Nothing is more exciting than seeing the first signs of spring after a long cold winter. Maybe it’s that first purple crocus popping up in the garden or the busy robin gobbling down worms in your yard. Whatever it is, those first signs of spring fill us with so much joy and hope. What better to celebrate spring than going on a spring nature walk with your child!
In this post you will find lots of spring stuff!
- Nature prompts for encouraging your child to use all their sense during a spring nature walk (including a free printable).
- Printable spring nature journal pages for kids that enjoy recording their nature observations (free!).
- Nature walk tips for making your nature walk even more fun!
- A spring scavenger hunt printable (free!).
- More spring nature activities.
- A list of my favourite spring picture books for kids.
Spring Nature Walk Prompts for Kids
A spring nature walk is a fun way to discover signs of spring with your child. Here are some prompts and ideas for helping your child discover signs of spring using all of their senses.
What do you see?
- Trees budding and flowering.
- Birds migrating north.
- Spring flowers blooming in gardens and fields (crocuses, tulips, daffodils, snowdrops, buttercups).
- The sun rising early and setting later every day.
- Snow melting.
- Birds building nests.
- Butterflies flying from flower to flower.
- Turtles sunning themselves on rocks.
- Rabbits acting frisky.
What do you hear?
- Busy bees collecting nectar.
- Birds singing and calling to each other.
- Woodpeckers drumming on trees.
- Mosquitoes and flies buzzing around.
- Frogs peeping and croaking.
What do you smell?
- The fresh damp scent of rain (petrichor).
- An earthy scent coming from the ground (geosmin).
- Freshly cut grass.
- The soft, sweet scent of flowers and blossoms.
What do you feel?
- Warm sunshine on my face.
- Raindrops falling on my head.
- Wet, slushy snow beneath my feet.
- Cool wind blowing.
- Cold, damp dirt.
- Slippery slimy worms.
What do you taste?
- Freshly grown peas.
- Sweet juicy strawberries.
- Crunchy radishes.
- Sour rhubarb.
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Spring Nature Walk Journal Pages for Kids
For older kids, a spring nature walk is a wonderful opportunity for nature journaling. One thing I love about nature journals is that it really encourage kids to slow down and really observe nature. If you child doesn’t have a nature journal you can download the My Spring Nature Walk journal pages PDF below (free!).
These journal pages are excerpts from my recently released My Spring Nature Journal, a 161 pages nature journal for kids between the ages of 8 and 12. You can learn more about My Spring Nature Journal HERE or get it HERE.
Spring Nature Walk Tips
- Nature is all around you no matter where you live. Yes, even in bustling cities you can find nature. Look for nature at a nearby park, trail or around your neighbourhood.
- Follow your child’s lead. Observe nature through the eyes of your child. I promise that a whole new world will open before your eyes.
- Let you child get dirty! Let your child dig in the dirt, get stuck in mud and splash in puddles.
- Give your child permission to collect sticks, rocks, shells and even flowers where it is appropriate.
- Slow down and be present. Turn off your phone and bring a blanket to sprawl out on and watch the clouds float by.
More Spring Nature Activities
Here are more ways to enjoy spring with your child.
- Make a flower crown.
- Go on a Spring Scavenger Hunt (click here for a free printable).
- Start some seeds indoors.
- Plant a garden.
- Bring some flowers into your home.
- For spring equinox activities visit: 7 Fun Ways to Celebrate Spring Equinox with Kids
Books About Spring
- Abracadabra, It’s Spring! (Seasonal Magic) by Anne Sibley O’Brien (ages 3 – 5)
- And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano(ages 4 – 8)
- A New Beginning: Celebrating the Spring Equinox by Wendy Pfeffer (ages 6 – 9)
- A Seed Is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long (ages 5 – 8)
- In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb by Marion Dane Bauer (ages 5 – 8)
- Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
- Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey (ages 3 – 7)
- Plant the Tiny Seed by Christie Matheson (ages 4 – 8)
- Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert (ages 4 – 8)
- Poppleton in Spring by Cynthia Rylant (ages 4 – 8)
- Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit: A Book of Changing Seasons by Il Sung Na
(ages 3 – 7) - The Reasons for Seasons by Gail Gibbons (ages 5 – 8)
- The Curious Garden by Peter Brown (ages 5 – 8)
- The Gardener by Sarah Stewart (ages 4 – 8)
- The Complete Book of the Flower Fairies by Cicely Mary Barker (ages 5 – 8)
- The Reason for a Flower: A Book About Flowers, Pollen, and Seeds (Explore!) by Ruth Heller (ages 8 – 12)
- The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (ages 7+)
- The Spring Equinox by Ellen Jackson (ages 7+)
- The Sun Egg by Elsa Besko (ages 4 – 8)
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