Spring Activities That Encourage Faith in Your Grandchildren

Written by Deb del Villar, Director of Communications

Spring is a time of fresh air, birds chirping, robins hopping, butterflies fluttering, cool mornings, and evenings with warm sunshine sandwiched in between.

As the weather warms, it speaks of getting outside to enjoy God’s creation, while the rain falling turns our hearts to refreshing the ground as well as our spirits. All is coming back to life from the dark, cold days of winter. Somehow, even the air seems fresh and new.

Spring can spring upon us and bound away into the hot, muggy days of summer in a flash. As grandparents, we understand how fast time goes by.

As we have been reading through the Bible this year, one statement that has repeated again and again resonated strongly with me – so be careful to do. Let’s capitalize on the moments we have this Spring with our grandkids.

Plan some intentional things to do with them that will not just be fun memory-makers, but focus on those that will be influential. Look below for some ideas to get you started on some Spring discipleship.

Outdoor Spring Activities With Grandchildren

• Sidewalk Chalk and Creative Expression – Check out dustless varieties and vibrant colors. Draw a hopscotch or art gallery. If your grandkids live long-distance, send them some chalk and photos of what you draw or connect through FaceTime showing them your art.
• Nature Walks and Sensory Scavenger Hunts – Maximize walks by adding a scavenger hunt. Be creative in thinking through the ages and interests of your grandkids.
  
  For the young ones, ask them to find something for each day of creation. You could also do colors and shapes, or have them find an object for each letter of the alphabet. For older grands, bring along a magnifying glass, bug kit, butterfly net, and nature journals. See if they can come up with a scripture verse for what they see, smell, hear, and experience.
  
  Psalm 104:12 says, “Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches.” Job 12:7 says, “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you.”
  
  Again, if your grandchildren live at a distance, pack up a few items and send them the list. Get together over Zoom to have them share their treasures.
  
  Another variation could be a sensory nature walk. Focus on the 5 senses; listen to bird calls, feel textures, smell flowers and earth, observe colors and patterns, and safely taste edible plants.
• Remembering April Fool’s Day – Be on your guard if you have little ones who like to play tricks. Talk about what the Bible sees as foolish. Read from Proverbs and pray that your grandchildren will not be fools but follow hard after wisdom.
• Watching Sunsets and Reflecting on God’s Creation – Take in the beauty and wonder of God as you sit in stillness before Him.
• Planting a Garden and Talking About Spiritual Growth – You could plant a flower, vegetable, or butterfly garden. Pinterest and many other online sites have kid-friendly directions along with photos. Discuss how the butterfly life cycle is a picture of our transformation.
• Cloud Watching and Bible Stories About the Heavens – Do you remember the times you sat back or lay on a blanket to watch clouds? It’s so fun to look at the cloud shape and identify it as a bear, a dinosaur, or a spaceship. Grandchildren still love this today. Connect clouds to stories in the Bible where clouds played a large part. Can’t think of any? Here are two to get you started – Moses and Exodus; Jesus Ascension. How many stories can you and your grandchildren come up with?
• Flower Crowns, Bible Heroes, and Imaginative Play – Collect dandelion, clover flowers, or other small flowers with a long stem (minus the bees, of course) and attach them to one another till you have enough for a crown. Take photos of you with your grandchildren. Talk about Queen Esther. This is especially good for the granddaughters. For the grandsons, find sticks that can act like swords or 5 smooth stones. Act out the story of David and Goliath.
• Worm Hunting, Fishing, and Stories of Fishermen in Scripture – Consider taking the grandkids fishing after the worm hunting. Retell stories about your fishing days as a child. Also, consider stories from the Bible that had to do with fishing or fishermen.
• Water Play and Thankfulness for God’s Provision – Save for the warm Spring days. Paint with water, water the garden, or just spray one another. Have fun! Stop for a drink of cold, refreshing water, and be sure to thank God for His marvelous gift of water. Variation: Play in the rain and jump in puddles.
• Outdoor Obstacle Courses and Gratitude for Strong Bodies – Set up according to age and developmental abilities. Consider things like rolling down a hill, climbing a small tree, swinging on a swing, hula-hooping, throwing a frisbee or ball, blowing bubbles, and riding a bike to a finish line. End with a time to thank God for strong arms and legs that can run, climb, and jump.
• Shadow Play – See Pinterest for ideas. For the older grandchildren, consider connecting that this life is a shadow of the life to come in heaven. If stuck inside due to the weather, consider making shadow puppets on the wall.
• Rock Painting and Spreading Joy in the Community – See Pinterest for ideas. Paint the rocks, then hide around the community, spreading joy. Consider writing scripture verses or promises of God on the rocks.
• Stargazing and the Story of the Wise Men – Nighttime activities are always so fun. Talk about stargazers in the Bible – the wise men who traveled to see Jesus. Also, discuss other stories where stars were mentioned. End with a time of roasting marshmallows around a fire. Variation: Play flashlight tag.
• Flying Kites and Exploring the Wind in Scripture – This is great for those windy days. Who created the wind? What stories speak of the wind in the Bible? The wind is often a symbol for something in the Bible – what is it? Variation: Make a wind chime or wind catcher.
• Play Catch or Follow the Leader – Talk with the older grandchildren about what makes a good leader. Encourage any leadership skills you see in them. Point them to Jesus – the best leader whom they should follow faithfully. Tell of how you have followed Him, and how He has not let you down.
• Picnics and the Miracle of Feeding the Five Thousand – Pack a kid-friendly lunch, extra juice boxes, blankets, books, snacks, and whatever you think you might need. Plan to be gone a little while. When they get hungry, sit down on the blanket and share the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand.
  
