“I’m bored! There’s nothing to do.” Sound familiar? I’m pretty sure every parent or caregiver has heard this on at least a few occasions. Some of us might be able to send our kids outdoors to wander, but that’s not the case for everyone. Nor is it the case all the time. That’s one reason I like to have a stash of ideas to work with, and these indoor gardening activities have been a hit so far. 

I can vouch for the fun, too. Of course, these ideas are geared toward kids, but I’ve found several of them to be enjoyable, so I’ll take that as a win-win! 

Enjoy some guaranteed fun with these 6 indoor gardening activities

1. Customize seed envelopes. Saving seeds is a great way to reduce your gardening expenses, make gifts for friends, or take part in a seed library. And making your own seed envelopes is a fun way to ensure you know what all those seeds are. For Valentine’s Day, my daughter made a drawing, which I transferred onto rubber, and then hand-carved to make linocut prints on seed packets, which she decorated, filled with sunflower seeds, and gave to her classmates! Think of all the possibilities, and older kids can even help with stamp-making and printing!

2. Start seeds. It’s a classic, it’s fun, and it will give you some yummy herbs or vegetables in a few weeks. There are a lot of ways to do it, but I’m partial to starting seeds in egg cartons, which you can read about here. This does require a little patience, as the seeds aren’t going to germinate and sprout right away. Still, there’s no reason to keep your kids waiting too long. Instead, use seeds that will germinate quickly, like beans, pumpkins, or marigolds. 

3. Make sprouts. This is similar to starting seeds, only the whole process is a lot quicker since you’re only growing sprouts to eat rather than a full herb or vegetable plant. You can read the full article on sprouting seeds here. In the meantime, here’s the process: 

• Put 1 to 2 tablespoons of seeds into a sterile mason jar with a couple of tablespoons of warm water, close the lid, and let the seeds sit overnight. 
• In the morning, open the jar, cover the top with cheesecloth, and strain the water. 
• Add new water, swirl, drain again, and cover (this time, there shouldn’t be excess water left inside, that’s only for night one). 
• Continue this each day until you have a jar full of sprouts that are mostly white and starting to turn green.  

4. Design your own pots. Why have a plain old terracotta pot when you can make it your own with some paint? Go for broke with a freehand painting approach, or get out the painter’s tape and tape some designs onto your pot. By the way, you don’t have to stick to terracotta pots here. You can paint window boxes and deck rail planters, as well!

5. Make herb/vegetable stakes. This is one of those indoor gardening activities that can be fun, but also incredibly helpful–especially if you opt to start seeds as one of your activities. The popsicle stick is a classic here, but there are other options. Check out How to Make Cute Herb Stakes for Your Garden for some more ideas. 

6. Get to that repotting project. I feel like there is always a plant or two around my home that’s about ready for a repot. Put down a tarp (or work on an easy-to-clean surface) and have some fun with repotting. Don’t feel like you’re limited to herbs and vegetables here, either. Any plant that needs repotting gives you an excellent excuse to play in the dirt. 

Whatever you do, remember, gardening is fun! Don’t worry about the mess or the dirty fingers. Just have a good time bonding with someone who will grow up to love gardening!

I know there are so many more activities than these. Is there one I should add to the list?

Note: Food Gardening Network contains links to affiliate websites, including Amazon and Rakuten Affiliate Network, and we may receive a commission for any eligible purchases made by you through links on this page. Any reviews are based on honest reviews of the products.