Gardening is more than just planting and pruning—it’s a wonderful way to bond with family and teach children about nature. Here are 25 engaging garden activities that parents and grandparents can enjoy together with their kids, creating lasting memories and fostering a love for the outdoors.
1. Planting a Vegetable Garden
Teaching children how to grow their own food can be incredibly rewarding. Choose easy-to-grow vegetables like tomatoes, carrots, and lettuce. They can also paint pots and rocks to decorate!
2. Building a Butterfly Garden
Select plants that attract butterflies, such as milkweed, lavender, and marigolds. Spend time observing and identifying different butterfly species together.
3. Creating a Fairy Garden
Use small plants and flowers, pebbles, and miniature accessories to create a magical fairy garden. Let the kids’ imaginations run wild as they design their own tiny world.
4. Composting Together
Start a compost bin and teach children about recycling organic waste. Show them how kitchen scraps and yard waste can turn into nutrient-rich compost. Let kids toss their apple cores, orange peels, and other things into the pile.
5. Bird Watching and Feeding
Set up bird feeders and bird baths. Spend time identifying various bird species and learning about their habits. Kids can also make a DIY birdfeeder using pinecones, peanut butter, and bird seed.
6. Starting a Herb Garden
Plant an assortment of herbs like basil, mint, and rosemary. Teach kids how to care for them and use the herbs in cooking. Herbs are also fun to grow for sensory reasons.
7. Creating a Rock Garden
Collect and paint rocks together, then arrange them in a decorative garden space. This activity is great for sparking creativity.
8. Building a Worm Farm
Create a worm farm to compost food scraps and produce nutrient-rich soil. Kids will enjoy watching the worms at work and gathering more during the rain to add in.
9. Gardening for Pollinators
Plant flowers that attract bees and other pollinators. Educate children about the important role pollinators play in the ecosystem.
10. Growing Sunflowers
Sunflowers are easy to grow and can reach impressive heights. Have a competition to see whose sunflower grows the tallest. Kids can also do this with pumpkins and who can grow the biggest one!
11. Creating a Sensory Garden
Design a garden that stimulates all five senses with fragrant flowers, textured plants, colorful blooms, and edible veggies and herbs.
12. Building a Garden Teepee
Use bamboo poles and vining plants like beans or morning glories to create a garden teepee that kids can play inside. You can also create one from sunflowers!
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13. Leaf Rubbings
Collect various leaves and make leaf rubbings with crayons and paper. It’s a fun way to learn about different plant species.
14. Creating a Garden Journal
Encourage kids to keep a garden journal where they can draw pictures, note observations, and track the growth of their plants.
15. Making Birdhouses
Build and decorate birdhouses to hang in the garden. This craft activity can also help attract more birds to your yard.
16. Nature Scavenger Hunt
Organize a scavenger hunt for items like specific leaves, flowers, insects, and rocks. It’s a great way to explore and learn about nature.
17. Planting Bulbs
Teach children how to plant bulbs in the fall so they can look forward to beautiful blooms in the spring.
18. Creating a Rain Garden
Build a rain garden to help manage stormwater runoff. This project teaches kids about water conservation and sustainable gardening.
19. Making Homemade Garden Markers
Craft personalized garden markers using painted rocks, popsicle sticks, or recycled materials.
20. Harvesting and Cooking
Harvest vegetables and herbs from the garden and use them to cook a family meal together. Kids will love eating food they helped grow.
21. Nature Crafts
Collect natural materials like leaves, pinecones, and flowers to create crafts such as wreaths, mobiles, and collages.
22. Building a Raised Bed Garden
Construct a raised bed garden to make planting and weeding easier, especially for older grandparents.
23. Planting a Tree
Plant a tree together and watch it grow over the years. This long-term project can mark a special occasion or milestone.
24. Watering the Garden
Teach kids about the importance of watering plants. Use watering cans or a garden hose with a gentle spray nozzle.
25. Stargazing and Night Gardening
Spend an evening in the garden looking at the stars. Plant night-blooming flowers like moonflowers to enjoy a beautiful nocturnal garden.
Get Outside!!
Gardening offers a wealth of activities that can be enjoyed by all ages, providing opportunities for learning, creativity, and bonding. These 25 activities are perfect for parents and grandparents to do with their children, fostering a love for nature and creating cherished family memories. Get outside, get your hands dirty, and start making those memories today!
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