The activities we can do with our little ones change along with the shifting of the seasons. The things you can do in summer aren’t necessarily going to be able to be done during winter, and vice versa. So, let’s briefly look at some season-specific activities you can do with your children, no matter the time of the year!
Spring
Spring is the time of growth – which makes it the perfect season to really get into teaching your little ones about nature. While spring can be prone to a lot of rain, it can also have some gloriously sunny days with mild temperatures – and this means that every time you head out, there is likely to be a lot of new growth to look at! These changes can be absolutely fascinating for smaller children, especially when it comes to new colourful flowers popping up. There are a variety of things you can do to make this even more fun for you and the kids. As well as having nature walks, try setting up a scavenger hunt. The things they’re hunting can be tailored to suit their ages, from spotting flowers in the colours of the rainbow, to identifying specific plants, to seeing how many different insect varieties you can find. You can even head out after it has rained to see the effect the water has on the plants and animals in the area. And if you don’t want your child’s shoes getting wet and mucky? Haakaa has some extremely handy shoe covers! Made of silicone, and with non-slip soles to help prevent falls, they just slip over your little one’s shoes – and they’re so easy to clean.
You don’t have to head out though, of course; getting into some gardening of your own might be more your style – and no, you don’t need a big backyard to have a go. Growing seedlings in pots is perfectly doable. Have a chat with your local garden centre, and they’ll be able to get you started with the right equipment and, more importantly, the right plants.
Finally, you can also bring nature into your art. Creating collages out of leaves, drying flowers, making pebble art…there are so many things you can do with some easy-to-collect materials in your natural environment – and you can do almost anything your imagination can dream up!
Summer
Summer is, in many ways, one of the easier times of year to head out – though it’s always good to be cautious about our intense summer sun and make sure everyone is well covered with light clothing, hats, sunglasses and, of course, regular coatings of 50+ SPF sunscreen. Once all of that is organised, the world is your oyster! Head out for some cooling time at the pool or beach (making sure to always keep your little ones actively supervised and within sight and reach at all times). A good way to stay cool on these sorts of outings is using the Haakaa Milk Storage Bags and Yummy Pouches. Because they’re silicone, they can go into the freezer. So what does this mean? That means their use isn’t just limited to being food & drink pouches! Even when your little ones are no longer quite so little, the pouches can still get great use by using them as ice packs to throw in your chilly bin to keep your food cold. Simply fill them with water (taking care not to exceed the ‘max’ line since the water will expand as it freezes), pop the stopper in, freeze them solid, and then pull them out whenever you need them. If you have a few spare, you can even use some as a cold pack, while the others are filled with foods and drinks for the kids. Pretty amazing right?
But maybe it’s too hot to be outside – in the middle of summer, when the heat is at its peak, it’s not uncommon for people to want to stay inside where it’s at least a little bit cooler. You can do different things, depending on your children's age. Reading challenges can be fun for the older ones and a great way to broaden their horizons without having to leave home. Set some goals, and come up with treats for hitting them. And remember, treats don’t have to be unhealthy lollies and the like – one idea can be having an evening where your child gets to pick dinner. A treat can be whatever you come up with between you. You might be quite surprised at the ideas your child dreams up!
Autumn
The time of transition, autumn is when the leaves begin to turn and the weather begins to cool again – so keeping this in mind can help shape some activity ideas for this time of year. All those leaves changing and falling are a great start, as there’s so much you can do with them. Make a leaf rubbing – simply pop a piece of paper over the top of a leaf (keeping the bumpy side of the leaf facing up), then gently rub a crayon over the top until the shape of the leaf shows through. To make this even more fun, you can try using the same piece of paper to make several leaf rubbings in different colours, and with different leaves, to create a collage. Alternatively, once the crayon is on, paint over it with watercolour paint – the wax will repel the paint, leaving it to soak in everywhere else.
Another leaf-based activity is to collect a range of shapes, sizes and colours, then glue them all down to make leaf animals – or any other image you want to make with them, really. You can even add other little touches, such as eyes or other decorations, using things you have around the house!
Winter
Did you know you don’t have to reserve picnics for only spring and summer? Winter picnics can be a great deal of fun. Pick a day that isn’t in too much danger of leaving you drenched in rain or snow, bundle up, and head out. Fill a flask with soup, wrap up some other warm foods, and head on out. Just make sure to take a waterproof picnic blanket with you, just in case the ground is still wet. Or, if it’s too cold and wet, have an indoor picnic! Indoor picnics have the advantage of allowing you to prepare a greater variety of food (since it doesn’t have to be kept warm or transported), and cleaning up is much easier. Even better, once the picnic and cleaning up are done, it’s just a few short steps to put your baby down for a nap.
An alternative is baking together – especially good for the slightly older children. There are even no-bake options available if you’d prefer to make something without having to worry about your little ones around the heat of the oven or cooktop. Having a hunt around for something that matches your culinary wishes is bound to turn up something, with the huge amount of recipe websites and blogs that exist out there for you to experiment with!
These are just a few ideas, and not all of them are required to be done in the season they’re listed under. It really depends on your location, your needs and wants, and just generally what the weather is doing in your area on any given day. Use this as a starting point, and let yourself dream up a whole new stack of fun activities to do with your children!