SEASONAL ACTIVITIES

Childhood is all about celebrating

Engaging in seasonal activities with your toddler brings joy to daily routines. Create handprint art in autumn, make popsicles in summer, decorate cookies for the holidays, or plant seeds in spring. These activities spark creativity, develop fine motor skills, and teach about the world. Embrace the season, make memories, and watch your little one’s eyes light up!

Seasonal FUN for You and Your KIDS:

New Year’s:

• Time Capsule: Craft a New Year’s time capsule to capture precious memories and milestones
• Toddler Activities: Encourage your toddler to draw pictures or write down their favorite moments from the past year
• Special Box: Tuck the memories away in a special box to be opened the following New Year’s Eve

Winter:

Snowman Building: Build a snowman together in the yard or craft an indoor snowman using cotton balls or paper if there’s no snow
Sensory Play: Fill a large container with fake snow for winter-themed sensory play
Story Time: Cozy up with hot cocoa and read winter-themed storybooks by the fireplace

Valentine’s Day:

Heart Crafts: Make heart-shaped crafts, such as handprint hearts or decorated cards for family members
Baking: Bake heart-shaped cookies together and share them with neighbors or friends
Dance Party: Have a mini dance party, teaching your toddler sweet dance moves to express their joy and love

St. Patrick’s Day:

Treasure Hunt: Engage in a treasure hunt to find a “pot of gold” (chocolate coins or treats) hidden around the house or yard
Crafts: Make leprechaun hats or rainbow windsocks
Cooking: Prepare a traditional Irish meal together, like simple Irish soda bread or potato dishes

Easter:

Egg Hunt: Organize a colorful Easter egg hunt in your backyard
Egg Painting: Use natural dyes to paint hard-boiled eggs together
Gardening: Plant seeds or flowers in pots and watch them grow over the coming weeks
Art: Create Easter-themed art by using pastel colors to paint or draw bunnies, chicks, and Easter baskets

Spring:

Nature Walk: Take your toddler on a nature walk to observe blossoming flowers and listen to birds chirping
Bird Feeder: Create a DIY bird feeder and hang it in your garden
Gardening: Engage in messy play by planting flowers or vegetables in the garden

Mother’s Day:

Handmade Gifts: Help your toddler create a heartfelt handmade gift, such as a handprint bouquet or a personalized photo frame
Pampering: Spend the day pampering mom with a special breakfast in bed or a relaxing picnic in the park

Father’s Day:

Outdoor Adventure: Plan an outdoor adventure like a fishing trip, a hike, or a playful day at the park
Superhero Craft: Encourage your toddler to create a “superhero” craft that represents dad’s unique qualities
DIY Projects: Work on a project together, like building a birdhouse or a small DIY car model

Patriotic:

Crafts: Make American flag decorations or festive wind streamers
Picnic/Barbecue: Host a family picnic or barbecue with classic patriotic dishes
Education: Teach your toddler about the importance of national holidays and the values they represent

Summer:

Backyard Camping: Plan a backyard camping trip with stargazing and s’mores
Water Play: Organize a water play day with sprinklers, water balloons, and water toys
Science Experiments: Explore simple science experiments, like making homemade ice cream or creating colorful eruptions with baking soda and vinegar

Halloween:

Costumes: Dress up in fun costumes and have a mini costume parade at home
Pumpkin Decorating: Carve or decorate pumpkins together, using safe tools and plenty of imagination
Storytelling: Engage in “not-so-scary” storytelling sessions with age-appropriate ghost stories or create a Halloween-themed puppet show

Thanksgiving:

Gratitude Crafts: Make a thankful tree with leaves listing things your child is grateful for
Meal Preparation: Involve your toddler in the kitchen by assisting in simple meal preparation
Charitable Activity: Emphasize the importance of giving back by participating in a charitable activity, like donating food to a local shelter

Fall:

Nature Scavenger Hunt: Go on a nature scavenger hunt, collecting fallen leaves, acorns, and pinecones
Leaf Crafts: Create leaf rubbings or make collages with the collected treasures
Baking: Bake fall-themed treats, like apple pie or pumpkin muffins, and enjoy the comforting aromas

Christmas:

Tree Decorating: Decorate the Christmas tree as a family and make ornaments using salt dough or other craft materials
Letters to Santa: Write letters to Santa together and leave out milk and cookies on Christmas Eve
Holiday Events: Attend local holiday events or drive around the neighborhood to see Christmas lights displays