Once spring arrives and the days start stretching longer, it’s tempting for little hands to reach for screens during every spare moment. But this season is the perfect opportunity to get outside, get messy, and get creative— no charging cable required. Whether you’re navigating spring break, a rainy day, or a simple afternoon at home, these screen free activities are designed to spark your child’s imagination and encourage hands-on fun.
From backyard discoveries to kitchen-table crafts, here are 15 easy ways to turn “I’m bored” into “Look what I made!”
Keep scrolling for 15 Screen Free Activities to Spark Kids Creativity This Spring.
Flower Petal Art
Go on a nature walk to collect fallen petals and leaves (or use silk flowers from the craft store) and let your child glue them to paper to make their own spring collages, mandalas, or fairies.
DIY Nature Paintbrushes
Grab some sticks, leaves, pine needles, and flower petals from the yard and help your child create their own custom paintbrushes. Tie nature items to the end of a stick with rubber bands or twine, then dip them in washable paint and experiment with the different textures and strokes they make.
Cardboard Creations
Never underestimate the power of a cardboard box. Turn one into a castle, spaceship, dollhouse, or robot suit with a little paint, tape, and imagination. Bonus: It’s a great way to upcycle those delivery boxes.
Story Stones
Paint simple pictures on rocks—like a rainbow, a cat, a tree, or a crown—then toss them into a bag and let your child pull out a few to inspire a story. It’s an easy way to combine art and storytelling.
Mud Kitchen Magic
No need for a Pinterest perfect setup— just a plastic tub, some old bowls and spoons, and an open patch of dirt will do! Encourage your child to “cook” with natural ingredients like leaves, flowers, sticks, and (of course) mud. Add food coloring or water for extra fun.
Spring Sensory Bin
Fill a bin with dried rice, scoops, and springy objects like plastic bugs, silk flowers, and mini animals. Let kids dig, pour, sort, and explore— it’s play that engages multiple senses at once.
Build a Fairy Garden
Using flowerpots, old containers, or a corner of the yard, help your child create a magical garden with rocks, moss, twigs, and tiny figurines. Add in a mini mailbox or hand-painted signs for the fairies.
Paint Acorns for Earth Day
Or any day, really! The Acorns Project Paint Kit ($27) is a meaningful art activity to celebrate Earth Day or simply reconnect with nature this spring. Kids can paint the wooden acorns using the included paints, brushes, and palette— then head outside to find more, gift them to loved ones, or keep them as their new favorite trinkets!
Egg Carton Crafts
Don’t toss that empty egg carton! Cut it up and turn it into springy critters like caterpillars, bunnies, or ladybugs with some googly eyes, paint, and pipe cleaners.
Make a Wind Spinner
Cut the bottom off a clear plastic bottle, then cut the sides into long strips and twist them into spirals. Decorate with paint or stickers, then hang it outside and watch it twirl in the spring breeze.
Paint with Ice Cubes
Mix water with washable paint and freeze in an ice tray with popsicle sticks. On a warm day, take the cubes outside and let your little artist paint as the ice melts. It’s a cool twist on traditional painting—literally!
Colorful Bubble Painting
Mix a little watercolor or food coloring into bubble solution, then blow bubbles onto thick paper. As they pop, they leave behind bursts of color! It’s part science, part art, and totally mesmerizing.
Backyard Treasure Hunt
Make a list of spring items to search for (a butterfly, a yellow flower, something fuzzy, etc.), then hand your child a clipboard and crayons to draw what they find. Instant nature journaling!
Host a Pretend Campout
Grab the picnic blanket and set up a tent! The KiwiCo Camping Adventure Kit encourages pretend play by building a kid-safe campfire that really glows and roasting felt marshmallows over the “flames!”
Tape Resist Art
Stick painter’s tape onto paper in random patterns or shapes, then let kids paint all over it. Once the paint dries, peel the tape to reveal cool negative space designs. It’s a satisfying craft with a wow factor!
The best part about spring creativity? You don’t need fancy supplies or a trip to the museum— just a little imagination, a few simple materials, and a willingness to embrace the mess. Whether your child is a budding artist, a nature explorer, or a quiet gift giver, these screen free activities offer endless opportunities to connect with creativity, each other, and the beauty of the outdoors!
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