Indoor Garden Activities For Kids
This page may contain affiliate links. Learn More.
There are so many activities you can do with your daycare kids, but with gardening, you engage all the senses and teach infinite concepts. You don’t have to be outside to learn from the garden. Check out these Indoor Garden Activities that will engage your kids and keep you motivated too.
Garden activities for kids
Engaging kids in garden activities is a fantastic way to foster a love for nature, teach valuable life skills, and encourage healthy habits.
Engaging in gardening activities offers a myriad of benefits for kids, both physical and emotional. Here are some key advantages:
- Physical Exercise: Gardening involves physical activities such as digging, planting, watering, and weeding, which help kids develop gross motor skills, strength, and coordination.
- Healthy Eating Habits: Growing their own fruits, vegetables, and herbs encourages kids to eat more fresh and nutritious foods. They are more likely to try new foods when they have been involved in the growing process.
- Connection to Nature: Gardening provides kids with opportunities to connect with the natural world, fostering a sense of wonder, curiosity, and appreciation for plants, insects, and the environment.
- Stress Relief: Spending time in the garden can be therapeutic for kids, offering a peaceful and calming environment to unwind, relax, and reduce stress and anxiety.
- Learning Opportunities: Gardening is a hands-on learning experience that teaches kids valuable lessons about science, biology, ecology, and the life cycle of plants. They learn about topics such as photosynthesis, pollination, and composting in a tangible and memorable way.
- Responsibility and Ownership: Taking care of plants requires commitment and responsibility, teaching kids important life skills such as patience, perseverance, and accountability. They learn the consequences of their actions and the importance of caring for living things.
- Problem-Solving Skills: Gardening presents challenges such as pest infestations, diseases, and adverse weather conditions, which provide opportunities for kids to problem-solve and find creative solutions to overcome obstacles.
- Sensory Stimulation: Gardening engages all the senses, allowing kids to explore the textures, colors, smells, tastes, and sounds of the natural world. This sensory stimulation promotes cognitive development and enhances sensory awareness.
- Environmental Awareness: Gardening instills a sense of environmental responsibility in kids, teaching them about topics like conservation, sustainability, and the importance of protecting natural resources.
- Emotional Well-being: Gardening promotes a sense of accomplishment, pride, and satisfaction when kids see the fruits of their labor, whether it’s a blooming flower, a ripe tomato, or a flourishing garden bed. It boosts self-esteem and confidence and provides a positive outlet for self-expression and creativity.
Overall, gardening activities offer a holistic approach to children’s development, nurturing their physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being while fostering a deep connection to nature and the world around them.
If you want to read the full story of how we got started growing our own food at Little Sprouts and get all the basics to start yourself, check this out. The Journey of the Little Sprouts: A Guide for Growing a Better Tomorrow.
Indoor garden activities for kids
Indoor garden activities offer a wonderful opportunity for kids to engage with nature, learn about plants, and have fun while staying indoors. So you can learn from the garden even when you can’t be outside. Here are some indoor garden activities tailored specifically for kids:
- Planting Seeds: Provide kids with small pots, potting soil, and seeds of their choice (such as herbs, flowers, or vegetables). Let them plant the seeds and learn about germination and then watch them grow indoors on a sunny windowsill.
- Herb Garden in a Container: Create a mini herb garden in a container or window box. Kids can plant herbs like basil, parsley, or mint and learn how to care for them by watering and harvesting.
- Terrarium Making: Guide kids in creating their own terrarium using a glass container, potting soil, small plants like succulents or ferns, and decorative elements like rocks and figurines. This activity teaches them about ecosystems and plant care.
- Indoor Plant Care: Encourage kids to help care for indoor plants by watering them, removing dead leaves, and gently wiping the leaves to keep them clean. This fosters a sense of responsibility and connection to nature.
- DIY Plant Markers: Have kids make their own plant markers using craft sticks, paint, and markers. They can decorate the markers with the names of the plants they are growing and place them in the pots or containers. Or they can make them with painted rocks.
- Leaf Rubbings: Go on a scavenger hunt indoors to find different types of leaves. Place a leaf under a piece of paper and use crayons to create leaf rubbings, revealing the intricate patterns and textures of the leaves.
- Nature Journaling: Encourage kids to keep a nature journal to document their indoor garden activities, observations, and drawings of plants. This helps develop their observation skills and encourages creativity.
- Indoor Garden Sensory Bin: Create a sensory bin filled with potting soil, small plants, gardening tools, and sensory materials like rocks, shells, and small toys. Kids can explore and play while engaging their senses.
- Plant Propagation: Teach kids how to propagate plants from cuttings by taking stem cuttings from houseplants like pothos or spider plants. They can place the cuttings in water or soil and watch them grow roots.
- Storytime in the Garden: Set up a cozy corner in the indoor garden area with cushions or blankets where kids can enjoy reading books about plants, gardens, and nature.
Check out this super fun garden bingo game for kids!
These indoor garden activities provide kids with hands-on learning experiences, spark their curiosity, and foster a deeper connection to the natural world, even when they’re indoors.
There are so many great things that kids can learn in the garden, check out even more garden activities here:
