Spring is almost here! For some parents, that means their kids will be outside all the time. Others need encouragement, and what better way to do that than with the gift of new toys Here are some interactive and educational toys that will help your child step away from their screens and enter the outside world!

1) Insect box

This is a fun option for younger children or those who don't want to get their hands dirty while exploring. An insect box will help your child learn more about textures, shapes, and colors that can be found outdoors without having to go outside. Your child can take an active role in finding the objects they want to learn more about, or parents and older siblings can collect objects for them to observe safely indoors. Your child will also learn about cause and effect by discovering what certain animals eat, the leaves found on certain trees, and where certain nature's tools can be found. This will encourage their visual tracking and object recognition skills by observing details they haven't seen before. By handling these objects, children will learn fine motor skills and be able to tolerate a range of new textures.

2) Bird house

Children may be starting to show interest in other animals and taking care of them. They may be learning how to feed the cat or walk the dog, so take it a step further and teach them about birds and their nestsYour child will use their creativity to decorate this birdhouse, while you engage in conversation about the project at hand. Your child can learn about the types of birds, what they eat, and how they behave during the day and night. Children can also learn about safety, as the birdhouse will need to be placed far enough off the ground to be safe from bears, cats, and dogs. Children might also enjoy learning how squirrels often interact with birds!

3) Binoculars

To go along with their new birdhouse, your child will love their first pair of binoculars ! This will allow them to focus on relaxation and emotion regulation while working on visual tracking, scanning, object discrimination, and attention to detail. Children can observe birds, different types of landscapes, squirrels, animals, and anything found in nature. Your child might also enjoy experimenting with their binoculars indoors by looking at household objects up close. This can help them discover different perspectives and even use critical thinking skills to guess what objects are without looking outside the binoculars.

4) Butterfly catcher kit

Your children can get a head start on a popular school project: observing the growth of butterflies. With a Butterfly Catcher Kit They can learn about cause and effect, following directions, sequencing and organization, and much more as they prepare the butterflies for their transformation journey. They can learn about the passage of time and the value of patience by observing, waiting, and maybe even recording what they see! You can teach your child about time by having them mark the days on a calendar until each step is completed.

5) Book on the wonders of nature

Every child needs a book about nature to complement their outdoor play. This is a great option if your child loves to read or if you don't have the time or know-how to teach them about the great outdoors. Children can take this book outside to match the objects inside with the topics covered in the book, or they can get their feet wet before venturing outside to explore on their own. Either way, this book is sure to spark your child's imagination while encouraging learning and a sense of community with their surroundings.

6) Dinosaur Block Game

All right, the dinosaurs are no longer found in nature these days. But your children will still love pretending! This durable wooden block set is a great toy to take outside and use in the dirt or sand to give your child a more authentic play experience. This will strengthen their imagination while developing their critical thinking skills to create trails, scenarios, mountains, and anything else they desire.

7) Woodland animal masks

This is a great way to teach children the game of charades. You can encourage them to make noises and movements to imitate some of their favorite animals—and maybe even new ones. With the animal masks They can learn more about expressive and receptive communication while improving their gross motor skills. If the child is too young or not interested in this game, they can still learn to use the masks on their own (to develop fine motor skills!) and learn about the animals they are imitating. This can help them develop the first skills needed to one day participate in charades or other role-playing games.

8) National Geographic geodes kit

Your young explorer will love digging, digging, digging and digging with this geode kitThis gives them the opportunity to develop upper body strength, coordination, fine motor skills, timing, visual discrimination, and work on their aim. Children will love discovering what's inside, which will only increase their motivation to work harder and reach the center. This is a great solo or group activity, as children can pair up and see who can discover each object the fastest.

9) Frog Hatchery

For kids who prefer reptiles to insects but still want to see things grow, consider the frog hatchery to help them learn about cause and effect, as well as timing and following instructions. They'll need to learn patience and staying organized to follow each step and do everything correctly to ensure the frogs hatch on time!

10) Treasure hunt in nature

With winter and quarantine over, your child has likely explored everything there is to see within the four walls of your home. Now encourage them to get outside and learn all there is to learn about nature with this treasure huntThis is a great activity for children, young and old, to reconnect with their roots while working together to find what they can find.This activity develops visual scanning skills, judgment, safety awareness, cooperation and teamwork, following directions, object matching, and much more. Treasure hunts are a great way to turn your kids' heads!

11) Model airplanes

This is a great way for kids to focus on their STEM skills while also having a great outdoor space to test them. Kids can focus on following directions, sequencing tasks, organizing pieces, translating pictures into physical directions, and more. Kids can work together or alone on these projects, then move to a large, open space where they can test them individually or even race to the end of a nearby field. The possibilities are endless!

There are plenty of screen-free options that allow your child to be active, engaged, and learn about nature in the most interactive way possible. Check out some of these toys to boost your child's creativity and thirst for knowledge while developing their skills in a variety of areas!

11 Nature-Themed Toys for Spring