Fun Gardening Activities with Children

by Kristen Smeal, Master Gardener

Gardening as a family gives children the opportunity to develop new skills and take ownership of family responsibilities. Getting outside, at a safe distance from others, can help boost the spirits and productivity of children and adults alike. If it’s not possible to get outside, there are some ways to bring nature and garden-science based lessons into the home. The following activities can be enjoyed by children, though some adult supervision is advised.

Weeding

Recent rains have brought a myriad of the usual Spring weeds to the yard. Teach children to identify chickweed, dandelion, henbit, yellow wood-sorrel (oxalis), annual bluegrass, and common groundsel. Watch out for stinging nettles that might have popped up in the thick of the others!

*If disposing of weeds that have gone to seed in a backyard compost, make sure it gets above 145 degrees to destroy weeds and seeds. Otherwise, you should dispose of weeds in the municipal compost.

Sprouting

Sprouting is a fun, nutrient-packed way to teach children about germination and plant botany. It’s easy to turn this activity into a science lesson by showing children how plants can sprout without soil, but still need light, water, and air. In this time of unavailability, you can sprout something as simple as lentils from the grocery store.

What you’ll need:
* Glass jar canning ring or rubber band mesh (or repurposed garlic/shallot bags from Trader Joes)
* Seeds for sprouting (mung beans, lentils, peas, wheat berries, etc.)

What to do:

  1. Add ½ cup of seeds to the glass jar, secure mesh with canning ring or rubber band.
  2. Soak the seeds for 2-6 hours.
  3. Drain the water and swish with fresh water, then dump, shaking excess water through the filter.
  4. Let the seeds sit on the counter, rinsing 1-2 times each day.
  5. After 3-4 days, the sprouts are ready to eat or prepare in a dish. Towel dry and refrigerate the sprouts if you are not going to use them right away, they will get moldy quickly on the counter after sprouting.

Sprouting seeds project

Egg Head Planters

Egg cup seedlingsPlanting in the shells of eggs is a fun, indoor activity. Wheatgrass, wheat berries, grass seed, lentils, and chia seeds sprout fairly quickly and without much maintenance. If you don’t have soil, try shredded newspaper. Use googly eyes or draw on the faces with a marker. Younger kids might need help adjusting the pressure with which they hold the eggs, a good practice in being gentle. Watch as the sprouts grow from the head just like hair. Keep soil moist, but not soaking. When the plant gets to be more than 2 inches you can transplant the entire egg into the garden.

*Tip- when cracking the egg, be careful to preserve the shell as much as possible. You can use two halves for mini eggheads or try to crack at the top for a larger pot.