Fun Freetime: 8 Springtime Traditions to Start with the Famil

Growing up, you probably had some springtime traditions of your own. Now that you have a growing family, you want to start your own traditions for your kids to pass down to their children and so on. As Easter gets closer, here are some springtime traditions you can start with your family.
Spring Cleaning
Create a spring cleaning tradition! Each year, you’ll have things that you no longer use or, in the case of clothes, no longer fit. Since a large part of the Easter holiday is about giving, have the kiddos help you sort your items into donation piles and then have them go with you to drop off the items! Find a local non-profit, such as a homeless shelter or even your local Social Services department, to donate the items to. The items will go directly to people in need.

Get Crafty
Easter is a great time to work on crafts! There are so many things you can do:
Tie-Dye: Tie-dyeing is a great spring activity! The weather starts getting warm enough to sit outside. Enjoy the fresh air and bright sunlight by creating an outdoor workspace to tie-dye some garments! Place a tarp down on the ground so that you don’t stain anything with dye. Choose different types of garments: hats, t-shirts or even shoes. Choose bright pastels and have lots of rubber bands on hand! You can create many different types of patterns to create unique garments.
Dye Eggs: Is it really Easter if you don’t dye some eggs? There are many ways to do it. Traditionally, you dye eggs with vinegar and food coloring. You can find a variety of other options to create unique patterns, including using tissue paper cut into stencils, natural juice from plants, and string! Unsure which technique you want to try? Try them all!
Easter Ornaments: Not a fan of dyeing eggs? Make them in other ways! Shape some salt dough, clay or felt into eggs and let the kids decorate to their desires. You can pick all different colors and patterns. Looking for something a little more intricate? Try creating stained glass Easter ornaments, which use liquid ink and glass bulbs to create a stained glass effect.
Easter Baskets: You’re going to need something to put those dyed eggs in! You can create your own Easter baskets by using recycled materials, including cardboard and plastic bags. Or, you can select from a variety of adorable Easter baskets with a personalized touch for your little ones!
Easter Tree: You’ve heard of the Christmas Tree, but what about the Easter Tree? You can use a small Christmas tree or create one of your own using household materials and then hang those Easter ornaments on it. It’s a great way to have a place to put your Easter basket gifts under. Bonus points if you get a pastel-colored Christmas tree when they go on sale after Christmas.
Have an Egg Hunt

Have a large yard? Create an Easter Egg Hunt for your kids! Make it even more interesting by having mom and dad participate, too! Invite over family, friends and neighbors to increase the competition. Plus, you can show off your personalized garden flags while you’re at it! Make sure to have an award basket on hand for the person who collects the most eggs.
Plant a Garden
You can’t enjoy Easter without having flowers and greenery around! Get the kids involved with planting flowers by having them help you pick the seeds out and then have them help you select vegetables to plant. It’s important for them to be involved because they get to learn about the benefits of different plants and vegetables! Make sure to get them their own tools, too.
Go on a Hike

Nothing gets you closer to nature than a hike! Find a local trail, or visit somewhere new, and go on a family hike. Bonus points if it’s at a campground. Take a weekend in the spring to explore the nature around you. If you live in the city, plan a small vacation to the countryside. You don’t have to go far! The kids will love having something fun and different to do. You can make mud pies, learn about different flowers native to the area and stargaze!
Read Easter Books
There are tons of Easter-themed children’s books out there. Start a tradition where you read a couple of Easter books the night before Easter. You can find some for all different ages, and most of the children’s books center around different types of animals. Ask your kids what their favorite animal is and then go find an Easter book about it! They have bright, fun illustrations, so the kids will be entertained through the whole story.
Visit the Easter Bunny
You can’t have Easter without the Easter Bunny! Enjoy a fun trip to the nearest Easter Bunny location and make sure the kids pose for a picture. Want to make the picture cute-as-a-button? Dress the kids up in bunny costumes, too! Everyone will love their matching costumes, making a perfect photo-op for Easter cards to send to your family and friends. Deck yourself out in some bunny ears and paint a bunny nose on yourself, too, and make it a family affair!
Have an Easter Dinner
Plan out an Easter feast well in advance. Think about recipes you can have the kids assist with, like cookies and sides. They can help crack eggs, mix ingredients or put spices on things. They can even help you arrange items on plates! After a couple of years, they’ll get the hint that it’s their job to put the deviled eggs on the plate–and you won’t even have to remind them to do it!

Even if you’ve never really celebrated Easter before, there are tons of things you can do to create some Spring traditions that your family will love. Focus on the bunnies and you’ll be good to go!