While some children love running around and getting their hands mucky, others are much more interested in staying inside playing their favourite computer games. If you have been unsuccessful in your attempts to encourage your children to come outdoors with you, perhaps you just need a little more inspiration when it comes to garden ideas for kids? Allow us to help – from easy vegetables to grow to toddler planting activities, we’re here to give you some inspiration for different projects that will help entice them outside.
By getting your kids out into the garden you’ll not only be encouraging them to learn, but you’ll also be helping them appreciate nature and the environment. To discover some of the best garden activities for kids that can help keep the whole family entertained, read on.
Set up a vegetable garden together
Have you always dreamed of starting your own vegetable garden at home? If so, why not get the kids to help you set it up once you have looked into some easy vegetables to grow? You can begin growing vegetables at any time of year and you’ll all get a real sense of achievement once they are ready to be eaten! This is also a great way to teach your kids about where food comes from.
Before you and the children sow your chosen seeds, it’s essential that you do your research to find out what grows best when. If you are choosing to grow them in a polytunnel, our yearly planner will help you and your little ones to decide when to sow, plant and harvest your tasty produce!
Before starting this child-friendly garden idea, ensure that you’ve picked the perfect spot for your vegetables to grow. The crops will need to be on a light spot on level ground and will also need to be watered regularly. If you have more than one child, nominate each one to look after them on different days, so that you can instil a sense of responsibility in them all.
Create a plant display
If your garden is looking empty and in need of some gorgeous plants and flowers, you can ask your kids if they’d like to plant some seeds, before waiting to watch them sprout. There are plenty of fool-proof plants for kids including daisies, petunias and sunflowers, so when you make your way to the garden centre together, ensure that you steer them in the direction of these.
Growing plants with kids is so much fun and they will get a real kick out of watching their projects grow and come to life. If you have young children, have a look in your garden shed for some spare pots or containers to plant in, as they are more manageable for smaller hands. Your little ones can then really get stuck into digging and watering their new, vibrant children’s garden. Once the hard work is done, don’t forget to keep pests at bay by protecting your plants with a garden cloche.
Make glass jar terrariums
Gardening with children in the UK can be so rewarding, but there are also times where the weather may not allow you to get outside. When the sun isn’t shining, you can have a go at children’s gardening activities indoors, such as creating your own glass jar terrariums. These are a brilliant way of incorporating plants into home décor.
To start, collect large glass containers with lids and then head out with the children to purchase your plants − ensure that each plant will fit nicely into its new home. After that, get your kids to pop some tiny rocks into the bottom of each jar, before pouring in a soil mix and then placing the plants inside. To make it even more exciting, they can choose to decorate their terrariums with plastic figures such as fairies, sea creatures or other fascinating animals. Ask your kids to water the plant before popping the lid back on and finding a home for their new terrarium.
These family garden ideas will provide fantastic entertainment for everyone and will enable you to make lovely memories that you can all cherish for years to come. For more fun garden activities for kids to try, take a look at our ‘gardening activities for kids’ here.