The first month of spring is not only about burgeoning trees and snowdrops under the bushes, but March has a lot of interesting world-days, as well.

Right at the beginning of the month, the 6th of March is The International Day of Energy Saving. Here in the Forest Tale Daycare we are always economically conscious and we also teach children to follow this example. We always turn off the lights when there is noone in the room, we use the right amount of water at every hand wash, and we often prepare art by reusing objects and by applying reusable materials.
We find it important to make them meet these topics so we tell them stories or play with puppets about the nature. Children can become more conscious this way and they can feel themselves closer to our environment. We talk about the sun, its positive and harmful effects, we observe the changes of water and movements of the wind using wind rotators, ping-pong balls, styrofoam or glass balls. We also encourage families not to put every trash in the dustbin. Unleash your creativity and you will see that these things can become beautiful handmade objects.

In the middle of the month we will commemorate the Hungarian events of March 15th. We will discuss the meaning of our national colours, the red, white, green and we will make cockades and flags. With kids of the age of kindergarten it is already interesting to talk about the folk traditions and the roles and tasks of men and women in the past. With the bigger ones you can visit public celebrations and games that can be found all over the city.

March 21 is World Puppet’s Day. The following Monday we will put dolls and puppets of different nationalities in the foreground and organize “The Prom of the Puppets”. We have a lot of head and finger puppets, we will play fairy tales and dramatize stories. In the Forest Tale Daycare we will try to create a theatre environment wearing costumes and children can try acting for a short time. Fortunately, there are more and more theatres and alternative puppet shows in Budapest where they work with different methods, it is always nice to visit them for example on a rainy afternoon.

March 22 is World Water Day. Our world is turning blue on that day and we can think and talk about the importance of water. We will play developmental games and try experiments with the main elements. We will put toys of various materials in the water to see if they sink in it or not.
We can make boats and rafts out of the equipment and furniture of the room, create waterfalls using textiles and paper and children can try how it feels like to be a sea animal. We will practice pair making for instance by fishing and pairing the caught fish by colours, sizes or numbers.
We will highlight the need of water for life by germination of different plants. You can plant something at home too, for instance if you place some beans in the window covered by cotton balls and keep it wet, you will see the results very soon. Kids can be amazed by the every-day growth and changes of the seedling and then you can take care of your little plant together. They can practice responsibility and the importance of attention.
If you feel like going on a family adventure, we recommend you to visit a stalactite cave (for example the Szemlő-hegyi barlang) and introduce this natural wonder to children.
We can also make stalactites at home by mixing 2 dl warm water with 2 spoons of salt. You should hang two canvas pieces over your mixture in the glass – one end being in the water and the other one lying on a tray. When a few days have passed, the stalactite begins to grow on the tray.
If you still want to try another experiments, put some raisins in gas water, and see what happens.
You can also create a water drop collecting game for yourselves. Water drops are the rewards and can be collected by the whole family. You can get water drops during the day by getting in touch with the water. For example you can visit the Danube, you can taste still and gas water, you can make a walnut boat or any other water creatures that float in the sink. At the end of the week you can see how much water drops you have collected and what are your experiences with the game.

Here are some books of Spring stories that you can read together:
And Then It’s Spring, by Julie Fogliano. This beautifully illustrated book is about a young boy and his dog who decide to build a garden.  It’s a tender story of anticipation as they wait for the winter brown to disappear and spring to finally arrive.
Young pre-schoolers can practice counting with the book Flowers and Showers, by Rebecca Fjelland Davis.
And for the smaller ones: The Happy Day, by Ruth Krauss is a wonderful vintage book with very few words. All the forest animals are excited as they come together to see the first flower of spring, poking through the snow.

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