Spring often arrives on the calendar before it arrives outside, which, let’s face it, is very March in Minnesota. There may still be snow on the ground today, but warmer days are coming, and it’s never too early to start planning! Some of these activities are ready to try right now, and others are worth saving for when the snow melts.
You don’t need a yard, special supplies, or a lot of time. A walk to the park, a cup of soil on a windowsill, or a patch of sidewalk is enough to get started.
Learning happens in everyday moments. The activities below are organized by age so that every family can find something that fits their curious kids best!
Ages 0–2 — The Five Senses
Spring is a sensory experience for babies and toddlers. Learning at this age happens through touch, sound, smell, and movement. A short walk outside is just the thing. When you’re right there with them, talking through every little discovery, a walk around the block can be chock-full of magic.
Feel the change.
Step outside and notice the shift from warm inside to cool outside. Let your toddler step on different surfaces and touch them with their hands — concrete, a patch of dirt, a wet mat outside a door. “How does that feel? Is it soft? Hard? This is cold. Brr!”
Listen for water.
Melting snow drips from rooftops and runs along curbs. Stop and listen together. “Do you hear that? That’s water moving.” Drop a small stick into the stream and watch it go.
New, spring smells.
Early spring has a smell all its own — wet pavement, damp soil, fresh cold air. Breathe it in together and talk about what you notice. Is there any difference between an old clump of leaves and a new, fresh flower poking its head out?
Feel the sun.
Even a pale March sun can feel warm on your face. Stop in a sunny spot and notice it together. “Do you feel that warmth? That’s the sun.”
Listen for birds.
Pause, go quiet, and listen. Birdsong naturally captures young children’s attention, even in the middle of a city. What are the differences of one bird’s song to another’s? Moments like these build early listening skills that support language and reading.
Touch something new.
A smooth rock, a patch of bark, a fence post, a budding branch. Let your toddler explore with their hands while you stay close. Talk about what they find: “That’s rough. That’s heavy. That’s soft.” Little moments of curiosity add up to big ideas and thoughtful connections as children grow.
Why it matters.
When children explore the world with their senses, their brains are hard at work. Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child has found that more than one million new neural connections form every second in a child’s early years. The experiences children have — and the conversations they share with caregivers — directly shape how those connections grow. In other words, a walk outside is not just fresh air. It’s brain-building.
Ages 3–5 — Explore Your World
Preschoolers are natural scientists. They ask questions, test ideas, and learn by doing. Early spring, even snowy spring, gives them lots to explore.
Play in the snow while it lasts.
Build something! Smash something! Make tracks and follow them! Snow is one of the best sensory materials there is, and it won’t be here much longer.
Go on a color hunt.
Before you head out, draw a simple chart with colored squares. Think Bingo card, but with colors instead of numbers. Red, yellow, green, brown, black, white, orange, blue, and more. Then head to your neighborhood park or walk around your block. Look for early signs of spring hiding under or beside the snow — a green bud, a branch with a hint of color, a patch of mud at the edge of a snowbank. See how many colors you can check off on your chart.
Plant something on the windowsill.
A seed in a paper cup can grow right now. Let your child fill it with soil, press in the seed, and water it. Set it in a sunny window and check it each day. Ask: “What does it need to grow?” Move it outside when the weather warms. Hennepin County Library offers free seed libraries at several branches (Eden Prairie, Hosmer, Nokomis, and St. Louis Park). Pick up seeds for your little gardeners and get started today.
Tip: Follow your child’s lead.
If they stop to study a patch of ice or a melting puddle, let them. These little moments are full of learning.
Ages 6–8 — Move + Build
Kids this age want to try, build, and test ideas. These activities keep them active and engaged, with or without snow on the ground.
Build a sidewalk obstacle course.
Use chalk to draw lines to balance on, circles to hop between, and boxes to jump over. Let your child design the course, time their runs, and redesign it again and again. Stay nearby to cheer them on and help them think through the next version. This activity builds balance and control, problem-solving, and creativity.
Try a neighborhood scavenger hunt.
Make a list together before you head out — something smooth, something with wings, something that smells, something smaller than your thumbnail, something that was not there in winter. Walk together and see what you find. Minneapolis Parks & Recreation maintains free parks and trails across the city, many within easy reach for families on the north and south sides of the Twin Cities.
Watch the weather.
Sit by a window or head outside to a nearby bench and watch the clouds float by. Name the shapes, then look up what different cloud types mean — the National Weather Service has a simple visual guide. Check the sky over the next few days and compare what you saw from one day to the next. Who knows what your weather detectives will notice next?
Why it matters.
Active outdoor play builds confidence and curiosity, which are skills that carry into the classroom and beyond.
Coming Soon — More Spring Activities for Kids
As the snow melts and the ground softens, more activities open up. If the forecast holds, puddle jumping may be on the agenda as early as this weekend (we hope)! Mud kitchens and container gardening are not far behind. These activities are all simple, hands-on, and definitely worth the mess.
Free Destinations and Activities for Twin Cities Families
Spring is a great time to explore what your community already offers. Here are some free and favorite Twin Cities destinations that are wonderful for young families and people of all ages.
- Como Park Zoo & Conservatory (Saint Paul) — Free admission, free parking, open 365 days a year. The zoo and the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory are both free; a voluntary donation is appreciated. — comozooconservatory.org
- Minneapolis Sculpture Garden — Free and open daily from 6 a.m. to midnight. Eleven acres of outdoor art, including the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry. Located right in the heart of Minneapolis, it’s the perfect place for a spring walk. — walkerart.org
- Stone Arch Bridge & Mississippi Riverfront (Minneapolis) — A flat, paved trail along the river with views of St. Anthony Falls and the downtown skyline. Free, stroller-friendly, and beautiful as the ice begins to break. — minneapolisparks.org
- Minneapolis Parks & Recreation — Neighborhood parks across the city offer free green space, playgrounds, and walking paths close to home. — minneapolisparks.org
A Note for All Ages — Talk While You Play
Conversation is one of the most powerful learning tools a caregiver has. Narrate what you see. Ask open-ended questions. Wonder out loud. These everyday moments are where learning lives. The language, confidence, and curiosity children build now will stay with them for years to come.
Way to Grow’s Family Educators support families in these moments every day, through home visits from pregnancy through third grade. If you are looking for a trusted partner in your child’s early learning journey, we would love to connect.
Spring is here, so step outside and enjoy!
