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Five Activities to Help Your Family "Spring Forward"

By Melissa Hucal, Peoria IL Publisher March 5, 2015

Daylight Saving Time begins annually on the second Sunday in March at 2 a.m. as we set our clocks ahead by one hour. And even though we still have a couple weeks until it's "officially" Spring, the return of another hour or so of sunlight in our days certainly turns our thoughts to warm weather activities.

In honor of the return of Daylight Saving Time, here are five activities that you and your family can participate in now to get a jump on the new season (or "spring forward" as the saying goes).

  • Find Spring! Take a walk in your neighborhood or on the trails at the park and look for the flowers getting ready to peek through the snow. Make a prediction of when you think full blooms will appear and then mark your calendar to return to the spot and check on the progress.
  • Grow Something Green! You don't need a big yard. In fact, you can grow herbs in nothing more than a pot that sits on your porch, deck or window ledge. A little mint would make a great addition to your summer lemonade and can be grown right now.
  • Hop To It! Break out the sidewalk chalk and invite some friends over for an old-fashioned game of hopscotch. Breathing in some fresh air will only increase your excitement for more spring activities.

  • Clean! Spring seems to be synonymous with cleaning, so why not take the time to clean out a drawer or a closet? You can donate unwanted items (clothes, toys, etc.) or get things ready for a yard sale.
  • Roll out the Welcome Mat! Let Spring know that we are ready to greet her when she finally arrives by buying a bouquet of bright flowers for your dining room table or a fun, new umbrella (after all, we're less than a month away from the proverbial "April Showers!"). Bake a batch of cupcakes and frost them in spring colors (yellow, pink or lavender).

Choose one or several of these activities over the next few weeks and your family will surely be in the spring spirit!