It’s been a long, hard winter for many, and whether you’ve been locked down or chilled down, the first day of September was cause for celebration.
It’s now officially spring, and this change of season opens up opportunities to play, craft, cook and relax with your child.
Here are 5 feel-good ideas that will put a spring in your family’s step.
1. Do a spring clean
Although a deep clean isn’t everyone’s idea of fun, it does feel good to freshen up the house and share some love.
DIY air freshener is simple to make, kid-friendly chores are beneficial for your child’s development, and dancing around with a duster is always entertaining!
Once you’ve read up on why fewer toys leads to higher quality play, you might be inspired to sort your child’s old toys and donate some to charity; and if you’re going through their wardrobe, Friends of Jedda is a great place to send colourful, pre-loved baby clothes.
2. Cook for the season
Seasonal food tastes better and costs less, and after months of citrus and spuds, springtime puts fresh strawberries, watermelon, peas and other goodies back on the menu.
A strawberry watermelon smoothie is an easy recipe for kids, but we vote for Ricardo’s strawberry shortcake, which gets a five-star rating from hundreds of happy bakers and is guaranteed to please the pickiest of eaters!
Alternatively, you can cook up a batch of not-so-tasty, but equally beautiful, flower play dough– complete with pink colouring, real petals and a swoonable springtime scent.
3. Enjoy the weather
If you’re lucky enough to get outdoors en famille, then spring is the perfect season for nature play, adventuring and sport.
It’s not too hot, not too cold, and just right, so think about exploring a new playground, trying a different nature trail, teaching your child a new physical skill, or having a good old-fashioned teddy bear’s picnic.
If you’re stuck inside, a flower mandala suncatcher is a pretty way for your under five to bring the sunlight in, a rainbow rain experiment brightens things up, too, and older kids will get a buzz learning how to tell a cirrus from an altostratus with their very own cloud viewer!
4. Pot some colour
Flowers are an instant mood-lifter, and a kid-designed flowerpot is a bright way to combine art and horticulture. You’ll need a plain terracotta pot, a variety of acrylic paint colours, and some sealant to lock in the finished design.
This rainbow ombre flowerpot adds a breath of fresh décor to the windowsill, and there are lots of child-friendly options to plant in it, including easy-grow seeds, an easy-care succulent, or a flowering plant in full-bloom.
For a different kind of colour, consider potting up quick-growing radishes, or go wild with the perennially popular kids’ plant – the Venus flytrap (which happens to flower in spring).
5. Take time out for yourself
We’re three-quarters of the way through a year that’s been busy and challenging for many, so think about what makes you feel happy and carve out some time doing this thing (or things).
You might call an old friend, go for a run, read a recommended book, organise a Sunday sleep-in, binge-watch a funny series, or buy yourself something you’ve been wanting for ages.
As spring continues, the days get longer, which (hopefully) means more time to do what you love. Support your family to do the same, and we hope the new season brings great things!
