The sun is shining, the temps are above freezing; the snow is melting! Spring is finally here!!! Well…almost.
With our unpredictable weather here in Minnesota, we’re never really in the clear that it’s officially Spring until probably mid-April/beginning of May. Ok, if we’re being really honest, the 2nd week of May. Inevitably, we will get a cold snap or a couple more snow dumps before winter finally gives up and leaves us alone until October.
However, that does not stop us from getting super excited that the signs of spring are coming. Am I the only one who notices suddenly that a few birds have returned, watches eagerly for the first robin sighting, relishes seeing the grass after the snow melts, and inevitably sunburns her face because she forgot to put sunscreen on and was outside all afternoon? No? Just me?? Ok. I just desperately want winter to be over, and for it to be SPRING ALREADY!
However, in this weird middle season–not quite done with winter, and not fully spring–there are still a lot of things to do and enjoy. Here are 10 ways to make the most of this in-between season.
- Get out the bikes. As soon as the snow melts off the sidewalks, get out the bikes. Let the kids tear around on their bikes with all that energy they have pent-up from the long winter. It’s still cold out, so make sure to put a thin hat on under their helmet to keep little ears warm, and add a neck warmer so the cold wind doesn’t give them a scratchy throat. Encourage them to ride through puddles, and make water tracks up and down the sidewalk.
- Puddle jumping! As the snow melts, there is running water and puddles everywhere. Embrace the mess by putting your kids in their boots (and snow pants, if needed), and letting them jump to their hearts’ content. Puddle jumping is a great way to burn off energy, and is one of the joys of childhood– no matter what age!
- Build boats, and send them down the rivers in the gutters. As a kid, this was one of my favorite activities to do during the spring melt, and my boys love it too. Build a simple boat out of recyclables, and float them down the streams that form from the snow melt in the gutters on the side of the road. Chase it to the bottom of the hill, then bring it up to the top and do it again! (Notes: Do not let boats go into storm drains. As always, children should be supervised near any roads).
- Break out the sidewalk chalk and bubbles! As soon as the driveway or sidewalk has some big dry patches, get out the sidewalk chalk and cover it with doodles and drawings in chalk. Bubbles are a blast anytime, and it’s such a fun way for kids to get excited about the changing season.
- Switch up your décor. Put away the last of your winter decorations. Get out your spring decorations. Put out some daffodils or tulips (Trader Joe’s is a great place to pick up fresh spring flowers). Make some spring-themed window decorations with the kids.
- Go through everyone’s clothes. Now, in the in-between time, is a good time to locate the warm-weather clothes, take inventory of what fits and what doesn’t. The up and down weather in Minnesota means that after a stretch of temps in the 30s, it will suddenly be 70 and the kids will need their shorts. Make sure everyone has rainboots and rain coats that fit. Need some great rainboots that won’t break the bank? We love LoneCone boots.
- Stock up on sunscreen. As mentioned in the intro, springtime sunburns can happen quickly. Be prepared, and make sure you have sunscreen on hand (and on everyone’s faces) now.
- Do those annoying springtime chores now, so when it’s really nice out, you can enjoy it more. Take down the Christmas lights, if you haven’t already. Pick up the dog poop in the yard while it’s still frozen and relatively easy to scoop. Sweep the sand out of the garage and off the front steps, sidewalk, and driveway. Shake out the rugs.
- Have a firepit? Make a bonfire! Find all of the 73,874 pieces of paper that the kids have dragged home and accumulated from school, preschool, or daycare. Scoop together all of the junk mail. Gather all of the cardboard or paper grocery bags. Collect dead sticks that fell off the trees over the winter. Make a bonfire, and celebrate cleaning the junk paper out of the house (and out of your drawers/kitchen counter!) by roasting marshmallows and making smores.
- Hike! Put on boots, and go hiking on one of the many trails in and around Rochester. Quarry Hill and Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo are great places to go hiking year-round. The trails are maintained and are a great way to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors, no matter the season.
What are your favorite ways to enjoy the in-between season? Add them in the comments!
