My growing up years included hours in the pea patch weeding my mother's garden. I remember each year, I'd start out with grand hopes for my own little garden, but never got very far.
Our boys have loved gardening since they were infants... well, mostly I think they just love digging in the dirt and bulldozing. But we always make sure they spend some time actually planting, watering, and harvesting. (And when they can tell a weed from a vegetable, they'll be just like me, out in the pea patch!).
Hands-on gardening activities for kids
Today, there's more support than ever for parents who want to introduce kids to gardening joys. Here's just a few of the educational toys we're using this spring to share our love of gardening with the boys. (This post is sponsored by the brands featured).
The Young Scientist's Club - Science on a Backyard Adventure Kit
Kids can dig deeper into the science of gardening with The Young Scientist's Club Science on a Backyard Adventure kit. With over 18 activities and experiments with plants. Projects let kids test water and soil pH, and learn about underground habitats. From the soil to the seed and then on to caring for plants, the kit covers a range of gardening facts in detail and with hands-on fun for kids. Plus, the kit comes with all the materials you'll need, except water!
We spent about an hour with this kit the first time we broke it out. We hydrated peat pellets, talked about soil, tested both water and soil pH, and played with bugs! I'm excited that this is a kit that can be used over multiple days, because it sure keeps kids busy. The guide included offers parents a script to read through as you talk about each activity - super helpful for me because although I am married to a chemist, I do not know how to explain the idea of "pH balance!"
This kit is just one of four in the Nature Series. At just $14.99 for 18 activities, that's less than a dollar per activity! You can't beat that for hands on learning value! And after the projects are done, the kids still have the mini tools, watering can and plastic bugs to play with!
Also, there's The Young Scientist's Series which are 12 sets each with 3 kits inside! I plan to add a few more kits into our homeschooling plan for next year after we finish this one.
LEGO Duplo Farm Set
For the very young, pique their interest in gardening and farms with the LEGO Duplo Farm set. Although it's technically a farm set, when I brought this out, my two year old immediately said, "Where we get food?" Which led to a conversation about all the jobs on a farm, including planting and harvesting. The special decorated bricks led to conversations about how some farms aren't vegetable farms but produce other food like milk and eggs.
Kids make connections with even the slightest prompting, so take advantage of the teachable moments hands on toys provide! Kids enjoy talking and listening while they build, and this set is rated for ages 1-½ to 5. You can see my 5 year old and 2.5 year old both enjoyed playing garden! Getting little ones excited about planting and growing the food they eat is just the first building block towards raising kids who grow their own food.
Create a Garden Exploration Table for Indoor Play
Of course, when the weather's not quite right for getting outdoors, there's still plenty of ways to introduce kids to gardening inside! This past weekend I set up garden exploration table with all our gardening toys and crafts. The boys enjoyed so many activities.
How do you get your kids involved in gardening at your home?
This post is brought to you by the brands featured and I received products for review. All opinions are my own.
Great post, Julie! I`m always trying to spend some time with my 6-year-old girl at the garden. She really likes taking care of the flowers!
This has been a loooonnnng winter! Can't wait to taste the fresh veggies and fruits from the garden again!
This has been a loooonnnng winter! Can't wait to taste the fresh veggies and fruits from the garden again!
I can't wait until it's warm enough to plant our garden. We love growing veggies and flowers. Thanks for having this contest.
I can't wait until it's warm enough to plant our garden. We love growing veggies and flowers. Thanks for having this contest.
we love to garden we try to do a variety of veggies and flowers ty for this great chance
we love to garden we try to do a variety of veggies and flowers ty for this great chance
Every year we have a vegetable garden and the kids love to plant the seeds after we have tilled the soil. I make the rows and they carefully put in the seeds. They love seeing the vegetables come up and knowing they helped really makes them want to eat them.
Every year we have a vegetable garden and the kids love to plant the seeds after we have tilled the soil. I make the rows and they carefully put in the seeds. They love seeing the vegetables come up and knowing they helped really makes them want to eat them.
I don't have to ask my kids they just want to help garden and I love to grow tomatoes, corn well anything
I don't have to ask my kids they just want to help garden and I love to grow tomatoes, corn well anything
I would love to grow blueberries and watermelons!
Thank You
I would love to grow blueberries and watermelons!
Thank You
We have a large organic vegetable and herb garden. This year, our 7, 8 and 9 asked to have their own gardens that they worked on by themselves. We gave them a small section of land that we divided up for them. They are so excited that the first sprouts are coming up now.
We have a large organic vegetable and herb garden. This year, our 7, 8 and 9 asked to have their own gardens that they worked on by themselves. We gave them a small section of land that we divided up for them. They are so excited that the first sprouts are coming up now.
Our kids love to help plant the garden & also love to help keep it weeded!
andysavi.mom@gmail.com
Our kids love to help plant the garden & also love to help keep it weeded!
andysavi.mom@gmail.com
My son loves to weed, so he helps me with that. It's actually pretty fun.
