School holidays don’t need to be packed with outings. Spring gives children plenty to explore – especially when we slow down and notice it!
Why not use this school holiday period to create a Spring Wonder Project! It all begins with something that catches a child’s attention: a snail, a windy tree, a flower or a bird call. Pause and see where their curiosity leads…
Take a closer look. Ask what they have noticed. Come back another day and see what has changed.
It gives you an easy idea to return to throughout the holidays, without having to plan a new activity every day.
This idea can work for families at home, or at early learning services too!
Start with a Spring Wonder Walk
Let Spring do some of the holiday planning for you! Head outside and see what you find!
You do not need to go anywhere special. Walk around the block, visit a local park or spend some time in the garden.
Let your child set the pace and choose what they want to look at more closely. You might ask, “What can you see?” or “Has anything changed since last time?”
Keep it relaxed. If their attention moves on, move with it. Even a short walk can uncover something worth coming back to later.
Bring it into music and movement
Spring is also full of sounds and movement.
Birds call, leaves rustle, insects buzz and rain taps on different surfaces. Invite children to copy a sound with their voice, tap its rhythm on their knees or show with their body how it moves.
A bird call can become a simple call-and-response song. A flower opening can inspire a slow stretch from a curled-up shape to standing tall. A gust of wind might become fast turns, wide arms and a dramatic landing.
This is an easy way to bring the Bonkers Beat approach into an ordinary holiday moment. Music and movement help children revisit what they noticed and express ideas they may not yet have words for.
Keep a simple record
Fold a few pages into a spring wonder book.
Add a drawing, photo, leaf rubbing, funny comment or question from the day. Let it be messy and child-led.
Older children might write or take photos, while younger children can choose colours, make marks or demonstrate how something moved.
Return to the same place and look for changes. A bud may have opened, a puddle disappeared or the ants chosen another path. Familiar places make it easier to notice small details, and they remove the pressure to keep planning new destinations.
Keep it simple and fun
The project might become a morning walk, a song after lunch or five quiet minutes with the wonder book. It does not need to happen every day or follow a set plan.
Outdoor play gives children space to explore, move and unwind, and time in natural environments can help children relax and feel calm.
Start with one small wonder and let them show you where it leads!
For more school holiday craft, music, movement and wellbeing activities, the Bonkers Beat shop has you covered!
