How To Introduce Kids to Gardening Through Play

Sure, you could toss your kid an instruction manual and tell them to start digging, but you'll have far more success (and fun) if you make gardening feel like playtime instead.

This is because, unlike adults, kids may not have the patience or attention span for lectures, books, or videos. They learn best through hands-on experience and discovery. By engaging them in gardening activities that are fun and interactive, you'll be able to introduce them to the joys of gardening in a way that they can easily understand and enjoy. Here are some tips for how to introduce kids to gardening through play.

Start Small and Simple

Instead of overwhelming your child with a large, complex garden project, start small and simple. You can begin with something as easy as growing a few herbs or flowers in pots on the windowsill or in a corner of the backyard. This way, your child can see tangible results and feel a sense of accomplishment early on.

Involve Them in Every Step

From planning to planting to harvesting, involve your child in every step of the gardening process. Where should the garden go? What should we plant? How do we prepare the soil? What tools do we need? These are all questions that you can discuss and answer together. By involving your child in decision-making and giving them responsibilities, they’ll feel ownership and pride in the garden.

Make it Fun and Interactive

Gardening doesn't have to be all about digging holes and pulling weeds. There are plenty of fun, interactive activities that you can incorporate into gardening to make it more engaging for kids. Some ideas include:

Make a Scavenger Hunt

Create a list of items for your child to find in the garden, such as different types of leaves, flowers, or bugs. This will encourage them to explore and learn about the different elements in the garden.

Build a Fairy Garden

Kids love all things magical, so why not create a fairy garden together? Use small plants, rocks, and other natural materials to build a miniature world where fairies can live. Your child can use their imagination and creativity to design and decorate the fairy garden.

Have Watering Races

Instead of making watering a chore, turn it into a fun competition between family members. Set up different areas of the garden for each person to water and see who can finish first.

Create Garden Art

Let your child's artistic side shine by incorporating art into gardening. They can use flowers, leaves, and twigs to create beautiful pieces of garden art. This is a great way to combine creativity and nature.

Plant a Pizza Garden

Kids love pizza, so why not have them plant their own pizza garden? Choose vegetables and herbs that are commonly used in pizza toppings, such as tomatoes, peppers, basil, and oregano. Once the plants grow, you can use them to make homemade pizzas together.

These are just some ideas to make gardening a fun and interactive experience for kids. By incorporating different activities and projects, you'll keep them engaged and excited about learning more.

Let Them Get Messy

Cleaning up dirty, muddy kids may not be your idea of a good time, but when it comes to gardening, getting messy is part of the fun. Let your child dig in the dirt, play with worms, and get their hands dirty. This sensory experience will help them connect with nature and learn about the importance of soil.

Teach Them About Nature

Teach your child about the different aspects of nature through gardening. They can learn about the life cycle of plants, how insects and animals play a role in the ecosystem, and the importance of taking care of our environment.

Of course, make sure the lessons are age-appropriate and interactive! You could show them the life cycle of a plant by planting seeds and watching them grow, or how insects help pollinate flowers by observing bees in the garden.

Engage Their Senses

Gardening is a multi-sensory experience, so encourage your child to use all their senses while gardening. Ways to do this include:

Sight

Plant a variety of colorful flowers and plants to engage your child's sense of sight. You can also create visual interest by using different textures and patterns in the garden.

Smell

Include fragrant flowers and herbs, such as lavender and rosemary, in your garden to stimulate your child's sense of smell. Encourage them to take deep breaths and describe the scents they experience.

Touch

Let your child feel different textures in the garden, from soft petals to prickly stems. This will help them develop their tactile senses.

Taste

Growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs in the garden is a great way to introduce your child to new flavors and encourage healthier eating habits.

Let Them Try Out Different Tools

Get your little ones excited about nature with a fun kids' gardening set! Let them dig, plant, and explore with their very own tools. They can use a weed remover to tackle pesky weeds, a watering can to give thirsty plants a drink, and tiny shovels to dig holes or move dirt around. Giving them their own tools makes them feel like real gardeners and encourages them to get involved.

Get Imaginative

Is your child just a regular old kid helping mom or dad out in the garden? Or are they a fairy princess growing magical flowers in their enchanted garden, a pirate searching for treasure in the dirt, or a scientist conducting plant experiments? Let your child's imagination run wild while gardening and see where it takes them.

Change It Up Day to Day

Lastly, keep things interesting by changing up the activities and projects you do in the garden. This will prevent boredom and make gardening feel like a new adventure every day. Don't be afraid to try new things and let your child's interests guide the direction of the garden.

Make gardening fun, and your child will latch onto this activity in no time. Keep in mind the goal isn't to create a perfect garden, but rather to introduce your child to the joys of gardening and nature through play. They might now sow the seeds in straight lines or accidentally pull out a flower instead of a weed, and that’s okay as long as they're having fun and learning.

At Rutabaga Gardening, our goal is to get families outside and enjoying nature together! We have a library of resources to make gardening fun and accessible for kids of all ages. We also sell eco-friendly, ergonomic, and durable gardening tools, including hand rakes, weed removers, and scoops, for little hands. Visit our website to learn more and start gardening with your child today!