It's Springtime!! Making the most of the Season
Spring brings lighter days, milder weather, and endless opportunities for outdoor learning. You could include:
- ideas for nature walks
- simple plant‑growing projects
- outdoor maths and mark‑making
- encouraging risk‑taking in safe, meaningful ways
Spotting signs of Spring: Supporting children’s curiosity
Spring is a wonderful time to help young children notice and talk about the changes happening around them. Simple experiences—such as spotting buds on trees, hearing birdsong, or feeling the weather warm up—play a powerful role in developing Understanding the World, one of the prime areas of learning in the EYFS.
For babies and toddlers (0–2), exploring spring is all about sensory experiences:
- feeling grass, petals, rain, or sunshine
- listening to birds or rustling leaves
- watching movement, colour, and light outdoors
These early encounters help children make sense of their environment and begin to notice patterns and changes.
For older toddlers and preschoolers (2–4), spring offers rich opportunities to build early scientific thinking:
- observing buds, blossom, and new leaves
- talking about baby animals (through books, small world, or real‑life encounters)
- noticing changes in weather, daylight, and temperature
- exploring textures, smells, and sounds outdoors
These experiences help children develop curiosity, vocabulary, and an understanding of growth, life cycles, and seasonal change.
Springtime exploration also strengthens communication and language, as children learn new words, describe what they see, and share their ideas with adults and peers. Whether it’s spotting a daffodil, hearing a bird sing, or jumping in a puddle, these small moments build the foundations for scientific understanding and a lifelong connection with the natural world.
Growing and gardening with children
Perfect for this time of year:
- planting seeds (cress, beans, sunflowers)
- caring for plants
- using gardening to teach responsibility and independence
- linking to stories like Jasper’s Beanstalk or The Tiny Seed
Spring book recommendations
The classics:
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar
- Jasper’s Beanstalk
- A Tadpole’s Promise
- The Tiny Seed – Eric Carle
A few others you may not be aware of….
Little Chick – Amy Hest
A sweet story about baby animals and springtime themes, ideal for supporting emotional literacy and early narrative skills.
When Will It Be Spring? – Catherine Walters
A lovely tale about noticing signs of spring, perfect for linking to outdoor exploration and seasonal change.
What the Ladybird Heard – Julia Donaldson
Not strictly a spring book, but brilliant for minibeast themes, sound play, and small‑world storytelling.
Splish, Splash, Ducky! – Lucy Cousins
Bright, bold, and perfect for exploring spring weather, puddles, and playful movement.
Spring (Four Seasons Series) – Ailie Busby
A simple, toddler‑friendly introduction to springtime activities, clothing, and weather.
A Little Guide to Spring – Gabby Dawnay
A beautifully illustrated nonfiction book introducing flowers, animals, and seasonal changes in an accessible way.
Tadpole to Frog (Life Cycles) – Camilla de la Bedoyere
A great early nonfiction choice for preschoolers learning about life cycles and pond creatures.
Luna Loves Gardening – Joseph Coelho & Fiona Lumbers
Luna and her family explore planting, growing, and caring for nature — perfect for spring gardening projects.
Rain! – Linda Ashman & Christian Robinson
A joyful story illustrated by Christian Robinson, featuring a young boy exploring a rainy spring day. Great for weather, puddles, and sensory play.
Thank You, Garden – Liz Garton Scanlon & Simone Shin
A beautifully illustrated book showing a diverse community tending a shared garden — ideal for spring planting themes.