Dear Providers,

April is here, and with it comes open windows, muddy shoes, and a chance to bring the season to life with the children in your care.Spring is nature’s way of waking up. It’s the perfect time to head outside and let the children notice what’s changing—buds on trees, worms in the dirt, birds calling from somewhere you can’t quite see. You don’t need a perfect garden or a fancy activity. A cup of soil, a stick, or even a puddle is enough to spark curiosity.

Let the children get their hands in the dirt. Scoop, dig, touch, sort. These small, everyday moments let them explore the world through all their senses—and you don’t have to lead or explain. Just give them space, and stay nearby to wonder with them.

Here are a few easy ways to bring spring into your program:

1. Move snack or story time outside when the weather allows.
2. Fill a basket with sticks, pinecones, or rocks for children to explore.
3. Let them water a plant or help start seeds in a cup.
4. Take short walks to see what’s blooming or crawling nearby.

Spring also gives us a chance to notice what’s new—not just outside, but in the children, too. A little more independence. A question we haven’t heard before. A friendship starting to grow.

You don’t have to do more to mark the season. You just have to notice more. Spring shows us that small things add up—and that a little sunlight and time can go a long way.

Wishing you warm breezes, good mud, and lots of small discoveries.