14 Ways to Welcome Spring
Read on for some creative ideas to for family time this season!
From garden activities to brighten up your home to self-care crafts like making moisturizer and hydrating drinks, check out these 14 fun family projects that will get you and your family outdoors and into the fresh spring air.
1. Create a Centerpiece
Bring color indoors with an easy centerpiece just in time for spring and Easter. You can grab any fun container from around your house, and then make a quick run to Home Depot or Lowe’s for a variety of small plants. (You can also order from Amazon.) Start mixing, stuffing, and shoving to create an easy tabletop accent that’s pretty and practical. Indoor plants contribute to better air quality, which is helpful during—groan!—pollen season.
1. Dig for Daffodils
You know spring has sprung when you see the bright spots of daffodils dotting the landscape. So, host a daffodil scavenger hunt for your kids, and have a friendly family competition to see who can find the most of these pretty flowers! Pick out a couple of colorful containers—something around the house will work just fine—and start filling them up! Bonus: Your kids will burn off tons of energy running around. When you’re finished, wipe one of the containers clean of any soil, fill up with water, and consider ding-dong ditching the arrangement on a neighbor’s porch.
3. Make Mustache Pots
Surprise your children with a cute invitation: “I mustache you to come and plant.” We created adorable printable place mats you can use as a work surface and a sheet of mustaches you can cut out and glue to the ends of straws or popsicle sticks for lots of laughs while you pot your plants. Or, get super silly and stick one on your face and a matching one on your pot! Click here for the adorable printable place mats and here for the mustaches.
3. Homemade Moisturizer How-To
Hand washing is key to keeping germs at bay, but one downside to soaps and sanitizer is dry hands. Get ahead of this by whipping up this simple, sweet-smelling homemade moisturizer. Mix together a little honey, sugar, and fresh lemon juice. Enjoy softly scented—and moisturized—hands!
5. Flavor Up Your Water
Especially when the sunny weather is calling you to spend more time outdoors, be sure to stay hydrated to keep your skin fresh and your immune system strong. Spice up plain water by infusing it with delicious herbs and fruit—like strawberries and basil or cucumbers and mint. It is easy to do, and the bright colors are fun and festive in your water bottle!
6. Brew a Batch of Hair Tea
Spring cleaning is so yesterday; we’re here for spring self-care instead! Show your winterized hair some love with this easy herbal recipe for “tea for your hair!” It’s a fun craft the kids can help with, plus it smells great and makes your hair feel amazing!
1. Fill a pot with water, and place sprigs of rosemary and mint inside a colander.
2. Place the colander on top of the pot so that the sprigs touch the water.
3. Boil the water for 5 minutes. Then, let it cool for another 5 minutes.
4. After your regular wash routine, simply pour the “tea” over your scalp for fresh locks and a long-lasting, clean-smelling scalp!
7. Build a Terrarium with Alexa
Let Carmen show you step-by-step the fun and science behind building your very own terrarium! On your voice-enabled device, say: “Alexa, launch Carmen Johnston Gardens,” or “Hey Google, let’s talk gardening advice.” You’ll find more than 30 videos and, depending on your supplies, you can create centerpieces, vegetable gardens, planters, and also get lots of great gardening advice! You can also click here for a tutorial.
8. Stacked-Up Planters
Spring brings hope and renewal, and it’s time to bring that same feeling to your doorstep. Get outside, breathe in the fresh air, and try the double stack. Find the pile of old terra-cotta pots in the garage, and give them a fresh coat of paint. Take a trip to your local garden shop, and grab some of your favorite flowers. Start stuffing and shoving—my favorite technical arranging hack!—until you’re satisfied with your plantings. Hang a seasonal wreath on the door, and place your pots on the porch. Voila! You—and your neighbors—will appreciate the fresh curb appeal!
9. Fun Floral Arrangements
By now forsythia, a variety of cherry trees, and dogwoods are probably blooming. Just like you did with the daffodils, weave some spring into your home with these lovely flowers. Choose vases in a variety of heights, and scatter throughout your home. Drop branches and blooms in different heights into the vessels, and enjoy a burst of spring in every room.
10. Picnic Time
Combine chores and charcuterie! Pick some fresh flowers from the garden for an easy centerpiece, then have the kids help you wipe down the patio furniture. Spread out a blanket, add your flowers and some snacks, and enjoy lunch alfresco. Don’t forget your sunglasses!
11. Give a Bouquet Gift
Teach your children how to make an easy bouquet from the flowers in your own yard! They will have so much fun running around and creating their very own “gift to give!” This is a great way to show them how it feels to bring a smile to someone else’s face.
12. Garden Book Club
Craving quiet? Pour a bottle of infused water, and head outside with a good (gardening) book to study up on tips, tricks, and types of flowers and plants. Reading is a great escape and doing so in the great outdoors is a double dose of relaxation.
13. Top Your Table with Spring
Time to turn your creativity to your Easter tablescape (April 17)! Work on it a little bit at a time, and have your children pitch in, too. They can easily make their own decorations for a crafty kids’ table! Inventive table settings make for great conversation starters, so have fun with it. (Psst: Check back next week for our post on easy Easter décor!)
14. Plant a Planter
We just adore container gardens! Add them to your yard to create a border effect for big impact. These galvanized containers are a fave! They are simple but lovely when filled to the brim with spring color and greenery. Let your kids help to personalize them by adding their favorite toy as a whimsical decoration.