My son loves to weed, so he helps me with that. It's actually pretty fun.
I plant strawberries, they love to eat them when they are ready so they are happy to help.
I plant strawberries, they love to eat them when they are ready so they are happy to help.
my LO helps in our veggie garden. we grow beans, collards and lots of other great stuff
my LO helps in our veggie garden. we grow beans, collards and lots of other great stuff
My kids love to be out in the garden! We love to try to grow new veggies every year!
My kids love to be out in the garden! We love to try to grow new veggies every year!
My kids love to help me plant seeds and harvest. Even as toddlers I would take them out to the garden with me to help.
My kids love to help me plant seeds and harvest. Even as toddlers I would take them out to the garden with me to help.
We like to grow tomatoes and some basil and oregano. I also like spaghetti squash but the darned squash bugs ruined everything last Summer when we were gone for a week. =(
We like to grow tomatoes and some basil and oregano. I also like spaghetti squash but the darned squash bugs ruined everything last Summer when we were gone for a week. =(
We grow lots of tomatoes and garlic; everything else varies year to year.
We grow lots of tomatoes and garlic; everything else varies year to year.
We start seeds and watch them grow, when they are big enough we plant them outside.
We start seeds and watch them grow, when they are big enough we plant them outside.
We grow tomatoes, onions and cucumbers mostly! My daughter always loves to put the seeds in and do the watering!
We grow tomatoes, onions and cucumbers mostly! My daughter always loves to put the seeds in and do the watering!
I don't have a lot of room, unfortunately, but I love to grow strawberries and cherry tomatoes.
I don't have a lot of room, unfortunately, but I love to grow strawberries and cherry tomatoes.
This year Id like to try a small bed with items to make salsa so the kids can see it from finish to end.
This year Id like to try a small bed with items to make salsa so the kids can see it from finish to end.
They like to help because they like to eat good fruits and vegetables
They like to help because they like to eat good fruits and vegetables
I let my grandkids water lots of plants
I let my grandkids water lots of plants
My kids grow all kinds of succulents since they are so easy
My kids grow all kinds of succulents since they are so easy
We are growing carrots, radish, mint, dill, yellow squash, bell peppers and watermelon.
We are growing carrots, radish, mint, dill, yellow squash, bell peppers and watermelon.
We plan to grow a garden box this year, and some pots of plants too like tomatoes, peppers, and herbs!
We plan to grow a garden box this year, and some pots of plants too like tomatoes, peppers, and herbs!
So far, we've just grown a few things in pots, but this would be great!
So far, we've just grown a few things in pots, but this would be great!
I love love love gardening, and getting the kids involved! A few years ago I took milk jugs, cut them in half, filled with dirt and let the kids plant flowers. They never grew 🙁 but they had fun doing it.
It is spring in Wisconsin and I am SO excited to start planting things with my daughter again. She had a blast last summer. Her dad totally taught her the difference between a pea and a weed - and it seems she has his green thumb!
You post reminded me I should really look for some organic non-GMO seeds for our garden this year. And I love the science kit! Did your youngest get a lot out of that? My daughter is three but she is so curious and this could be right up her alley since she loves nature.
Cute ideas!
My daughter helps plant the seeds in egg cartons and other non purchaseable containers that we already have. She also loves to help transfer the plants into the ground or buckets.
My daughter helps plant the seeds in egg cartons and other non purchaseable containers that we already have. She also loves to help transfer the plants into the ground or buckets.
We love to grow cucumbers, tomatoes, and bell pepper.
We love to grow cucumbers, tomatoes, and bell pepper.
You've seen my yard. Our kids each have their own raised bed inside of our garden. They love picking their own veggies to grow every year 🙂
WE have tried to grow a garden for 2 years and it has been so fun for the kids to see the veggies grow and actually get to eat their veggies at harvest. I think it is a great experience for kids to have!
Oh and my kids love to help weed, water, and dig up the dirt! 🙂 (those are their favorite parts)
How FUN! I'm all about gardening and involving the kids--these products look amazing--my kids would love them!
Oh and my kids love to help weed, water, and dig up the dirt! 🙂 (those are their favorite parts)
We let them have a part of the garden to plant whatever flowers they choose. They also help to pick out which veggies they want to grow.
We let them have a part of the garden to plant whatever flowers they choose. They also help to pick out which veggies they want to grow.
We like to grow onions, corn and carrots together.
We plan the garden together as a family. We love to plant strawberries and tomatoes. The kids love to see it grow.
We plan the garden together as a family. We love to plant strawberries and tomatoes. The kids love to see it grow.
Get them started early! Let them have a space to call their own and give them ownership over it.
My girls are old enough now to help in every stage of gardening from planting, to watering, to picking. They love the fresh produce.
Get them started early! Let them have a space to call their own and give them ownership over it.
My girls are old enough now to help in every stage of gardening from planting, to watering, to picking. They love the fresh produce.