You've been cooped up at home all winter. Now that it's spring, your kids are excited and ready to spend time outdoors and enjoy the fresh spring air. The pandemic is far from over, but that doesn’t mean you and your family can’t enjoy a little fun in the sun—socially distanced, of course! Here are five activities you and your kids can to do this spring:

1. Get outdoors and get lost in a story.

All you need is a blanket, a grassy park, yummy snacks, and a good book. Most libraries are open with social distancing guidelines, so you and your child can sign up for a library card if you don’t have one and check out a book or two. This is a great activity to boost your child’s vocabulary, reading comprehension, and verbal fluency. In need of book recommendations? We’ve got you covered! Check out our Spring Reading List with recommendations for all grade levels (and for adults too).

2. Host a sidewalk art show in your neighborhood.

Gather your family, friends and neighbors and spruce up your neighborhood sidewalks or driveways with colored chalk. This is a simple way for your child to get outdoors, socialize with their peers, and flex their artistic muscles.  The best part of this this activity is that all you need is a bucket of water or some rain to wash away the artwork. You can do much more with chalk! Check out a few ideas here.

3. Go on an in person or virtual field trip.

Has your child ever seen a real-life lion? A school of colorful fish? What about an ancient Egyptian mummy? Social distancing restrictions are easing up, which means now is a great time to visit that local zoo, aquarium, or museum exhibit you’ve been meaning to check out. Field trips can help your child build upon what they’re learning in school. Don’t let logistics stop you from enjoying this spring activity, there are tons of virtual tours kids can do—from the San Francisco Zoo to the New York Museum of Modern Art.

4. Make your own slime!

This one can get a little messy but in a fun way! Making your own slime at home can be a fun activity to do on a rainy or cold day. It’s also a creative way to teach your child about chemistry. Playing with slime can also be a relaxing, calming and regulating activity for kids. You can make scented slime, fluffy slime—even edible slime! Here are a few slime recipes you can use.

5. Plant flowers and watch them grow.

Planting a flower garden in your yard or on your windowsill is the perfect way to celebrate spring. It teaches kids about responsibility, and about the relationship between the environment and our earth. You can make this into an art project as well by painting and decorating your pots. Here a couple of creative ways you can modify this activity. Need more ideas? Read our post from last year for fun online activities you can do at home.