Springing Into Spring: A Fresh Start for the Season Ahead
By: Ali Berg, Conestoga SSW Placement Student
The end is in sight! Soon enough the sun will be shining, the snow will be melting, and the birds will be singing, spring is just around the corner. Winter can be a hard time for everyone, it’s dark, it’s cold, not to mention the constant shoveling. We’re all excited for another long winter to be past us.
Which is why those of us at Keep Your Head Up are excited to share some fun springtime activities! Some things to get you back into the groove of not being snowed in.
Activity 1: Get Outside for a Walk
Taking some time outside in the fresh air is a real palate cleanser for your mind. Listen to some music, your favourite podcast, or just listen to the sounds of nature around you. Walking has been shown to boost your mental health, improve your immune system, and supports better sleep.
Activity 2: Decorate with the Sun
Here’s an easy, fun craft activity you can do solo or as a family! To start, you’ll need to gather up some materials.
Metal lids, could come from empty jars like soup cans, pickle jars, and sauces
Sharpie
A nail or other slim pointed opject
A hammer.
A piece of string
Start by deciding on what design you want, could be something simple like a star or heart, or something more abstract like a flower or animal. Trace out the design with the sharpie, using dots where you want to poke through the metal. Then, using your nail and hammer, lightly tap through the lid to create a small hole, do this around the lid until you have your design. Poke a hole near the edge of the lid and tie a string around it. This can be nice to hang in your window so the sun can come through it to make outlines in the light. This is a very fun activity to do with recycled metal lids, so it’s not a huge expense and it’s a great way to do something fun with older kids.
Activity 3: Have a Picnic
Picnics aren’t just for Saturday morning cartoon characters, you can have them too! Pack a bag with sandwiches, thermoses of soup, some tasty drinks, and a blanket to sit on and enjoy the sunshine at your local park! Bring your friends and family, bring your pet, or bring a book and enjoy the beautiful outdoors with a packed lunch!
Activity 4: Make a Bird Feeder
Make your balcony or backyard a haven for local wildlife by setting up a bird feeder. Making your own bird feeder is an easy and fun way to get into the swing of spring.
Ingredients:
2 cups quick cooking oats
2 cups cornmeal
1 cup lard (Not bacon grease)
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
Some bird feed mix.
Instructions:
Melt the peanut butter and lard together until smooth. You can do this on the stove or in the microwave
Mix in the dry ingredients
Shape the suet into the needed dimensions. You can put it into a cake pan and cut it into squares as needed or you can make a ball of it around some twine and tie it directly to the tree.
Freeze any extra for later use.
Site here
We hope that you find as much joy out of these fun springtime activities as we do! Take the time to enjoy the warmer weather, look at the beautiful returning wildlife, spend some time with friends and family, and enjoy yourself!