Looking for projects you can do with kids out in the garden or even growing plants indoors? I’ve got you covered! With many folks suddenly homeschooling and keeping kids entertained in the home and yard, there are many enriching and fun ways to get crafty with plants. Whether you have a huge garden, a few raised beds, pots on the balcony, or just a windowsill, you can get some garden therapy and teach the next generation how to care for and love plants with these 60+ projects.
Getting kids into the garden has been a long-time passion of mine.
I spent 5 years volunteer at a wonderful program that brings city kids to a farm once every 2 weeks for the entire school year to learn about growing food from seed, and even cooking with it! I then had my own mini gardener and developed garden education programs for him at home, at his daycare, and at his school programs.
Many of the projects I have shared on Garden Therapy span all ages, but as a single parent of a busy kiddo, I need my littlest Master Gardener to get outside with me so I can maintain my sanity (and his!). I suppose that’s why I have created so many crafty garden projects that give me garden therapy but also appeal to kids.
In my first foray to working with children in gardens was at the UBC Farm Intergenerational Landed Learning program, which is sadly now closed.
I fondly remember the delight in the children’s eyes, the way they ran off the bus, the exhaustion at the end of the day after playing in the garden – what life changing gift it was for us all! It’s such an amazing experience because of the growth and confidence that I got to see the kids develop over the year.
Gardening helps develop understanding and respect for nature, is good physical activity, and it’s FUN.
Before I had a child, I had plenty of family, neighbours, and friends with kids that I planted my garden for. I would invite them to explore with me. The delight that they can play in the space, but also have a taste of some garden-fresh goodies is a big draw. And I made many lifelong friends that way.
When it comes to the garden, the types of projects kids can do are endless. They can help to decorate the garden, use harvested materials in their creations, and experiment with greenery in their projects.
Kids bring a playful approach when it comes to gardening and this will definitely come through in their crafting projects.
Natural elements and crafting go together like bees and pollen! The garden offers ample room for creativity. If you don’t have all the materials you need, substitute what you can. Getting creative and adding your own spin is half the fun of garden crafting. Crafting outdoors with fresh air and plants will give you all the inspiration you need. At the very least, make sure you’re crafting by a window when indoors.
While some children naturally love to get down in the dirt outside, others may be a little reluctant to get involved with you outdoors.
Garden crafting is a great way to get your young ones to connect with nature and the world around them. Just like adults, gardening positively affects mental health and has been proven to help increase focus. Lastly, it helps you create memories that will grow on (literally!) for years to come.
I have compiled this CRAZY LONG list of all the projects you could work on with children. Bookmark and share this page, as the more we seed the love of plants in the next generation, the more they will fall in love it, and ultimately protect, nature.
9 Garden Paper Crafts
Cut, fold, colour, and play with these paper crafts. If you’re anything like me, paper is abundant in your house. It makes for cheap and easy crafts that kids can experiment, play, and mess up over and over again. These activities are great for all ages, with simple colouring pages for the tots and more complicated water colour painting for the older kids.
- Garden Therapy Coloring Book
- Learn How to Color Like a Boss
- Life’s a Garden FREE Adult Coloring Page
- Homegrown Lollipop Flowers
- Hammered Flower Print Cards
- Punny Printable Sympathy Cards for Plant-Lovers
- Preserve the Beauty of the Garden with Cyanotype Sun Print Cards
- Creative Upcycling with DIY Seed Catalog Magnets
- How to Paint Watercolor Succulents the Easy Way
15 Crafting with Plants Projects
The bread and butter, these projects range from outdoor to indoor, big to small, and simple to complicated. There is bound to be a hit in your household with one of these fun projects. Greenery could very well be their next big hobby!
- Flower Pounding: Printing Fabric with Natural Elements
- Twiggy Gnomes and Gardens
- Grassy Garden Gnomes
- Rainbow Moss Art
- The Everything in the Garden Wreath: Fresh, Festive, and Free
- Hanging Shell Planter
- 10-Minute Outdoor Candle Planter
- Botanical Leaf Imprint Easter Eggs
- Make This Sweet Acorn Nest Necklace
- Wait Until You See This Terrarium Nightlight!
