Gardening with Children

Gardening with Kids: Fun Seed Projects for Spring

Spring is the perfect time to introduce children to the magic of gardening. It’s a hands-on way for kids to connect with nature, learn responsibility, and experience the excitement of watching seeds grow into plants. Whether you have a big garden or just a small space, there are plenty of fun projects that children of all ages can enjoy. Here are some simple seed-starting activities to get kids excited about gardening this spring.

1. DIY Seed Bombs

Kids will love making seed bombs that they can toss into the garden or even vacant spaces to create pockets of flowers. To make seed bombs, you’ll need wildflower seeds, clay, and compost. The process is easy: mix a handful of wet clay with compost and wildflower seeds, roll it into small balls, and let them dry. Once they’re ready, let the kids toss them into the garden, and in time, they’ll see a burst of life as the seeds sprout into flowers. It’s a fun, eco-friendly way to green up any area! Sunflower seeds are another great option here.

2. Egg Carton Seed Starters

Teaching children how to reuse everyday items is a great lesson in sustainability, and using egg cartons as seed starters is the perfect way to do this. Simply fill the compartments of a recycled egg carton with soil, and let the kids plant seeds like beans, peas, or marigolds. Once the seeds sprout and grow, the entire carton can be planted directly into the ground, as it’s biodegradable. This is a fantastic, low-cost project that teaches kids how plants grow from seeds, and opting for quick to germinate seeds like beans, peas and marigolds means less waiting which keeps children engaged.

3. Creating a Sensory Garden

A sensory garden is a fantastic way to engage children with plants using all their senses. For a soft, tactile experience, consider plants like coleus, sage, mullein and lavender, which have velvety leaves. For scent, try growing fragrant herbs like mint, rosemary, or thyme. Kids will love smelling the plants, feeling their textures, and even tasting some edible herbs and flowers like viola and cosmos. Adding bright, visually appealing flowers like marigolds and sunflowers will complete the experience, giving kids a multisensory garden they can care for.

4. Time-Lapse Seed Watching

Some plants grow fast, making them perfect for kids who want quick results. Seeds like radishes, cress, or sunflowers grow rapidly and are exciting to watch over just a few days. Encourage your kids to document the growth by taking daily photos or even creating a time-lapse video. This project not only teaches patience but also makes science fun, as kids get to witness the entire growth cycle from seed to plant. This is made even more interactive by starting the seeds in a plastic cup, using a wet papertowel as the soil. You will be able to watch the roots develop within mere days, and in a week or two, these plants can be transplanted out into the garden to continue their growing. This works particularly great with beans!

5. Planting a Rainbow Garden 

Kids love bright colours, so why not let them plant a rainbow? Choose plants or vegetables in a variety of vibrant rainbow hues—think red tomatoes, orange marigolds, yellow sunflowers, green beans, blue cornflower, and purple eggplants. This themed garden will keep children excited as they watch their colourful plants grow and bloom, creating a rainbow in their own backyard.

6. Adding a Touch of Magic

Transform your garden into a magical adventure for kids by hiding gnome homes or fairy burrows among the plants! Tuck small doors into the base of trees or hide tiny houses behind bushes, inviting children to discover these hidden worlds as they explore. Pebble pathways, crystals, tiny statues of mushrooms and frogs, the ideas are endless. This fun addition adds a sense of wonder to gardening, encouraging kids to spend more time outside, imagining the secret lives of garden fairies and gnomes while they help tend to the plants. It’s a simple way to make the garden feel like a magical, living place full of surprises!

Gardening with kids not only helps plants grow, but it also benefits their health by exposing them to beneficial microbes in the soil. One of these microbes, Mycobacterium vaccae, has been shown to boost the immune system and even improve mood by increasing serotonin levels, often called the "happy hormone." When children dig in the dirt, they come into contact with these healthy microbes, which can strengthen their immune system and reduce the risk of allergies and asthma. So, letting kids get their hands dirty in the garden is not only fun but also a natural way to support their physical and mental well-being!

No time like the present, and instilling a love of nature and a strong foundation in knowing where fresh food comes from and what it takes to get on your plate is sure to cultivate a life where your children's health and wellness is intimately integrated with the natural world around them.

Happy planting!