Leap year may only come every 4 years but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t celebrate Leap Day. Check out these fun Leap Year activities, crafts and ideas you can do at home or school.
I don’t remember celebrating Leap Day as a kid but I am sure we did talk about it and do some fun crafts or activities in elementary school. I’ve collected some fun ideas for kids and adults all ages below.
Leap year might seem like a quirky holiday to celebrate but I think there is always time time to make more memories even if its just with a simple craft, activity or snack.
Leap Year Activities
Leap Year is sort of a funny thing to explain to little kids. While the reasoning is behind it makes sense to adults, I’m not sure it does to kids. Regardless, the end result is an extra day in February this year, that is certainly something they can grasp. Do you have big plans for your extra day? I say skip your regular schedule and celebrate leap year instead
Leap Year Crafts
These leap year ideas are based basically on leaping and frogs. For fun activities, play leap frog or hopscotch If crafts are more your thing, then let’s make lily pads, origami frogs or a time capsule to open on the next leap year.
Leap Year Crafts and Activities
These fun leap year crafts and activities are themed basically around the word 'leap' and naturally frogs.
Easy Origami - Jumping Frog
Jumping Minion
DIY Hopscotch Playmat
Lily Pad Hop
Static Electricity Experiment for Kids
Chalk Shapes Jumping Game
Make Frogs Using a Wine Cork as a Stamp
Paper Bag Frog
DIY Terra Cotta Pot Frogs
Frog on a Lily Pad
Brand New Tape Jumping Gross Motor Activity for Kids
Five Green Frogs Printable Puppets
Frog clothespin animal for finger strength
DIY Frog on a Lily Pad Pond Paper Plate Craft
Free Printable Number Jumping Active Counting Game
Jumping Goop!
An Awesome Static Electricity Demonstration with Cornstarch
What is a Leap Year?
A leap year is when we have 366 days in the calendar instead of the typical 365. The extra day is added to our shortest month, February. Normally February has only 28 days. During a leap year there is 29 days in February.
What about Leap Year Birthdays?
It definitely makes for an interesting birthday if you happen to be born on February 29 of a leap year. Typically leap year babies would simply celebrate their birthday on either February 28th or March 1st on non leap years. I’d recommend celebrating on both days. You deserve it! 🙂
Why is there leap years?
We define one year as 365 days but really it takes the earth approximately 365 days and 6 hours to orbit the sun. To account for the extra 6 hours each year, we add an extra day every 4 years.
When is the next leap year?
2020 was the last leap year. We have another leap year every four years. So 2024 is the next leap year. Basically if the year is divisible by 4, then it’s a leap year. That’s the simplest way to calculate the next leap year.
There is a slight adjustment to that rule though to make our calendar even more accurate. The extra time each year is actually just under 6 hours, so to account for this difference there is a further rule on when leap years occur.
When years are divisible by 100, then it’s only a leap year when it’s ALSO divisible by 400. So the years 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not leap years. But 2000 was a leap year. Some kids today may live to see the year 2100 and that will NOT be a leap year because of this extra rule.
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