Want to plan something fun for our Leap Year on February 29? We have a list of Leap Day Activities for Kids and Families that will make you leap, jump and hop into some memorable fun!
Fun Leap Day Activities for the Whole Family
Leap Day is just around the corner again, and it’s time to start thinking about how you’re going to spend your extra 24 hours this year. Do you want to relax? Do something fun with the kids? Spend the day being kind to others? An extra day is a huge opportunity to do something out of your ordinary routine to create memories that you’ll enjoy for years to come.
We’ve put together a list of creative Leap Day activities for the entire family. From activities that encourage leaping, hopping, or the number 4, to cute crafts based on animals that are terrific leapers, you’re going to find lots of cool ideas to bring the family together.
What is a Leap Day?
Why do we have a leap day? Leap year occurs every four years. Leap Day is officially February 29. This date is added to the calendar in leap years as a corrective measure, because the Earth does not orbit the sun in precisely 365 days. Thus every four years, we have a calendar year that is 366 days long, as opposed to a common year which his 365.
Leap years are needed to keep our modern day Gregorian calendar in alignment with the Earth’s revolutions around the sun.
Leap Day Years
For historical buffs, did you know the first leap year was 1752? This was when 11 days were “lost” from the month September with the adoption of the Gregorian calendar by Britain and her colonies. Can you imagine loosing 11 days in September – what an odd feeling!?
A list leap day years (past and upcoming) are…
1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024, 2028, 2032, 2036, 2040, 2044, 2048, 2052, 2056, 2060, 2064, 2068, 2072, 2076, 2080, 2084, 2088, 2092, 2096, 2100, 2104, 2108, 2112, 2116, 2120…
Then so on and so forth.. just count every four years!
Leap Day Activities for Kids
For obvious reasons, a list of Leap Day Activities on Frugal Coupon Living is rare. The last Leap Day Activities & Crafts post we shared was, well, four years ago! And, you guys, I swear I made it yesterday. I still can recall the struggle of trying to find ideas because Pinterest was so new! Think of how far we have come in four years with the spread of crafts and ideas.
So this year, we come to you with new Leap Day Crafts and Ideas. I look forward to seeing how much this has changed in four years!
Creative Leap Day Activities for the Whole Family
Spend the your extra day doing random acts of kindness! If you’re doing it by yourself, aim for four acts of kindness that day. Better yet, get the whole family involved, and try to make it 29! | Natural Beach Living
A person changes so much in four years. Create an “About Me” page in a bullet journal or on a piece of paper to record what your likes, dislikes, interests, hopes, and dreams are. Return to it again on a Leap Day in the future to see how you’ve changed and how you’ve stayed the same. | Little Coffee Fox
Kids can create their own version of an About Me page to read in 4 years using an “All About Me” printable template. They’ll love looking back on what their old favorites were when they were younger. | Views From a Step Stool
Hop into the leap year with these calendar and frog cookies. Such a sweet treat for a sweet day! | Sugar Dot Cookies
One leap day tradition is to set some goals as a family. Where do you see yourselves in four years? What do you hope to accomplish? Review the goals you’ve set on the next Leap Day to see how you’ve progressed. | Life Sew Savory
In full Leap Day Tradition, write it all down.Put the goals and “About Me” pages you’ve all created in a time capsule that you dig up or find on the next Leap Day. Don’t forget to add some photographs of everyone, too! | Pretty Providence
Since Leap Day only comes around once every four years, it’s definitely cause for celebration with a special dessert like these #4 sugar cookies. All you need is a “4” cookie cutter, a great sugar cookie recipe (or store-bought cookie dough, if you’re short on time), frosting, and sprinkles to decorate them with. | Two Sisters Crafting
In keeping with the “4” theme, Leap Day is the perfect day for a rousing game of Connect 4 Leap Day Game. Even better, make a giant connect 4 with a tablecloth and paper plates. You can lay this on the floor instead of hanging it to make it easier for littles to play. | A Girl and a Glue Gun
Make your own hopscotch pad or draw out a hopscotch grid on the driveway with sidewalk chalk. To make your hopscotch activity Leap Day themed, try to toss the markers into a multiple of 4. | Kids Activities Blog
Make some jumping Minions with the kids, and have a contest to see whose Minion can leap the greatest distance. | All for the Boys
Go outside (if weather permits) play a leap day came with a sack race! All that jumping and hopping is a great way to get your heart pumping on a day when you’d probably be indoors. | Kids Activities Blog
Feeling froggy? A Kermit-themed snack is on the menu today! It’s made from mostly healthy ingredients with a couple of fun marshmallows to top it off. | Surviving a Teacher’s Salary
The handprint frog is super cute, and the lily pad complete with a beautiful 3D water lily will get you ready for spring in a hurry. | The Best Ideas for Kids
Fun fact: grasshoppers can leap up to 1 meter in length because their legs launch them like a catapult! Make a cute grasshopper from a paper towel roll. | The Craft Train
Decorate a clay or terra cotta pot to look like a frog. You can use it to hold treats, or put it outside in your yard or garden this spring. | The Country Chic Cottage
Some goats can jump 12 feet in a single bound. This Billy Goats Gruff craft is such a cute idea for Leap Day. | Laughing Kids Learn
Even More Leap Day Ideas
Need a few more ideas to keep the kids occupied? Here are some great options:
- Play leap frog outside or around the house if the weather’s too cold.
- Try a new food together as a family.
- Look up famous people who are Leap Year babies.
- Declutter the house by throwing away 29 things that you don’t need.
- Have a contest to see who can leap the farthest.
- Visit a jump park to spend a few hours leaping, hopping, and jumping together.
- Get some jumping beans and find out what makes them jump.
- Learn about the earth’s rotation around the sun to find out WHY we need an extra day every four years.
- Watch the movie Leap! (nothing to do with the year, but in spirit and fun of the theme!)
We hope you enjoyed this list of family-friendly Leap Day activities. Don’t forget to pin it to Pinterest so you can return to it for ideas in 2024!
Don’t miss our previous post on Leap Year Activities; you’ll find lots of fun frog crafts and activities if you need even more to do with your extra day. Pin to Pinterest.
WHAT’S TRENDING? How to Trap Elf on the Shelf in a Balloon or the TV. Your kids will love this!
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