bark Rubbings

This activity involves placing a leaf underneath a piece of paper and rubbing a crayon or pencil over the paper to create a textured impression of the leaf.

Not only is this activity a great way to teach children about the different shapes and textures of leaves, but it also promotes their creativity and fine motor skills.

To get started, simply collect some leaves of different shapes and sizes and place them underneath a sheet of paper.

Then, use a crayon or pencil to gently rub over the paper, being careful not to move the leaf underneath.

The result is a beautiful and unique textured impression of the leaf! Y

ou can also take your paper outside and do this on a tree trunk.

Magic Paper Towel Tree

It’s magic!

Fold one piece of paper towel in half so that it looks like a book.

On the inside of the book, draw a tree trunk and branches, with colorful leaves and fruit. You can add sunshine, blue sky, and anything you fancy!

Now, fold your paper towel book so that you can’t see your drawing anymore.

Drop it into a bowl of water, and watch how your colorful drawing magically appears! 

Window Sketching

Turn your windows into a canvas with window sketching! Using dry erase markers, kids can bring their imaginations to life, doodling colorful shapes, patterns, and designs right on the glass. It’s a fun, mess-free way to brighten up any rainy day.

The best part? When inspiration strikes again, just wipe it clean and start fresh! Window sketching is all about creativity without the commitment—perfect for kids who love to dream up new ideas and change things up.

Family Roots

Ask your child if they ever realized that your family is like one large tree. Everyone is connected by roots and branches.

Begin asking your child who is in your family, and writing down their names or titles (mom, dad, etc.).

See if your child can take the lead writing the names, or the first letter of each name. You can decorate each slip of paper if you want to get creative.

Then, grab some tape and find an open wall in your home. Tape up each name and show your child how they are connected. Use paper to create the parts of your tree (roots, trunk, branches, twigs, and leaves).

Spring Coloring

Do you have coloring books lyings around? Some of them probably have some beautiful spring scenes in them for your child to work on.

If not, ABCMouse.com has some interactive coloring pages. Try it free >>

More Spring Games and Activities

Themed Story Time

Pull out your favorite spring-themed book and snuggle up for story time.

Need some new titles? ABCmouse.com has a huge library of books, like this “Some Bunny Loves Me” story from National Geographic. Try it free >>

I Spy Spring Edition

What better way to get your kids excited about spring than by playing a fun and engaging game of spring-themed I Spy?

This activity involves finding and identifying objects that are commonly found in nature during the spring season, such as flowers, birds, and insects.

Not only is it a great way to get kids excited about the changing seasons, but it also promotes their observation and critical thinking skills.

To get started, take a walk outside with your child and look for objects that are unique to spring.

Then, take turns saying “I spy with my little eye something that is [color/shape/object]” and see who can guess the correct object first.

This activity can be played anywhere, from the backyard to a nearby park, making it a versatile and fun way to enjoy the great outdoors with your little ones. 

Spring Poetry Read Aloud

Crack open any poetry books you have in the house, or search for a spring poem online. Read them aloud to your kids. You can even try to memorize them little by little, and send a video to your loved ones.

No poetry books lying around? ABCMouse.com has some spring poetry read-alouds for your kids to listen to. Try it free >>

Strike A Pose

Tell your kids that you’re going to turn into a tree, tall and steady.

Show them the Yoga Tree Pose, bringing one foot to the inner thigh, and palms together at your chest or above your head. It takes balance!

Invite your child to try. The steadier your roots grow through your feet, the taller you can stand and stretch your branches and blossoms up towards the sky.

Spring Jigsaw Puzzle

Do a puzzle with a springy scene!

If you don’t have one lying around, your little ones can find new ones on ABCMouse.com, like this Robin’s Egg jigsaw puzzle. Try it free >>

ABC Mouse has so many fun activities for young children!

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Frequently Asked Questions: Spring Activities for Kids

What are some free spring activities for kids?

There are plenty of free and fun spring activities that kids will love! Some ideas include:

• Bubble Art: All you need is some food coloring and dish soap to create colorful bubble prints on paper.
• Mud Pies: Encourage creativity by making mud pies with natural materials like leaves, sticks, and flowers.
• Hopscotch: Grab some sidewalk chalk and set up a hopscotch game in your driveway or yard.
• Leaf Counting: Go on a nature walk, collect different leaves, and group them by size or shape while counting them.

These activities are not only fun but also foster creativity and help children connect with nature.

How can I entertain my kids during spring break?

Spring break is the perfect time to engage your kids with both indoor and outdoor activities. Here are some ideas:

• Release a Butterfly: Use a butterfly kit to teach your kids about the butterfly life cycle, from caterpillar to butterfly.
• Adopt a Tree: Choose a tree in your yard or a nearby park to observe and care for throughout the season.
• Window Sketching: Let your kids use dry erase markers to draw spring scenes on your windows.
• Spring Jigsaw Puzzle: Complete a puzzle with a spring theme to challenge their problem-solving skills while having fun indoors.

These activities will keep your kids entertained and learning throughout the break.

What are fun outdoor activities for children in spring?

Spring is a great time to get kids outdoors. Some fun outdoor activities include:

• Signs of Spring Scavenger Hunt: Go on a walk and look for birds, budding flowers, and other signs of spring.
• Cloud Meditation: Lie down in a sunny spot with your kids and watch the clouds, encouraging them to spot shapes and animals.
• Water Painting: Use water and brushes to paint on sidewalks or driveways, watching the designs disappear as they dry.
• Shadow Tracing: Trace shadows of objects like toys or leaves to teach kids about light and shadow in a fun, creative way.

Outdoor activities like these keep children active while helping them explore their surroundings.