Ways to Refresh Your Family This Spring

As we are thawing out from winter here in the North East and happily packing up our snow boots, families are emerging from hibernation. With Spring Fever officially settling in, it’s time to refresh, recharge and commune with nature.

I checked in with uber Mompreneur Lyss Stern, Divalysscious Moms Founder, author of "Motherhood is a B*tch", sought after parenting expert on national media outlets, and all around Fabulously active momma on her favorite Spring Time activities to do with her three kids. Lyss “loves springtime in NYC with her three kids Oliver, Jackson and Blake.” It’s one of her favorite times as the “spring brings warmer weather to NYC and a ton of activities to do outdoors.”

Here are some of our fun ways to cure your family's Spring Fever:

Hit the Park: Take the kids out to the park and reconnect with nature. Point out the buds on the trees, grass on the ground and the blue sky. These reminders hit something deep in our children. Lyss loves to bring a blanket and have picnics with her family in New York’s Central Park. Bring a ball to throw or kick around and some bubbles. Luckily there are a ton of parks in New York and places to squat with your family for a picnic, trails to hike, and playgrounds and carousels to explore! For a list of parks, baseball fields and playgrounds in NYC check out www.nycgovparks.org. Keep it closer to home at my family's favorite the Sands Point Preserve. The Preserve runs many nature programs and even walking meditations.

Always keep a Picnic Blanket in your car!!

Animal Spirit: Take your kids for an outing at the Zoo or an Aquarium, if already in Central Park, make a stop at the Central Park Zoo or plan a day trip to the infamous Bronx Zoo. If you prefer surf over the turf, head to the New York Aquarium or Riverhead Acquarium. It’s priceless to see your kids react to the animals and is an amazing way to get up close and personal with the animal kingdom while creating lasting family memories!

Plant a Garden: Springtime is the perfect time to etch out a place in your yard or get a window box for your children to plant their magic gardens. Talk with them about the different flowers, plants and foods they can grow and let them dig into the soil and watch it happen before their eyes. Work through a seasonal plan with your kids so their garden can flourish all spring – summer and fall long. Don't forget to plant a little space for the fairies to visit! The New York Botanical Garden offers Children’s Gardening Series for kids ages 3-12. Learn about urban gardening via Bette Midler’s organization which hosts free gardening series. In Port Washington there are planting opportunities with Plant a Row for the Hungry, and the newly formed Growing Love Garden Community Garden of Manorhaven.

Flower Power: Now that the flowers are coming back in bloom, be sure to stop and smell the roses. Take in a flower show and enjoy nature’s most beautiful artwork. Walk through the flower district, detour through Macy’s annual flower show "Once Upon a Spring Time" running March 25 – April 8th or head out to the New York Botanical Garden. Or keep it closer to home and get lost at Old Westbury Gardens. Take a flower arranging class with some friends. In Port, call Amy at Amaranthus on Main Street.

Spring Training: Enroll your kids in an outdoor sport for spring – baseball, lacrosse, track, something that they can soak in the air! (note: not for children with serious hay fever, allergies, and asthma!) There's no shortage of spring sports possibilities for kids of all ages. One of Lyss’s favorite outings with her sons is to take them to the Yankees and Mets games. Check their schedules for special event days! There’s also the Brooklyn Cyclones which houses a smaller perhaps, less overwhelming stadium where you can make a day out of the game, Saturday's are firework nights. Go enjoy a stroll along the Coney Island Boardwalk, a hot dog at the original Nathans and enjoy an amazing day. And even smaller still is the Long Island Ducks team, where usually after the game, families can walk the field. If that is too much of a trek or too high a price tag, take your kids to one of your neighborhood's baseball fields to watch the older kids play. It is wonderful peer modeling for them.

Even better, wait for the Port Washington MomBall League's Softball Season to start in late June on the PAL field. If you're a Momma (over 25 years old) looking to play please do so! It's awesome for the kids to reverse their roles and be the cheerleaders on the sidelines!

Get Riding: Luckily in NYC, there are tons of bike trails, along with the west side, east side, up by Riverside Drive and all throughout Central Park. Grab your helmet, hop on your bikes, get your kid’s training wheels fastened on and enjoy the sites and views in NY. Need help with all that, visit Port Washington Bicycles who's always happy to help ya outfit your family with bikes and safety information and demonstrations!

Check out the Bike Maps: http://www.nycbikemaps.com/

Upcoming Events for Mommas!

DIVA MOMS Events:

Mom Mogul Breakfast: Friday, May 11th, 9-11am @Lord & Taylor, Manhattan

Lyss's annual Mom Mogul Breakfast where working moms support eachother and pick up tricks of the trade from a prestigious panel of NYC's most prominent uber mompreneurs!!

MomTime Movie Event: I FEEL PRETTY

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN YOUR BELLA LIFE ON-LINE MAGAZINE

Spring Fever: Activities For A Divalysscious Mom! on March 21, 2011

Republished & Updated