Prepping for a New Season
Rain Boots? Check. Rain Coat? Check. Umbrella? Check. Exciting indoor and outdoor activities for the Spring-time days to come? …We’ve got you covered!
With the changing of the seasons on the way, it is exciting to think of the new possibilities available once the frost of winter blows away. As the mud moves in, let’s look at some fun activities for you and your preschooler that can fill the days—whether you’re confined to the indoors or planning to brave the rain and mud!
Here at Chester Child Development Center, we are excited and ready for spring! Pull on your galoshes and schedule a tour to see what we have planned!
Indoor Activities
Spring-Inspired Arts and Crafts
Arts and Crafts is an excellent way to connect with and captivate your preschooler. Brighten up your household as we brighten up our school with the display of our students’ hard work! From developing fine motor skills to encouraging innovation, creativity, and visual learning and memory, arts and crafts are key within early childhood education. (source) Schedule a tour to see these masterpieces for yourselves!
Want Ideas? Make bird feeders out of common household items like the one linked here and watch the birds enjoy your creation. Looking for something a little less involved? The various craft stores have lovely spring craft sets that are inexpensive, generally contain all the parts needed, and can still be a truly enjoyable experience for you and your preschooler.
Make a Spring-themed Snack 
Allowing children to participate in food preparation will help spark an interest in and set the foundations for this life skill that they will need as they grow. Additionally, the Mayo Clinic recommends that children be allowed to participate in meal and snack creation, stating that in doing so they will also be more inclined to eat what is made—which is huge when trying to encourage eating healthier options!
Want Ideas? In creating snacks and treats at home, you can control the nutrient content. Add less sugar than is called for, swap Greek yogurt for regular, or gluten free flour for tradition—prepping at home allows for all kinds of swaps to suit your family! These Thumbprint Flower Cookies are a super fun Spring-themed treat that you and your preschooler will love!
Want to see what’s cooking here at Chester CDC? Schedule a tour today!
Conduct a Science Experiment
Science experiments with preschoolers can sound daunting, but it truly doesn’t have to be. In fact, science with little ones can be as simple as paying attention to the changing of the leaves or the new buds on trees. The National Science Teachers Association encourages children to have exposure to science early, which will lay a foundation for science learning as they grow as well as build a curiosity and love for discovery. (source)
Want Ideas? Grab some seeds from the store—flowers, vegetables, anything—a Ziploc bag and some paper towels. Share with your child about how all of the information needed for that plant to grow is locked within the seed and just needs to be let out. Dampen a folded paper towel, place the seeds inside and fold the paper towel over them, then place the paper towel enclosed seeds back in the Ziploc bag. Watch, wait, and every day or two make sure your paper towel hasn’t dried out, adding more water if it has. In a few days you will notice that your seeds have started to sprout! Looking for more in-depth instructions, click here!
Bonus: You can actually plant these in your garden or in a pot once they’re big enough!
Want to know how we handle science within an early education setting here at Chester Child Development Center? Come check us out and we’d be happy to share!
Outdoor Activities
Nature Walk
Don boots and venture outside for a good walk together. Pay attention to the buds forming on trees and the new crocuses, daffodils, or other early spring flowers beginning to peep from the ground. See if you can spot any new birds or animals coming alive after the long winters nap, or even peep for new goslings and ducklings waddling along with their mommas! Embrace the new season and carve out some time for puddle stomping and some mud walking! Worried about the mess? maybe save this activity for a pre-bathtime treat!
Wondering about our outdoor activities and play areas here at Chester CDC? We are happy to show off! Come visit us and we’ll give you the tour!
Fly Kites
Flying kites can be a super memorable activity for you and your little one! Find a windy day and head out to an open area to let your kite soar! This can be an excellent opportunity to practice observation and exploration of our environment and weather!
Pro tip: If you aren’t quite ready to embark on the journey of kite flying, grab some play scarves, banners, flags, or even paper airplanes and watch them soar! If you choose the paper airplane route, be sure to use compostable paper in case your plane flying goes amiss.
Plan a Perfect Poetry Picnic
Alliteration is always fun, but a picnic can be anything you’d really like—snacks, a whole meal, or simply sitting out on a blanket to watch the clouds. Intentionally taking the time to be out in nature can be such a special time for rest or connection with your little one.
Want Ideas? While your little energetic person is busy munching, share some poetry with them! Check out a book from the library or simply look up some easy springtime poems on your device. Research shows that sharing poetry with children can help build vocabulary, teach young readers about sound and can even motivate them to read–among other benefits! (source) Poems to Read to the Very Young selected by Josette Frank holds an excellent collection of poems by authors such as Robert Louis Stevenson, A. A. Milne, and more!
Step out and smell the flowers!
Springtime brings a slew of new activities and anticipation over a new season of blooms and warmth, and it is a great time to connect with your child and encourage new opportunities to learn. Whether you have five minutes or an hour, carving out time this season for some activities with your little one will not only mean the world to them, but will work at fostering a stronger bond between all involved—which is a fabulous way to start any season!
Call today and schedule to see all we have going on for Spring here at Chester CDC!
