Autumn Years Spring 2024

BEST BETS

Got Spring Fever? Try These Fun Outdoor Activities with Your Grandkids By Kimberly Blaker

“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party’.” –Robin Williams

M ake the most of this exhilarating season by getting outdoors to enjoy the fresh air, sunshine and loads of fun with your grandkids by engaging in these family activities. PLANT A FLOWER OR VEGETABLE GARDEN. Gather up the grandkids, head to the nursery, and pick out flats of flowers or packets of vegetable seeds. When you get home, plan the arrangement and spacing of the plants. Then have everyone pitch in with digging and planting. To maintain your grandkids’ interest in the garden, have them help with watering when they come to visit. FLY A KITE. A breezy spring day is perfect for flying kites. For even more fun, order a kite kit in advance for your family to design your own. Then, check out YouTube videos on how to fly a kite before you head out to ensure your adventure is a success. (Not sur prisingly, Amazon has a full inventory of kite kits on its site, including some that your grandkids can color.) MAKE A YARD ORNAMENT . Gather up your grandkids to brainstorm a fun project to liven up your yard or land scape. Here are a few ideas to get you started: a unique birdhouse, colorful bird feeder, artistically painted planter, mosaic walkway or welcome sign, fun sculpture or musical wind chimes. Whatever you come up with, you can

likely find design ideas, instructions or kits online. GO ON A PICNIC. Pack some finger foods like sandwiches, cheese sticks, veg gies and dip, fruit, cookies and beverag es. Then head to the park to enjoy some play, relaxation, and grub. (For a list of Bergen County parks, see the Spring County Calendar, page 9). BUILD A FORT. If you have a stash of construction materials lying around, this is an excellent way to put it to use. Another option is to buy several sections of privacy fencing for prebuilt walls for your fort. There are many ways to build a fort. So search online for easy, low-cost ideas. Or if you are particularly handy and adventuresome, check out this HGTV PLAY DISC GOLF. These courses have popped up in parks everywhere, includ ing one at Campgaw Reservation in Mah wah, and are fun for all ages. Just head to your nearby sporting goods store and pick up a few discs before you go. GO ON A SCAVENGER HUNT. Make a list of items that are found outdoors, such as an oak leaf, clover, piece of trash, chunk of gravel, dandelion, pop can, speckled rock, wildflower and so forth. Before heading out for the hunt, set a time limit and any safety rules. Then split up into two teams and see who can bring home the most items on the list. site: (www.hgtv.com/outdoors/ landscaping-and-hardscaping/ constructing-a-kids-fort).

SET UP A LEMONADE STAND. For the entrepreneurial family, this is a fun way to spend a spring day. Bake up cookies or brownies, make some lemonade and design colorful “Cookies & Lemonade” signs. Set up a stand at a nearby corner location; that way you can catch the attention of potential cus tomers coming from four directions. GO FOR A PEDDLE. Whether it is a ride through your neighborhood or on a paved trail system, a bike ride is a great way to get outdoors, enjoy the sunshine and fresh air and all the sights of spring. ATTEND A BASEBALL OR SOCCER GAME. Nothing says “it’s spring” like a baseball or soccer game. Get some tick ets to a Yankees or Mets game or check the game schedule for your grandkids’ school. Before you go, be sure to dress in the colors of your favorite team. TAKE A COUNTRY DRIVE . Spring is the perfect time of year to roll down the windows and take a scenic cruise. Kick back, put on some happy music and enjoy the blue skies, budding trees and bursts of colorful flowers.

Kimberly Blaker is a freelance writer. She also owns an online bookshop, Sage Rare & Collectible

Books, specializing in out-of-print, scarce, signed and first editions; fine bindings; ephemera and more at sagerarebooks.com

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AUTUMN YEARS I SPRING 2024