After our long cold winter, we’re ready to greet spring with open arms! Springtime means flowering shrubs, birds chirping and soft grass beneath our feet! The season offers us a great opportunity to enjoy some electronic free family time in the great outdoors. To help you out with your planning, dsm4kids has put together some simple, accessible ideas for engaging, offline family fun.
Looking for even more ideas for winter time family fun? Check out our Event Calendar and Spring Fun Guide.
Here’s a few unplugged spring family time activity ideas:
Unplugged Spring Outdoor Activity – Bedding for the Birds
Providing nesting materials for our feathered friends is a fun and simple way to welcome spring. Tuck safe bird nesting materials in the crook of a tree, drape on a fence, or fill a clean wire suet container with nesting supplies. Then wait and watch as birds come gather what they need for their nests.
Supplies
- Long strips of grass
- Cattail fluff
- Natural, undyed moss
- Strips of tree bark (from dead or downed trees)
- Small twigs
- Dried leaves
- Native plants
Instructions
Gather your bedding materials on a spring walk. Then, place them outside for the birds using the suggestions above.
What to Avoid
Human hair, yarn, string and dryer lint.
Spring Recipe to Make as a Family – Violet Shortbread Cookies
What could be more delightful than homemade shortbread cookies? Why decorating them with edible flowers, of course!
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Pinch of salt
- 11/4 cups all -purpose flour
- 16 fresh wild or purchased violets or other edible flower
Instructions
- In a large bowl mix, using a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat the butter and maple syrup on medium speed until the syrup is incorporated and the butter is fluffy.
- Add the lemon zest, salt, and flour. Stir until just combined. Do not overmix. Shape the mixture into a log about 9 inches long and 2 inches in diameter. Wrap the log in parchment paper or beeswax cloth and refrigerate for two hours up to overnight.
- Preheat the over to 325 degrees.
- Remove the log from the refrigerator and unwrap it. Slice the dough into ½ inch rounds.
- If using fresh flower, place one blossom on each cookie and then gently roll into place with a rolling pin. Arrange the cookies on a baking sheet 1 inch apart.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until cookies are just beginning to turn golden brown. Transfer to wire rack to cool.
Family Friendly Spring Craft Idea – Blooming Branches
Sometimes we’re ready for spring before winter has moved on. By snipping a few branches from a dormant flowering shrub or tree, we can enjoy the season’s blooms a bit early. Known as “forcing” blooms, this process allows us to welcome a bit of springtime into our homes.
Examples of a few suitable species:
- Apple
- Azalea
- Cherry
- Crab Apple
- Forsythia
- Lilac
- Magnolia
- Pear
- Plum
- Pussy Willow
- Spirea
- Tulip tree
Supplies
- 1 cup of river stones or marbles
- Vase
- Water
- Hand pruners or utility knife
- A few 12-18 inch branches from a flowering tree or shrub
Instructions
- Carefully place your marbles or river stones (if using) in the bottom of your vase. Fill the jar with water.
- Cut a few branches from a flowering tree or shrub in YOUR yard. Select branches that have plenty of flower buds.
- Use your pruner or knife to carefull cut the base of each branch at a sharp angle. This will also your branch to take up water and encourage your blooms.
- Place the cut branches in the vase and place it in indirect sunlight for 2 to 4 weeks until the buds begin to open.
- Refresh the water as needed throughout the flowering process.
