I remember some of the first signs of spring I saw as a child.
It wasn't spring, it was usually in February.
My grandmother owned and operated a greenhouse and she would start the spring plants in this cold and dreary month.
There were times when most of the family was involved in one way or another.
Gardening: For those like my grandmother who are physically strong enough gardening is a great family activity.
It's a chance to teach children how things grow and develop, increasing their knowledge of biology from a very young age.
I could probably do an entire article on this aspect alone.
Flower Arranging: Whether it's transplanting live flowers into a window box or arranging freshly picked flowers in a vase this can be fun.
It's not particularly demanding so those with mobility issues can participate.
It brings beauty into the room (or porch) they're in.
Tea Party: Not the political kind.
The old fashioned kind with actual tea.
Our granddaughter loves to play pretend with teapots and tea cups.
Instead of pretending it's fun to have the entire family sit down with tea cups and the refreshments that go with it.
Younger children and those with movement disorders may need to use plastic instead of china but it can still be a lot of fun.
Bird Watching: There was a point in time when I thought the idea of bird watching was boring.
Then I started to notice the birds.
I have to admit it took being with our elder on her mountain top but even without binoculars watching the flitting and fluttering of a large variety of birds can be fun.
It can also double as exercise for those who are able to walk.
Not everyone is lucky enough to have a clear view of the sky or live in a location for wildlife abounds.
Some of these things I will be doing with our granddaughter this year.
Some are things that we will do with our elder.
Keeping the memory alive with activities can slow the progression of some memory disorders and anything that helps with that is a blessing.