As the flowers bloom and nature bursts back to life, April is the perfect time to embrace outdoor learning, celebrate early childhood education, and teach children about the wonders of nature. This month offers many opportunities to foster development—whether it’s engaging in the Week of the Young Child (April 6-12, 2025), encouraging play in April showers, or celebrating Earth Day on April 22. Here’s how you can use nature and play to support your child’s learning and growth this spring.
The Power of Play: Learning Through Everyday Moments
Play is at the heart of early childhood development, and as a parent, you have the power to turn everyday activities into meaningful learning experiences. The Week of the Young Child (April 5-11) is a celebration of early learning, recognizing the importance of childhood education and the role families play in it. Each day has a fun theme to help children explore the world in different ways:
- Music Monday – Use natural objects like sticks, rocks, and rain to create rhythms, or sing together while walking outdoors.
- Tasty Tuesday – Take mealtime outside with a picnic and talk about how fruits and vegetables grow.
- Work Together Wednesday – Encourage teamwork by planting flowers, herbs, or vegetables and watch them grow together!
- Artsy Thursday – Use leaves, petals, and twigs to make nature-inspired art.
- Family Friday – Go on a springtime family walk and look for signs of the changing season and talk about signs of spring!
At The Nest Schools, we celebrate each day of The Week of the Young Child with activities that match the day’s theme and with a custom spirit week! From learning about different types of instruments while dressed up as your favorite musician to a school-wide art show, we have lots of FUN.
Along with more April themes, we’re committed to helping care for the planet by being an Eco-Healthy Child Care® Endorsed Provider. This means that we take intentional steps to ensure our learning environments are safe by choosing non-toxic art supplies, reducing harmful chemical and allergen exposure in furniture, playground equipment, and carpets among many other measures that you can learn more about here.
Bringing Learning Outside
Outdoor play isn’t just about fun—it’s a valuable way to support cognitive, social, and physical development. Here are some easy ways to integrate learning into outdoor time:
- Bug Safari – Grab a magnifying glass and set off on a tiny creature expedition! Hunt for crawling critters, fluttering insects, and busy ants while discovering the amazing roles they play in nature while nurturing the growth of observation skills!
- Sky Storytelling – Look up and let your imagination take flight! Spot playful cloud shapes and turn them into magical creatures, floating castles, or dreamy adventures waiting to be told
- Nature Builders – Gather sticks, leaves, and rocks to craft tiny fairy homes, mighty forts, or secret hideaways. Watch as creativity and problem-solving skills come to life!
Why Rainy-Day Play Matters
It’s easy to stay inside when the weather is wet, but playing in the rain is an incredible opportunity for unique learning experience for young children. Playing in the rain provides sensory-rich activities that build creativity, resilience, and an appreciation for nature. Here are a few ways to make the most of April showers:
- Puddle Jumping – Encourage movement and laughter while exploring by letting your child discover how water moves and splashes.
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure – Go on a thrilling hunt for wiggly worms, hidden snails, and glistening rain-kissed flowers. Who knows what tiny treasures you’ll uncover? This is a great rainy day way to teach observation skills.
- Raindrop Masterpieces – Let the rain become your child’s paintbrush! Dab washable paints onto paper and watch as raindrops swirl and blend the colors into a one-of-a-kind creation.
Earth Day: Teaching Your Child to Love and Protect Nature
Earth Day (April 22) is the perfect time to teach children the importance of taking care of our planet. Help your little one develop an eco-friendly mindset with these fun activities:
- Little Gardeners – Roll up your sleeves and dig into nature! Let children dig in the dirt with you and see how tiny seeds grow into something big, teaching your child the magic of caring for our planet and why plants are important to the environment.
- Creating Recycled Art – Get creative by using old materials to create something new, reinforcing the value of reusing. This shows your child how reusing materials can be both fun and good for the Earth.
- Eco-Heroes in Action – Snuggle up with a book about our planet, then put your learning into practice! Talk about simple ways to help the Earth, like saving energy, reducing waste, and recycling together.
Picture Books for Young Children (Ages 3-5)
📗 “The Earth Book” – Todd Parr
A simple, colorful book that teaches kids small ways they can help protect the planet.
📘 “We Are Water Protectors” – Carole Lindstrom
A beautifully illustrated story inspired by Indigenous-led movements to protect the Earth’s water.
📙 “I Can Save the Earth!: One Little Monster Learns to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle” – Alison Inches
A fun and engaging book about a messy monster who learns to be more eco-friendly.
📕 “Thank You, Earth: A Love Letter to Our Planet” – April Pulley Sayre
A stunning book filled with real photography, celebrating nature and inspiring kids to appreciate the Earth.
📗 “Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth” – Mary McKenna Siddals
A playful rhyming book that introduces kids to composting and reducing waste.
📘 “What a Waste: Trash, Recycling, and Protecting Our Planet” – Jess French
A visually engaging book filled with fun facts about waste and how we can help the environment.
Books for Older Children (Ages 6-8)
📙 “The Lorax” – Dr. Seuss
A classic tale that teaches kids about environmental responsibility and the impact of deforestation.
📕 “One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia” – Miranda Paul
An inspiring true story about a woman in Gambia who turned plastic waste into something useful.
📗 “The Watcher: Jane Goodall’s Life with the Chimps” – Jeanette Winter
A biography of Jane Goodall that teaches children about conservation and the importance of caring for animals.
📘 “The Mess That We Made” – Michelle Lord
A rhythmic, read-aloud book about ocean pollution and how small actions can lead to big change.
📙 “Not for Me, Please! I Choose to Act Green” – Maria Godsey
A great book for young kids to learn simple, everyday eco-friendly habits.
Making the Most of Springtime Learning
As parents, you play a vital role in shaping your child’s experiences. This April, take advantage of the season’s natural beauty to create hands-on learning moments. Whether you’re dancing in the rain, gardening together, or taking a walk, every experience can be an opportunity to nurture your child’s curiosity and growth. Let’s take this month to inspire curiosity, celebrate growth, and foster a love for nature—one joyful adventure at a time!