The Big List of Ideas for Gardening with Kids
I love gardening with kids. It’s a great way to get them outside, and it’s also a fun way for us to spend time together. And if you’re looking for some ideas of what to do, I have compiled a list of activities that we’ve done in the past. There are so many different ways you can garden with kids!
I’ve never had a spectacular garden. But I work at it every year. And some years the garden has looked wonderful! Despite the fact that I’m not a master gardener and I still have a lot to learn, I still love working with my kids in the garden.
My kids are getting older. The youngest is 11 years old already! This week, now that the snow has melted away and the ground has warmed up a bit, we started preparing our raised beds for seeds, starting with Alaska Peas. It’s an exciting time and my three youngest girls {11, 14, & 18} offered to come out and help me pull weeds and get the beds ready. There’s so much promise in a little seed!
Over the years I’ve had the most success with tomatoes, but this year I’m really hoping for a good crop of yellow squash, grapes, cucumbers, and strawberries!
Planning out a garden can be a lot of fun, and if you give your child {or children} a 4 x 4 raised square foot bed they can plant they’ll be extra excited about gardening! Plus, growing your own veggies is a great way to get little ones to be open to trying new tastes and flavors at the table!
Free Garden Planner
Be sure to grab my Free Square Foot Gardening Planner here.
Since I’m not a gardening expert, I’ve found some resources to help me and you have a fun and fruitful time in the garden with our children!
Tips for Gardening with Kids
- You’ll find lots of ideas for gardens that kids can grow on Garden Ideas for Kids.
- Dinah shares about planing a flower bed in Gardening with Kids.
- The Ultimate Guide to Gardening with Kids has lots of ideas to get you started!
- Beginner’s Guide to Gardening with Kids is a great resource!
Activities for Gardening with Kids
- How to Make an Egg Herb Garden
- Earth Box Set-Up
- Gardening Art from Pop Cans
- DIY Plant Markers
- DIY Watering Can
- How to Make Seed Bombs
- 12 Simple Gardening Projects for Kids
- DIY Rainbow Garden Markers
- How to Make a Womery
- Create a Ladybug Crossing
- Paint a Hopscotch Stepping Stone Game
- Grow My Garden Busy Bag for Preschoolers
- Hands-on Gardening Unit Study Ideas for Kids
Books to Read
Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children
Gardening Lab for Kids: 52 Fun Experiments to Learn, Grow, Harvest, Make, Play, and Enjoy Your Garden
Square Foot Gardening with Kids: Learn Together: – Gardening Basics – Science and Math – Water Conservation – Self-sufficiency – Healthy Eating
Project Garden: A Month-by-Month Guide to Planting, Growing, and Enjoying ALL Your Backyard Has to Offer
The Best-Ever Step-By-Step Kid’s First Gardening: Fantastic Gardening Ideas For 5-12 Year Olds, From Growing Fruit And Vegetables And Fun With Flowers To Wildlife Gardening And Craft Projects
Free Printables
- How to Garden with Kids + Free Printables
- Plant Life Cycle Printables
- My Garden Notebook Printable
- Garden Scavenger Hunt for Kids
- Vegetable Garden Flashcards
- My Vegetable Garden Coloring Page
How to Grow Plants
- How to Grown Blackberry Bushes
- 5 Herbs That are Easy for Kids to Grow
- How to Make Inverted Tomato Planters
- Easy Plants to Grown with Children
Gardening Crafts
- Garden Rock Caterpillar
- How to Make Stepping Stones in a Cake Pan
- DIY Garden Mushrooms
- Tic Tac Toe Garden Table
- Egg Carton Greenhouses
- Rock Mushrooms
- Strawberry Stones
Printable Square Foot Garden Planner
I created this printable so that whether you have 4 x 4 or 4 x 8 raised beds, you can use this square foot garden planning grid to help you plan.
Your post on planting a garden with kids was really great! I love the way you get creative and have so many ideas for engaging your children in gardening. We at lawn care services find it so important to teach our children about healthy eating and get them involved in growing their own food. We know that learning begins outside the classroom.
I loved your article on the Big List of Ideas for Gardening with Kids. I am always looking for ways to get my kids more engaged in gardening and this was perfect!
I saw your article and had to share it with my wife – she’s a big gardener! I really enjoyed reading through the various ideas you shared. It sounds like we’re going to have plenty of things to try this year. I’m also glad that you mentioned the need for children’s gardening activities, as my three youngest girls are starting to get interested in what goes on in our garden too. They all want their own raised beds now, which is great because they’re always looking for projects they can do outside while I take care of other things around the house. Thanks again for an excellent article!