Ideas for celebrating Spring Equinox
When is the Spring Equinox 2026:
21 March 2026 – Northern Hemishpere
23 September 2026 – Southern Hemishpere
Our world is warming up after being at rest over the cool winter months. All of nature senses this and emerges from slumber and bursts into life!
Spring Equinox, (Te Kōanga, here in Aotearoa/NZ) marks a midway point on earths travels between winter and summer.
We are ‘side-on’ to the sun and the temperature is becomes pleasantly mild. As we emerge from winters cold, the days are light for longer, and the day and night are of roughly equal length.
We witness the signs of spring:
- Dormant fruit trees bud and blossom, flowers bloom, tūī birds sip from the golden kowhai, blossoms invite bees to their nectar as they relish in the suns warmth and begin their busy tasks.
- Migratory birds return from long journeys to nest and raise chicks, their calls and presence herald springs arrival.
- We prepare our gardens, sowing seeds, tending seeding, planting and watering with a vision extending into the summer and autumn months when we pick our harvest.
We celebrate Spring Equinox in many special ways –
Here are some of our favourites to enjoy with kids . . .
Spring Equinox celebration ideas:
1) MAKE A SPRING NATURE MANDALA
Making a Nature Mandala to celebrate the seasons is our go to – not only is it simple to do, it involves no planning, invites us out into nature to observe and simply be outside, it is fairly easy to complete, and is a pleasure to make.
Note: Always be careful what you pick, take what you need, respect nature and leave some for the bees and bugs that live here too.
2) MAKE AN EARTH ORBIT MODEL
Color and cut out the Sun, Earth, and Moon, then connect the pieces together with paper fasteners to create a moveable model.
This activity offers visual, and interactive learning around how the Moon orbits the Earth, and how the Earth orbits the Sun.
Simply download, print and make, easy for the classroom, or educational kids crafts.
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✔ INSTANT DOWNLOAD
Download, print, and make today.
✔ KID FRIENDLY:
Interactive, strengthening deepen kids comprehension.
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3) PLANT FLOWERS (FOR BEES, BUTTERFLIES, AND PEOPLE)
With warmer spring weather, butterflies and bees, emerge in search of nectar. Consider creating a bee garden or planting new flowers in your garden.
Some favourite flowers to plant for bees include:
Borage, bergamot, lavender, dandelion, sunflowers, clover, rosemary, alyssum, calendula.
Observing our world, contributing, caring for nature.
4) LEARN ABOUT THE SPRING EQUINOX
Deepen children’s understanding of what causes Earth’s seasons, by zooming out to look at season’s from a different perspective – space!
Make your own interactive model.
✔ INSTANT DOWNLOAD:
Download and print today.
5) SPRING NATURE HUNT
I’ll always love this activity – so simple and rewarding for all ages.
Download and print today.
✔ GREAT FOR ALL AGES:
6) MAKE A FLOWER CROWN
Celebrate the beauty of spring with homemade flower crowns, weaving fresh flowers into a ring of braided ribbon, raffia, jasmine or ivy.
Pick wild flowers, or grow your own.
Or collect a bouquet of flowers and offer this special springtime gift to a friend or family member.
7) EAT A SEASONAL MEAL
Each season awakens plants that grow in certain conditions. Begin to notice what grows around you, plant a garden, or shop seasonally at a farmers market. Preparing a meal from homegrown food is the best and connects us to the world around us.
Add edible flowers to your meal, whether its a salad, pancakes, iced teas, or desserts, for a distinct meal that feel like spring!
Eat in season for cheaper, more nutritional food options.
✔ GREAT TO TEACH PLANT LIFECYCLES:
Grow from seed, watch and learn about each stage of growth.
8) TEACH KIDS ABOUT THE SEASONS
Using resources and stories to teach kids about the seasons helps to deepen understanding of what they see outside the classroom or home walls. Use resources that reflect nature, observing how each season flows into the next.
Interactive resources engage children’s learning and participation.
9) TAKE A SPRING WALK
Spend some time outside in nature with kids or your family, either hiking or walking around your neighborhood.
Trees budding with new leaves? Blossoms on any trees? Any new creatures emerging? What is teh light doing now – warmer? What clothing and footwear do you need?
Walking and Nature Notcing needs little preparation, but gives us so much.
10) PLAN + PLANT A SUMMER GARDEN
Spring is the time to start growing seeds for your Summer garden. Think about one or two additions to your garden that are good for kids to pick and nibble.
A quick guide to some tried-and-true favourites include, cherry tomatoes, sugar snap peas, cape gooseberries, and climbing beans.
Kids can learn to love their veges by picking the tempting fruits again and again, you’ll be surprised what they’ll forage and try!
11) PRESS FLOWERS
Pressing flowers is a special learning, encourages us to learn the names of the flowers we pick, their properties if they are medicinal or edible, and to think about our wider world and who else may need these flowers such as birds and bees.
Kids anticipate these drying and becoming ‘ready’ and there is delight in checking!
We can be creative with our pressed flowers afterward:
Think spring lanterns, window catchers, bookmarks, beautiful artworks, cards.
Or pressed edible flowers can be use on baking and desserts.
12) CREATE A SPRING NATURE TABLE
Nature Tables or Seasonal Tables are a beautiful way to invite nature indoors. A place to display representation of the season.
13) REFLECT + JOURNAL
The seasons is changing and can be a nice time to slow down and pause.
Self care? Gratitude? Goals?
14) EDIBLE FLOWERS
Spring is a wonderful opportunity to learn about wild weeds and flowers, some of which are edible and nutritious, and make a beautiful addition to a salad or dessert.
15) BE PART OF NATURE’S SEED CYCLE
Planting seeds or observing blossoms on trees leads the discussion onto life cycles – the Seed grows, becomes a plant or tree, the plant produces a flower, the flower is pollinated and turns into fruit, the fruit contains a seed. And so the natures cycles continue!
Sunflowers or beans are great plants to grow and demonstrate this.
There’s a few Spring Equinox activities and ideas to add to your celebrations.
What would you add to this list?
I’d LOVE to hear what you do, share and inspire us!
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