Gardening activities for kids: easy plants and nature crafts

Gardening is one of the best activities for children. They get fresh air, learn where food comes from, practise patience and feel proud when something they planted grows. You do not need a big garden: a windowsill, a balcony or a few pots are plenty. This guide covers easy plants for kids, gardening activities, nature crafts, flower crafts and tips for gardening with children of every age.

Why gardening is good for kids

Gardening teaches science (how plants grow), math (measuring and counting), responsibility (watering) and patience (waiting for seeds to sprout). It is also calming, active and a great way to spend time together outside. Children who grow vegetables are often more willing to taste them.

Easy plants for kids to grow

• Cress. Sprouts in a few days on damp cotton wool. Perfect for impatient gardeners.
• Sunflowers. Grow very tall and fast; measure them every week.
• Beans. Grow quickly and you can see the roots in a clear jar.
• Radishes. Ready to eat in about a month.
• Cherry tomatoes. Easy in pots and sweet to eat.
• Strawberries. Grow well in pots and hanging baskets.
• Marigolds and nasturtiums. Bright, easy flowers that attract insects.
• Herbs. Mint, basil and chives grow well on windowsills.
• Potatoes. Grow in a bag or bucket and digging them up is like a treasure hunt.

Gardening activities for kids

1. Bean in a jar. Put damp paper towel in a jar and slide a bean between the towel and the glass. Watch the roots and shoot grow day by day.
2. Sunflower race. Each family member plants a sunflower and measures it weekly.
3. Cress heads. Draw a face on an eggshell, fill it with cotton wool and cress seeds, and watch the "hair" grow.
4. Garden diary. Draw and write about the garden each week.
5. Bug hunt. Look for worms, ladybugs and bees, and talk about how they help plants.
6. Make a bug hotel. Fill a box with sticks, pine cones and leaves.
7. Compost bin. Learn how kitchen scraps turn into soil.
8. Rainwater collection. Measure rainfall in a jar.
9. Seed sorting. Sort seeds by size, shape and color.
10. Plant labels. Paint stones or popsicle sticks with plant names.

Nature crafts for kids

Gardens and parks are full of free craft materials.

• Pressed flowers. Press flowers in a heavy book for a week, then use them on cards and bookmarks.
• Leaf prints. Paint the back of a leaf and press it onto paper.
• Nature collage. Glue leaves, petals, seeds and twigs onto card.
• Stick frames. Glue four sticks into a square and decorate.
• Painted pots. Decorate terracotta pots before planting.
• Pine cone bird feeders. Spread pine cones with seed butter and roll in birdseed.
• Nature mandalas. Arrange petals and leaves in a circle pattern, then color mandala pages at home.

Flower crafts for kids

• Tissue paper flowers. Stack tissue paper, fold like a fan, tie and fluff.
• Cupcake liner flowers. Glue liners onto paper and add stems.
• Egg carton flowers. Paint cups and add pipe cleaner stems.
• Paper plate sunflowers. Paint plates yellow and fill the middle with seeds.
• Flower coloring. Color our flower coloring pages and butterfly pages for a garden display.

Gardening with kids by age

Toddlers (ages 1 to 3)

Toddlers love digging, watering and touching. Give them a small watering can, a patch of soil and big seeds like beans or sunflowers. Supervise closely, as some plants and soil should not go in mouths.

Preschoolers (ages 3 to 5)

Preschoolers can plant seeds, water plants, pick vegetables and look for bugs. Choose fast-growing plants so they see results quickly.

School age (ages 6 to 12)

Older children can plan their own garden bed, keep a diary, measure growth, research plants and help with compost. Give them a small patch that is all their own.

Gardening learning activities

• Plant life cycle. Draw the stages: seed, sprout, plant, flower, seed.
• Parts of a plant. Label roots, stem, leaves and flower.
• Measuring. Measure plants with a ruler and make a graph. Our measurement worksheets and graphing worksheets are a good follow-up.
• Counting. Count seeds, petals and leaves.
• Reading. Read seed packets and plant labels together.

Tips for gardening with kids

• Choose fast-growing plants for quick results.
• Give children their own tools, sized for small hands.
• Use pots if you do not have space for a garden bed.
• Accept a messy garden; the learning matters more than perfection.
• Wash hands after gardening.
• Celebrate harvests, even if it is one radish.

Gardening all year round

• Spring: plant seeds and seedlings. See spring crafts for kids.
• Summer: water, weed and pick fruit and vegetables.
• Fall: plant bulbs for spring, collect seeds and make leaf crafts. See fall crafts for kids.
• Winter: grow herbs and cress on the windowsill and plan next year's garden.

Gardening on a windowsill

No outdoor space? A sunny windowsill can grow a surprising amount. Cress, herbs, spring onions, salad leaves and even cherry tomatoes grow well in pots indoors. Children can grow a "pizza garden" with basil, oregano and a tomato plant, then use what they grow on a homemade pizza. Regrow vegetables from scraps too: put the base of a lettuce or a spring onion in a shallow dish of water and watch new leaves grow.

Gardening and wildlife

Plant flowers that bees and butterflies love, such as lavender, marigolds and sunflowers. Add a shallow dish of water with stones for insects, and a bird feeder in winter. Children will start noticing more visitors each week, which is a lovely way to learn about nature.

Celebrate the first harvest with a small family meal, even if it is just a bowl of cress sandwiches. Children are proud to share what they grew, and they are far more likely to taste vegetables they planted themselves.

Frequently asked questions

What is the easiest plant for kids to grow?

Cress is the fastest: it sprouts in a few days on damp cotton wool. Sunflowers and beans are also easy and grow quickly.

What gardening activities are good for preschoolers?

Planting big seeds, watering, bean in a jar, cress heads, bug hunts and picking vegetables are all great for preschoolers.

Can kids garden without a garden?

Yes. Pots, window boxes, balconies and windowsills are perfect for herbs, cress, cherry tomatoes and strawberries.