4 Easy Spring Learning Activities Your Toddler Will Love
Spring is the perfect time to refresh your routine with hands-on activities that celebrate the season of growth. In this post, Iām sharing four easy spring learning activities for toddlers and preschoolers that cover multiple subjects in a playful, low-prep way. Your child will explore planting seeds and learning the parts of a plant for science, enjoy a spring-themed read aloud to build early literacy, practice counting caterpillar segments for early math skills, and get creative with a colorful rock painting art activity. These spring learning activities are perfect for adding seasonal fun to your routine while helping your child build foundational skills through play. š
Science: Planting Seeds & Knowing Their Parts
This lesson is what started our introduction into spring learning, and I have never seen my son so excited to reference a lesson before!
We started with a GLAD strategy I used a ton as a teacher: making a pictorial. What that essentially means is I drew this diagram in front of him, talking through the different things I was drawing and having the picture develop as we went. We labeled the different parts of the plant, the things they need to survive, and then we put our knowledge into practice!
I gathered our materials: a seedling tray, beans, and some soil. My son put everything together and we referenced our drawing to remind ourselves to give them lots of sunlight and water. After just a few days (make sure to pick a quick-sprouting seed!) we had our first sprout!
My son has ADORED checking in on his ever-growing beans. He is so proud of their growth and wants to show them to anyone who comes over! Plus, he is already using some of those scientific vocabulary words we learned in our pictorial.
The best science lessons are ones that invite a natural excitement, and this spring science lesson was a superb example of that š±
Reading: We are the Gardeners
A good book is one of the easiest ways to tie in content areas, and this one is packed full of plant-science, beautiful illustrations, and meaningful messages!
We are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines is told through the lens of her children, and their humble beginnings in gardening. Throughout the whole story it talks about the different things they learn about caring for plants, while interweaving important life lessons into those moments.
From talking about what to do when goats eat your veggies, to relaying the importance of getting back up when life knocks you down, this book is a perfect read aloud for spring!
Math: Counting Caterpillars
With flowers blooming comes all of the lovely critters who enjoy munching on them, like these pesky finger-painted caterpillars!
This super simple math and art activity got my toddler talking about numbers and our springtime friends. We counted as we worked, and have been using our finished product as a resource to practice our cardinality. The best part? It only took me a few minutes to set up for an afternoon of counting caterpillars. š Here’s everything I did to set it up:
- Gathered materials – paint, paper, and a marker.
- Label your numbers – I labeled 1-10, but if your child is ready to move on to bigger numbers, then feel free!
- Add your caterpillar faces – You could have your littles help pick the expressions.
- Show an example – I used the number one to show my toddler how they would fingerpaint each dot to represent the number.
Art: Garden Decorations
Rock painting is a great way to decorate your garden with your child’s artwork this spring! You only need a few items to really make them last and you’ll have an awesome activity and decoration on your hands. Here’s all you’ll need:
- Large Rocks
- Paints + Brushes
- Mod Podge or Sealant Spray
- Some toddler creativity! šØ
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Final Thoughts
Spring is a wonderful time to slow down, get outside, and let learning feel a little more playful. These simple spring learning activities are a great way to explore science, practice early math skills, encourage creativity, and enjoy meaningful learning moments together. I hope these ideas help you add a little seasonal fun to your learning time!
ā¤ļø Until next time
