By: The Hood Magazine

 You did it! You survived the winter months. Congratulations! After all, being house confined with a rambunctious toddler is no easy feat.  

But now, the birds are singing and that glorious sun feels oh-so-good, so you know what that means…let’s get outside! 

 If you have some little hands to keep busy, here are some fun ideas to try this spring. 

Paint all the things!  

Ok, not really paint but rather pretend. Grab some cheap brushes and a bucket of water and let them “paint” on a fence or side of the house. 

Get planting!  

Take a trip to a nursery or garden center and let your toddler pick out some flowers or vegetables. Using a pot or even a plastic tote will work great to make a mini flower or vegetable garden. This is such a fun way to play in the dirt and teach some basic responsibility of tending to plants.  

Dig for seashells!  

In South Dakota, we may not have much access to sandy beaches, but that doesn’t mean we can’t create the fun of searching for shells! To get started, fill a plastic tote with a bag of play sand and add some seashells (you can find these at any craft store). Then, have your child dig through the sand and find the shells! You can also have a bucket of water and some small craft paintbrushes nearby for them to “clean” and polish their favorite finds.