The crocuses are popping up, the birds are chirping, and the trees are budding out—your daughter sees the first signs of spring! For young children, these telltale clues that the seasons are changing are fun to discover and are full of sensory experiences. What does a bouquet of spring blooms smell like? How big of a splash can I make jumping into this puddle? What are the animals doing as they come out from their winter hiding spots?
These changes are exciting to behold, and a garden is a perfect setting to share such a stimulating sensory experience with your daughter! Big or small, flower or vegetable, in a yard or a park, any garden will offer plenty of nooks and crannies to explore a wide variety of colors, textures, sounds, and smells. A garden is also often a child’s first “scientific” experience, where she can observe nature up close and find new and interesting things to examine. Talk with your daughter about the things she experiences and finds—it will build her observation muscles and encourage her to appreciate the wonder of the natural world around her.
Exploring at the park or in the garden is through a scavenger hunt. Roll up your sleeves and get ready to explore with your daughter by finding these things in the garden—you may even find other unexpected things that add to the fun!
