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Fourteen kid-friendly gardening activities for fun and learning in your backyard

Enjoy a variety of delightful activities to amuse your children in the garden, as suggested by BBC Gardeners' World Magazine's resident experts.

Thirteen DIY gardening ventures suitable for children
Thirteen DIY gardening ventures suitable for children

Fourteen kid-friendly gardening activities for fun and learning in your backyard

Discover a host of engaging outdoor activities and DIY garden projects suitable for primary school-aged children and toddlers. These activities aim to encourage children to explore the great outdoors, connect with nature, and develop a love for gardening.

For primary school-aged kids, nature-based activities offer a wealth of opportunities to learn and play. Nature walks, birdwatching, and bouldering are just a few examples of the exciting adventures that await. Sensory activities, such as barefoot walks, mud play, and sand play, stimulate the senses and foster a sense of wonder.

Garden projects are another wonderful way to engage children in the outdoors. Planting a garden together, creating nature mandalas, and building a bird feeder are all simple yet rewarding projects that can be enjoyed by kids of all ages.

For toddlers, there are plenty of age-appropriate activities to choose from. Mud pies, flower petal confetti, and nature collages are all fun and educational ways for toddlers to interact with their environment. Modifying activities like nature walks and sensory play can make them more accessible and safe for younger children.

Combining activities is a great way to keep the fun going. For example, a nature walk followed by a mud pie session or a garden project followed by a birdwatching session can create a memorable day for kids.

Growing radishes is a quick and exciting introduction to gardening for children. Collecting seeds from ripe seedheads in the garden can be a fun and educational activity. These garden projects can be tailored for older or younger kids, ensuring that everyone can participate and enjoy the experience.

Children may be more inclined to eat fresh produce if they've grown it themselves. A fairy garden, container ponds, hanging tin-can planters, and even a dinosaur herb garden are all delightful ways to encourage children to grow their own food.

For those with a smaller space, a terrarium mini-world is an excellent option. Succulents planted in a pot look good for months on end and require very little maintenance. Container ponds attract birds and insects, providing quiet wildlife-watching time.

With these creative outdoor activities and garden projects, children can learn, play, and grow in a fun and educational way. So, let's get outside and enjoy the wonders of nature together!

Engaging in home-and-garden activities, like gardening with primary school-aged kids, allows them to learn and grow while nurturing their relationship with nature. Simple projects, such as creating a bird feeder or building a fairy garden, can be both enjoyable and educational experiences.

Gardening is not limited to traditional plants; consider growing radishes as a quick and exciting introduction, or even create a unique dinosaur herb garden to spark their imagination. For those who have limited space, a terrarium mini-world with succulents or a container pond can provide a smaller yet captivating outdoor learning environment.

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