  Variation: Add catching tadpoles if you picnic by a creek. Keep them in a bucket to watch them turn into frogs, or let them go. Share about our amazing Creator and His creation.
• Service Projects and Teaching a Heart for Others – Check with appropriate authorities to get permission to help clean up at a local park or playground.

As long as the weather stays nice, there are lots of options for spending time outdoors with your grandkids. Just remember to turn these special memories into opportunities to influence them for God. 

Spring weather can be unpredictable, so it’s a good idea to have an indoor backup plan for when your grandkids visit. Let’s look at a couple of ideas to do inside if outside is not an option.

Rainy Day and Indoor Spring Activities With Grandchildren

• Building Birdhouses/Feeders and Trusting God’s Care – Discuss the steps as you go along, helping them only if they need it. When the birdhouse or feeder is done, and the weather is better, go birdwatching. Later, share about the birds you saw. Scripture Verse: Matthew 6:26
• Puzzles and God’s Perfect Plan – Older grandchildren can talk about life being hard at times. We don’t see where all the pieces or parts of our life will fit together, but we can know that God has a plan, and it is good. One day it will be finished.
• Board Games and Learning the Value of Rules – Discuss the rules and why they are important. Connect to God and His Word. Life is so much better when we follow God’s Word.
• Reading Together and Growing in Wisdom – Snuggle up with a good book.
• Scrapbooks and Passing Down Family Legacy – Tell stories, and depending on the age of your grandchildren, maybe have them start their own scrapbook/journal of your family heritage. If you are like me, you have duplicates of some photos or events that you did not use. Allow the grandchildren to start their own family album.
• Slumber Parties and Creative Crafts – Enjoy good food, fellowship, and fun. Maybe make a sun catcher or paper airplanes that can be tested when the weather is better.
• Special Grandparent Dates – You can do a Grandpa/Grandchild date or a Grandma/Grandchild date. Let the child plan it.
• Watching a Storm and Finding Peace in Christ – Discuss any fears they may have, encouraging them to trust in Jesus. Teach them a verse that promises Jesus is with them no matter what. Share stories from a Bible storybook about Jesus and a sudden storm.

Spring Cleaning for the Heart

As you consider things you can do with your grandchildren this Spring, do not forget another big part: Spring cleaning.

Has anything been piling up in your life that you have not tackled but overlooked – a bad attitude, unforgiving heart? Any decluttering needed? Examine your heart and life. According to successful Spring-cleaning experts, you should start small, start at the top, and do not try to tackle everything in one day.

So, what is God calling you to do this Spring?