Children's Garden Ideas

Let the children take control of the garden.

Gardening with kids gets the children away from the television or video games and outside in the fresh air. Simply using your existing garden isn't a good option because it's something you started. Children's garden ideas provide ways to make gardens just for kids. The kids take responsibility for planting the gardens and harvesting the plants once finished. The gardens instill a sense of confidence in the kids because they know they did the work.

Rainbow Garden

Build a rainbow garden based on the seven colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. As blue and indigo are fairly similar, you may opt to use just six colors, including one shade of blue. Let the children flip through catalogs from nurseries, picking out flowering plants that fit with each of the colors. Divide the garden space into different areas, making one separate color for each area. When the flowers bloom, it mimics the look of a rainbow.

Pizza Garden

Create a pizza garden that contains almost everything you need for a homemade pizza. Ask the kids for their favorite toppings. Include a few of your own, especially if the kids choose sausage, pepperoni and other items that you can't grow in the garden. Plant tomatoes, oregano, basil, garlic, green peppers, onions, mushrooms, banana peppers and jalapeno peppers. Once the plants reach maturity, harvest them and make your own pizza. Show the kids how to make their own pizza sauce with the tomatoes and herbs, before chopping the vegetables and using on store-bought pizza dough.

Tea Party

Little girls that love hosting tea parties should get pleasure from a tea party centered garden. Pick different types of plants used in the making of tea, including peppermint, chamomile, lemon grass, lemon balm and German sage. Grow the plants in old teapots or tea kettles purchased from thrift stores and flea markets. Decorate the center of the garden with a small table and chairs for her and her friends. Once the plants grow, show her how to dry them to make your own tea.

Butterfly Garden

Build a garden around a butterfly theme, laying out the plants in a curved formation similar to the wings of a butterfly. Once the plants begin blossoming, butterflies will flock to the area. Kids are delighted to watch the butterflies coming to their space and knowing they created it. Use plants that attract butterflies, including coneflowers, lavender, daisies and pin cushion flowers.

References

• 4-H Children's Garden at Michigan State University: Butterfly Garden
• KinderGARDEN: School Gardens