7 Fun and Easy Ideas for Celebrating Spring with Your Family

I love living in New England for dozens of reasons, but one of my favorites is the changing seasons. Not only do I get to experience all kinds of weather, but my senses take in unique sounds, distinct aromas, delicious seasonal tastes, and an explosion of colors from Mother Nature's palette.

Spring is a special season that delivers hope and promise to all who endured a long, frosty winter. If you're looking for some funtastic ways to kick off the vibrant season of spring, check out these ideas. 

Spring equals kite flying 

Kite flying and spring go hand in hand. And kites are on sale everywhere, from discount stores to online shopping sites. Once you've made your selection, as long as you have a bit of wind, you're ready to fly.

Kite experts from Kittyhawk.com offer these helpful tips to make your flying experience as fun and easy as possible.

• Choose a perfect day. You need enough wind, but not too much. If the wind speeds are reaching 20 miles per hour or you expect rain or storms, it's best to stay home.
• Find an open space. You should be away from houses, trees, and power lines.
• Launch the kite. Stand with your back to the wind. Hold on to the bridle (where the string attaches to the front of the kite) and lift it into the air, letting the wind take it.
• Get a partner's help. If the wind is light, have a helper take the kite downwind and hold it up while you hold the string. When you give the command, the helper lifts the kite into the air and you reel in the string hand-over-hand to help the kite gain altitude.

Check out this video, How to Fly a Kite, which demonstrates how easy it is to get started.

If your family's kite gets caught in a power line, don't attempt to retrieve it yourself—that's dangerous! Call the power company instead.

Plan a family garden

Spring is a time of renewal and growth. The days are longer and brighter, making outdoor family outings easier and more enjoyable. This also makes it an excellent time to plan a garden with your family.

The benefits of gardening are many. A garden is an unexpected way to get more physical activity. It also provides a sense of purpose because each family member will be involved with planning, preparing, planting, caring for the garden. Best of all, you get to enjoy the healthy fruits of your labors. And the vegetables, too!

If you have limited outdoor space, container gardening is a popular way...

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