The weather’s getting warmer, the sun is out longer, and the birds are chirping away. The transition from winter to spring is one of the best. Warmer weather means that you get to move from hibernating inside all winter to enjoying the nice weather outside (as long as it’s not raining). Read on to learn about activities and projects you can do with your family to keep busy during the weekends.
Clean and Organize
While it’s hard to find motivation during the winter months, the spring is a time to start fresh. Cleaning and de-cluttering for a better home is a great way to start. Whether it’s your kids playroom, your kitchen pantry, or your bedroom closets, cleaning can be a great activity to tackle with the whole family.
Playrooms can get messy and accumulate toys over time. A great way to clean with the help of your kids is adding a little friendly competition. If your playroom floor has turned into a sea of toys, give each kid a basket/bucket and see who can collect the most toys in a given time. This will leave your floor spotless.
Another great cleaning tip is sifting through your closets and drawers for old or unworn clothes. If you find winter clothes that you didn’t wear, add them to a donation pile. Once everyone has cleaned out their space, collect everyone’s items and decide where you would like to donate them. This will leave your closets and drawers clean and fresh for the summer months ahead. Tip: you can also donate any old toys that your kids have moved on from.
Painting
If you have noticed some areas in your home that require some TLC or little touch-ups, painting is a great activity to do as a family. It could be your doors, cabinets, or even full walls. These small painting projects can be completed by the whole family. By dividing up the tasks amongst your kids (if they’re old enough to handle it) lets you complete the job faster and enjoy quality family time.
Set up everyone with a can of paint, a stool or ladder, and a drop sheet, play some music and paint away! Working in a comfortable space builds confidence in skills you may not have known you had prior and is a great way to pass some time!
Below are the average costs of Paint & Wallpaper services across different cities in Canada:
| City | Average | Minimum | Maximum |
| Barrie | $3,801 | $300 | $30,000 |
| Calgary | $3,701 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Edmonton | $3,538 | $100 | $40,000 |
| Hamilton | $4,126 | $100 | $40,000 |
| Oshawa | $3,198 | $200 | $50,000 |
| Ottawa | $2,880 | $100 | $40,000 |
| Toronto | $3,901 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Vancouver | $4,997 | $120 | $50,000 |
*Costs based on 13,969 verified Canadian homeowner reviews as of March 2022
If you have younger kids, but still want to paint, set up some finger painting or an easel and let their creativity shine.
Gardening
If you’re looking to enjoy some fresh air and get a head start on some spring projects, gardening is a great family activity. You can work with your existing garden, or even build your own vegetable garden. Having your kids help out can be a great learning experience and expose them to a new hobby. Plus, what’s more fun than watching your own fruits and veggies grow and then getting to eat them!
DIY Crafts
Stuck inside due to a rainy day? There are plenty of DIY crafts for the whole family. One of the most popular is DIY playdough. This simple mix of ingredients creates a great activity that lasts for days. Homemade playdough uses all household cooking products, so you might be able to reach into your cupboard and get started right away!
Another great DIY craft is tie-dye. Tie-dying is perfect for kids of any age and works well this time of year. As we transition into warmer weather, bright colours are more in style. DIY tie-dye is another activity that can be done within the comfort of your own home (or backyard) if it’s nice outside. You can purchase tie-dye kits, or you can use household ingredients (vinegar, water, and food colouring) as well.
There’s no shortage of projects and activities to keep families busy during the weekend. Try any one of these or get creative and start your own! Spring is the perfect time to turn off the TV and the computer and spend some quality time with your family.
Article updated June 2022.
