5 FUN SPRINGTIME THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR TODDLER
It’s Finally Springtime
Ok, if you look out your windows, you will see that Winter has said it’s goodbyes (though it still might pop in for an unwelcome visit, from time to time) and Spring is in the air. There are deer with their little fawns, squirrels galore, bouncing through the trees, grass is turning green and snow is pretty much gone. You have probably gotten pretty stir crazy, with the Winter blues, not really getting out much over the last several months. Young kids are no different. They have also been longing for the days of being outside in the fresh air. Now that Spring is here, so let’s explore some fun things that you can do with your toddlers.
Gardening
Along with the emergence of Spring is the planting season. This is a great time to get started on a little vegetable or flower garden. It’s a great opportunity for children to learn about seeds, plant growth, what plants need to flourish and more. Now, a 3-year-old might not be able to run a rototiller but they can help pull weeds, poke holes for seeds, drop seeds into a hole, cover a planted seed, water and other simple little tasks. It’s also a perfect chance at some bonding time with your kiddo as they work alongside you. There is the added bonus of their excitement in watching plants grow and bloom or produce food they can help harvest. NANA’S BLOOMERS in Laurel is a nice place to go in Laurel. Other ideas are HOME DEPOT, LOWE’S garden centers or you can also buy seeds at WalMart and Amazon.
PLAY BALL
A fun activity that also works on gross motor skills is to kick a ball to each other. The ball shouldn’t be too large or too heavy for little feet. You can kick it back and forth to each other, play keep away or just see how long it takes him to go a certain distance while kicking the ball, then get back to you. HERE is a nice example from Amazon that is very inexpensive, and doesn’t involve packing up the car to head to the store. If it’s not a windy day, you can also play the same game with a balloon.
TIME AT THE PARK
Kids love going to the playground. It’s one of their absolute favorite activities of all time. My own grandson is convinced he owns the park playground near his house, which is absolutely adorable. There are many, many choices for public playgrounds in Yellowstone County. Some of my favorites are the newly updated KIWANIS PARK, LYON’S FAMILY PARK and NUTTING PARK in Laurel. There are even more choices in Billings, such as PONDEROSA PARK, RIMROCK PARK and PRIMROSE PARK. BillingsParks.org has put out a great resource for local park and playground information HERE, so you are sure to find one conveniently located to where you are.
LET’S GO FISHING
Now, I’m not saying that your two-year-old is going to land a big one (and I’m not saying he won’t), but fishing is a great outdoor activity for littles, and it also offers another fun opportunity for some parent/child bonding. They even make fishing poles for toddlers. A few examples can be found here, on AMAZON. You just need to be extra careful when getting little hooks around tiny little fingers. Oh yeah, and stand in a safe spot and be mindful of hook trajectory. I remember trying to teach my son to fish, early on, and when he drew back for the cast, the hook embedded in my back. That was not a fun experience. You will also want to keep your kiddo in a life jacket, just in case, and keep a close eye on him.
PICNIC FOR THE WIN
Everyone loves a picnic, am I right? This is a super easy outdoor activity to kick off Spring, and you don’t have to go any further than your own yard (or spend any extra money). All you need is a blanket, a few plates, glasses, silverware, and some food. While you are enjoying your outdoor meal, you can pass the time by looking at clouds, counting cars or reading her favorite book. What a great way to pass some time on a lovely Spring day!