Warmer weather is finally here which means more opportunities to spend an enjoyable time outdoors. What are some of your favorite warm weather activities? I personally enjoy going for a hike in the woods or walking through a park and watching as plants bloom and change. For me, both of these activities are enjoyable and low-cost. Spending time with family does not have to come with a high price tag; there are many low-cost ways to have fun without breaking the bank. If you need some inspiration, look through the list below. You may find a few new activities that are fun for all!

1. Foster kids’ creativity by drawing with chalk outside on the sidewalk.
2. Go on a nature walk. Collect things as you find them, like a neat leaf, stick or rock. When you get home, take a closer look at all the unique things you found.
3. Make a weather calendar to help kids see that no two days are exactly alike.
4. Go on a rock hunt. Collect rocks of different shapes and sizes then play games, sorting the rocks by size or color. Rinse the rocks and have fun painting them.
5. Meet friends at a local park or go outside and look at the shapes in the clouds.
6. Make nature drawings. Go for a walk and find objects in nature that can make color. Rub leaves, grass, mud or flowers on paper to create unique artwork!
7. Try out backyard camping and stargazing.
8. Go to an orchard to pick your own fruit or visit a local farmer’s market.
9. Make nature prints by painting a leaf or the petals of a flower and gently ‘stamping’ the leaf or flower onto a piece of paper.
10. Plant a window herb garden.

Looking for fun indoor activities that do not involve screens? The activities below encourage creativity and relationship building, so keep these ideas in mind for a rainy day.

1. Play shopkeeper. Save and clean out empty food boxes and cans. Use play money and calculators to set up a pretend store.
2. Make a memory book. Record dates, photos and special events as you go.
3. Make puppets with clip clothespins or paper bags. Read a story and let the kids make characters from the story.
4. Make one night a week ‘Family Fun Night’ where the kids get to choose the dinner menu and theme.
5. Go see a matinee or drive-in movie, or watch a family movie.
6. Read one chapter of a book a day aloud or read a whole series of books together.
7. Master a new skill together.
8. Build a fort using blankets, cardboard boxes and pillows.
9. Create a treasure hunt.
10. Bake or cook something for a neighbor.

Spring is a great time to start making plans for summer. Being proactive can save time and money, whether that means early registration for summer programs or booking a vacation. Wherever the warmer months take you, just remember to spend some time relaxing and having fun!

Sara Meeks is an OSU Extension Family & Consumer Sciences Program Assistant and may be reached at 330-264-8722.

CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis. For more information, visit cfaesdiversity.osu.edu.