After a cold and dark winter, many of us are looking forward to springtime. While winter has many beautiful aspects, spring has many wonderful things as well. If you prefer warmth over coldness, spring is something you anticipate. Most of us love the springtime flowers and longer days, but how many of us have tried new activities specifically because it is springtime?
Throughout the seasons, there are unique activities that we can enjoy with our families. As a child, my mom planned seasonal activities to keep my sisters and me engaged during each time of year. Whether your family does this or not, there is something fun about participating in seasonal activities. If you want to try a few ideas this spring, here are five activities to try:
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1. Gardening
Starting a garden is one spring activity for the entire family. I have known many people who absolutely adore gardening. I have a loved one who is very knowledgeable about all kinds of plants and flowers. They have their own garden outdoors as well as many indoor plants. While I have never been a gifted gardener, gardening is always relaxing, rewarding, and joyful. Starting a garden is great for those who like to see a return for their hard work.
Many of us believe that gardening is only for seniors, but this is a misnomer. People of all ages can enjoy gardening, including your children. As a kid, my mom had my sisters and me start gardening, and even though it was hard at times, it was something I looked forward to doing each day. Springtime is the perfect time to start a garden because most flowers and plants thrive then. Even if you have never had a green thumb, you can still give it a try.
If you or a family member struggles with depression, getting out in the morning to do gardening will be beneficial. The early morning sun is great for those who have depression and can help alleviate some of their symptoms. As someone who personally struggles with depression, I can attest that this is true and will help put you in a more positive state of mind if you are outside during the morning hours.
Even if nobody in your family struggles with depression, gardening is a great springtime activity. It can be an entire family activity to get the seeds, pick out the flowers, and decide as a family where to place each plant. Your family will learn to work as a team as you each take turns caring for the garden. Not only will this be a great springtime activity, but it might turn into a long-term family garden.
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2. Book Club
A second springtime activity for the whole family is a book club. I understand that not everyone loves books, but give books a chance. Personally, I was never interested in reading until my mom homeschooled me. The first book that got me interested in reading was Dr. Dolittle by Hugh Lofting. Just give a few books a try and find the ones that match you or your kids. When you pick a book for your family book club, choose one that interests everyone.
If finding a book that everyone thinks is interesting is impossible, let everyone read their own book and discuss it each week. Starting a book club doesn’t have to be a huge task. Even if one of your children is not fond of books, still encourage them to try to participate in the book club. Due to the Internet, imagination and original thought have come to a halt. Through having a book club, maybe some of the beauty of imagination and original thought will return.
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3. Tour de Parks
A third springtime activity for the whole family is the Tour de Parks. Named after the Tour de France, my mother came up with this idea when my sisters and I were children. The idea was that we would visit a different park each day in our city and see which ones we liked best. This was a fun activity we all enjoyed during the spring months. Spring is often cooler than summer, but it is warm enough to spend long periods outdoors.
If your family loves the outdoors or loves parks, this is a great activity for this spring. Plot out all the parks ahead of time and keep them in a document. After you have been to a park, you can check it off, rate it, and add any comments surrounding the family’s feelings about the park. If your family really enjoyed the park, give it 5/5 stars; if it wasn't the best park, give it a lower rating. If the park was absolutely terrible, write a note beside it saying it would be best not to return. However, if the park is really great, include a note beside the park’s name that it's definitely a park to return to one day.
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4. Evening Walks
A fourth springtime activity for the whole family is evening walks. During the winter months, going outside after dark for a walk is not reasonable. However, during spring, evening walks are a true blessing. For most working adults, we do not get off until after 5 pm, and children can be released from school at various times. After a busy day of work, school pick-up, and homework, everyone will need some time to get outside and stretch their legs. An evening walk is the perfect way to fulfill this need.
Evening walks are a great way to catch up with your loved ones and provide a safe space for them to share their feelings. Even if your entire family does not want to go for a walk, try to walk with your kid or kids who do. If none of your kids are up for a walk, try taking one with your spouse and spending some quality time together. The kids could ride their bikes while the adults walked. That way, everyone gets some exercise and sunshine.
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5. Rainy-Day Crafts
A final spring activity for the whole family is rainy-day crafts. Springtime is known for its rainy days. While this might not be true everywhere, many places have springtime as their rainy season. If this is true for where you are in the world, rainy days can be a great excuse to spend the day doing crafts. Even if your family isn't crafty, doing a few crafts might be a fun way to pass a rainy day.
There are endless crafts you can try during the spring months. Search online or purchase a craft book from a bookstore. Crafts can be challenging at times, but they are rewarding. If your family is artsy, this might be the perfect springtime activity. Even if your family is not artsy, it does not mean you cannot participate in crafts. Crafts are for everyone. Try to pick a craft that is not too difficult at first, and then progress to more difficult ones. Consider hosting crafting contests and framing each other's work, commemorating memories even on those rainy spring days.
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Originally published Friday, 10 April 2026.
