As the school summer holidays begin, many parents start looking for engaging, screen-free activities to keep the kids busy. If you’re searching for a fun, educational, and budget-friendly way to spend quality time outdoors, gardening with your children could be just the thing.
From growing sunflowers to hunting for worms, gardening can spark curiosity, build confidence, and encourage kids to connect with nature. Whether you have a large garden, a small patio, or just a few pots on a balcony, there are endless ways to get your children involved this summer.
In this post, we’ll explore the benefits of gardening with kids, share fun and simple gardening activities for all ages, and offer tips to make the experience safe, inclusive, and memorable.
Why Gardening is a Great Summer Activity for Kids
Gardening might not be the first thing that springs to mind when planning summer holiday activities—but it should be. Here’s why:
- Keeps Kids Active and Off Screens
Gardening gets kids moving, digging, lifting, watering, and exploring. It’s a healthy way to burn off energy and reduce screen time. - Teaches Responsibility and Patience
Tending to a plant teaches children to be responsible. Watching a seed grow into a flower or vegetable also helps them learn patience and persistence. - Encourages Curiosity and Learning
Gardening is a hands-on science lesson. Kids learn about the seasons, lifecycles, insects, pollination, and more—all while getting their hands dirty. - Supports Mental Wellbeing
Spending time in green spaces is known to reduce stress and anxiety, even in children. Gardening offers a calming, mindful activity in a chaotic world. - Fosters Family Bonding
Gardening together provides opportunities for teamwork, conversation, and shared achievements—perfect for making summer holiday memories.
What You’ll Need to Get Started
You don’t need much to begin. Here’s a simple gardening kit for kids:
- Child-friendly gardening gloves.
- Small trowel and watering can.
- Plant pots or containers.
- Compost or soil.
- Easy-to-grow seeds or seedlings.
- Sun hats and sun cream.
- Bug viewer or magnifying glass (optional but fun!)
Many garden centres sell child-sized tools and starter kits, or you can DIY with plastic containers and upcycled pots.
10 Fun Gardening Activities for Kids This Summer
Whether your kids are toddlers or tweens, these hands-on gardening ideas will keep them entertained all summer long.
Plant a Sunflower Race
Sunflowers are bright, fast-growing, and easy to care for—making them perfect for children. Give each child a pot or patch of soil to plant their own sunflower seed. Keep track of whose plant grows the tallest!
– Best for ages: 3+
– Time: 10 minutes to plant, weeks of excitement
Create a Fairy or Dinosaur Garden
Transform a shallow tray or pot into a magical mini world. Use small plants like moss or succulents and add pebbles, figurines, or craft items. Encourage kids to invent stories about the creatures who live there.
– Best for ages: 5+
– Time: 30–60 minutes
Grow Your Own Snacks
Get kids excited about healthy eating by growing something edible. Strawberries, cherry tomatoes, peas, or cress are all great beginner options. Let them taste the fruits of their labour—literally!
– Best for ages: 4+
– Time: 15 minutes to plant, daily watering and watching
Watering Duty
Turn watering into a fun daily job. Let kids fill their own watering cans and learn how much water different plants need. You can even use a water timer or sprinkler system to spark curiosity about how garden irrigation works.
– Best for ages: 2+
– Time: 5–15 minutes daily
Paint Plant Pots or Garden Signs
Set up a mini craft station outside and let kids paint pots, rocks, or wooden signs to label their plants. This adds a personal touch to your garden and keeps little hands busy on rainy days.
– Best for ages: 3+
– Time: 30+ minutes
Make a Wormery
Layer soil and sand in a clear jar and add a few worms (gently!) to observe how they tunnel. It’s a fun way to teach kids about composting and the role of worms in the garden.
– Best for ages: 6+
– Time: 15–30 minutes
Bug Hunt & Insect Hotel
Encourage children to observe nature closely. Go on a bug hunt to look for worms, bees, butterflies, and ladybirds. Then create a bug hotel from sticks, leaves, and bamboo canes to attract garden visitors.
– Best for ages: 6+
– Time: 30–60 minutes
Build a Bee-Friendly Garden
Teach children about pollinators by planting bee-friendly flowers like lavender, poppies, or marigolds. You could also add a bee bath using a shallow dish with stones and water.
– Best for ages: 4+
– Time: 15–30 minutes
Grow a Pizza Garden
Combine learning and food by planting pizza toppings! Think basil, oregano, tomatoes, and peppers. At the end of summer, use your harvest to make homemade pizzas.
– Best for ages: 5+
– Time: 15–20 minutes to plant, weeks to harvest
Create a Sensory Garden
Appeal to all five senses by planting a variety of textures, colours, smells, and sounds. Think lamb’s ear for touch, mint for smell, ornamental grasses for sound, and bright blooms for sight.
– Best for ages: All ages
– Time: Ongoing, build it gradually
Tips for Gardening with Children
Gardening with kids can be joyful, but it also comes with challenges—especially with short attention spans and mucky hands. Here are some tips to keep things running smoothly:
- Keep It Short and Simple: Aim for bite-sized activities, especially for younger children. 10–15 minutes of fun is better than an hour of frustration.
- Embrace the Mess: Gardening is messy! Have a few old towels, wipes, or a hosepipe handy—and maybe a change of clothes.
- Let Kids Take the Lead: Give children ownership over their own plant or patch of soil. Let them choose what to grow and how to decorate it.
- Make It Inclusive: Adapt gardening tools or activities if your child has physical disabilities, sensory sensitivities, or additional needs. Raised beds, wide paths, or even indoor planting can be great alternatives.
- Stay Safe: Keep tools age-appropriate and supervise when necessary. Teach children not to eat anything they haven’t identified as safe.
What to Grow: Easy Plants for Kids
For the best chance of success (and avoiding frustration), start with low-maintenance, quick-growing plants. Some favourites include:
- Sunflowers – Big, fast, and impressive.
- Cress – Sprouts in days, great for sandwiches.
- Radishes – Quick and crunchy.
- Tomatoes – Sweet, juicy, and fun to pick.
- Strawberries – Popular and rewarding.
- Nasturtiums – Colourful, edible flowers.
- Peas – Sweet pods and fun tendrils.
You can also try growing from kitchen scraps—like regrowing lettuce or spring onions in a glass of water.
Gardening Indoors or Without a Garden
No garden? No problem. You can garden on a balcony, windowsill, or even in your kitchen. Try:
- Windowsill herb gardens.
- Hanging baskets.
- Container vegetable growing.
- Terrariums or mini greenhouses.
- Recycled bottle planters.
Indoor gardening can be just as rewarding—and less weather-dependent!
Gardening with kids over the summer holidays isn’t just about growing plants—it’s about growing minds, confidence, and family connections.
Whether you’ve got green fingers or you’re a complete beginner, these activities are a great way to make the most of the sunshine and school break.
If you’re looking for more activities to get you out in the sun this summer, have a look through our season-specific blogs!
