Hunt for Signs that Spring Is Coming

The first official day of spring is March 20th, but the effects of warmer weather and brighter days occur all month long. Go outside and hunt for signs of spring as part of your daily Green Hour this month. Here are some "spring things" to look and listen for: budding trees and flowers, spring peepers singing, crocuses, daffodils, newly arriving bird species, nest building, caterpillars, ducks flying overhead, rainy days, worms on the sidewalk, baby animals, people cleaning their yards, forsythia, magnolias, windy days, songbirds singing, blooming fruit trees, butterflies, people not wearing jackets.

What other signs can you find?

Explain to your child why "spring has sprung." You can say that at this time of year, our part of the planet tilts toward the Sun. This makes the day longer and the sunlight stronger. Ask your child how this increase in direct sunlight creates what we call spring. (The temperature grows warmer. Plants begin to grow and dress the outdoors in shades of green. Many animals have babies at this time of year, which means the young can grow up when there's a plentiful food suplly and the weather is less harsh.)

You see spring changes outside. Lots of people feel seasonal changes, too. Ask your child if his or her mood is different in spring. If so, how and why? On a warm, sunny day, ask your child to describe what spring smells like.