If you’ve been wondering how to teach kids about plants in a way that keeps them interested, here are 10 fun and engaging activities to help you cultivate young green thumbs.

Get Them Involved in Planting

One of the best ways to teach kids about plants is by getting their hands dirty. Give them kid-friendly tools and let them help with digging, planting and watering. Being directly involved in gardening benefits children in numerous ways. Other than promoting physical activity, it:

• Boosts cognitive processes like focus and memory.
• Improves motor skills.
• Motivates kids to eat healthier.
• Encourages them to spend time outside.
• Helps fight against stress and anxiety.

Consider giving them their own space to experiment and explore. Let them choose the plants they want to grow, but encourage them to begin with varieties that are easy to maintain like like sunflowers, radishes, peas and herbs.

By having ownership over their little patch of land, kids will feel more connected to the process. Even a few pots or containers on a patio can work if you don’t have a large yard. They’ll be more excited to care for plants when they feel like it’s “their” project.

Teach Gardening Through Storytelling

Children love stories, so why not combine reading with gardening? There are many wonderful books about plants, flowers and gardening adventures for kids of all ages. These tales can help explain the life cycle of a plant or offer gardening tips in a fun and engaging way.

After reading, take the children outside so they can apply what they’ve learned. Storytelling is a fantastic way to reinforce human connection to nature, which could inspire them to become champions of environmental conservation.

Incorporate Play Into Gardening

Children today spend a lot of time indoors, often in front of screens. Studies show that kids spend only four to seven minutes per day in outdoor play, but they spend over seven hours with electronic media. Gardening offers a great way to balance those screen hours with physical activity and creativity.

Encourage kids to run around, explore the garden and have fun as you teach them about the flora and fauna they encounter. Introduce games like setting up a fairy garden or designing a dinosaur-themed garden with small figurines hidden among the plants. These activities make gardening more playful and exciting for young minds, encouraging them to spend more time outside, burn off energy and reconnect with nature.

Turn Gardening Into a Science Experiment

Gardening offers endless opportunities to teach science. Show kids how plants need sunlight, water and soil to grow. Introduce them to composting, explain how leftover food scraps can become rich soil, and show them how to do it.

Take it further by turning garden time into a fun science experiment. You could grow two plants under different conditions — one in the sun and the other in the shade — and compare their growth. This hands-on learning will make gardening more exciting, acting as a motivator for participation.

Get Creative with Garden Crafts

Gardening doesn’t always have to be about growing plants. Get creative by making garden-themed crafts with your kids. These activities are excellent for developing physical, cognitive, social, emotional and mental skills. Crafting is great for any age group and season. It comes in handy, particularly during rainy days when you can’t be outside.

Designate some space indoors or in the shed, lay down protective sheeting and bring out the art supplies. Paint plant pots, create garden markers with rocks or sticks or design bird feeders using recycled materials — you can find plenty of ideas online. These art projects add a fun, hands-on element to gardening that helps keep kids engaged.

Teach Your Kids About Plants

Teaching children about plants is a wonderful way to introduce them to the natural world and help them develop lifelong skills as well as healthy habits. Remember to be patient. While it may be challenging at first, you’ll soon find them digging into the garden with enthusiasm. So grab your gloves, head outside and start planting the seeds of curiosity today!