- Nail Polish Marbled Pots to Liven Up Your Plants
- I Heart Moss Frame
- These Festive Pinecone Firestarters Make a Crafty Gift and a Fun Project
- Make This Stunning Terracotta Pot Succulent Centerpiece
- Painted Pumpkins
13 Backyard Garden Projects
Get outdoors with this list! If you’re looking to introduce your kids to the joys of gardening, this is an interactive way to get them to directly participate in creating garden decor. Get their green thumb started and help them create your own backyard paradise for everyone to enjoy.
- Make a Beaded Suncatcher Mobile (and Protect Wild Birds)
- Add Sparkle to the Garden With This Beautiful Beaded Wind Chime
- VIDEO: Bring Light and Movement to the Garden with a DIY Wind Spinner
- Gardening with Kids: Easy DIY Bird Bath
- Chalkboard Paint Projects to Get Kids Outside
- Painted Stone Garden Markers for the Vegetable Garden
- Decorative Wood Plant Markers
- Chalkboard Paint Plant Markers
- Beach Glass Solar Lights
- Jazz Up the Outdoors with DIY Bug Hotel Fence Art
- How to Make a Butterfly Feeder
- Bee a Good Garden Host: Make a Bee Bath
- Multi-Level Strawberry Tower
8 Clay Garden Projects
Keep the little fingers busy with these clay projects. Being able to mold and play with clay can keep the kids entertained for hours. While I can’t promise they won’t get distracted with their own mini creations, they certainly will enjoy experimenting with the medium. Due to the unhurried nature of clay, this is a rather calming craft for a quiet afternoon.
- Rainy Day Gardening: Make This Indoor Hanging Clay Planter
- Add a Touch of Whimsy to Your Terrariums with DIY Clay Mushrooms
- Make a Gorgeous Botanical Print Clay Dish
- These Aromatherapy Closet Fresheners are a Crafty Way to Outsmart Moths
- Whimsical Clay Planter Ornaments
- Wear Aromatherapy Pendants and Bring Garden Therapy with You
- Stunning Clay Leaf Dishes that are Easy to DIY
8 Textile Garden Crafts
Full of colour and texture, kids are drawn to fabric, wool, and other textiles intuitively. There is something about being able to create with these scraps, odds, and ends that get them excited. While most of these are no-sew, you could also use these easy projects as a way to teach your kids how to do sew for the first time.
- Monogrammed Herbal Drawer Fresheners
- How to Make Modern Macrame Plant Hangers Step-by-Step
- Natural Flower Dye for Fabric: How to Create a Marigold-Dyed Scarf
- These Soft and Cuddly Felt Cacti Will Make You Smile
- Sew Creative! Make this Herb-Scented Tea Trivet
- No-Sew Felted Mug Cozies: an Easy but Adorable Handmade Craft
- How to Felt Wool from Thrifted Sweaters
15 DIY Crafts Using Tools
These crafts are perfect for older kids as the young ones are likely to have difficulty using the tools. Plus, once power tools are involved, I suggest some close monitoring! The effort is certainly worth it with these projects, however. You’ll want these DIY craft projects covering your home!
- Hopscotch Stepping Stones for the Garden
- Put Backyard Birds on a Pedestal with this Flowerpot Bird Feeder
- Build a Bug Hotel
- How to Make Concrete Planters
- Fairy Light Project: DIY Solar Light Chandelier
- Natural Branch Coasters: How to Cut, Sand, and Seal Wood Slices
- DIY Stepping Stones For Your Garden With Leaf Imprints
- How to Make GORGEOUS Bleached Pinecones
- DIY Branch Swing Shelves
- Easter Basket Fairy Garden
- Metal Stamped Plant Tags from Hardware Store Finds
- Forge Your Own Path: 6 Ways to Make DIY Concrete Stepping Stones
- Woodworking for Gardeners: Make a Handmade Flower Press
- Building Community with Little Free Libraries and Tiny Sheds
- How to Make Concrete and Hypertufa Planters
9 Indoor Plant Crafts
If you find yourself stuck inside on a rainy day or somehow can’t convince the kiddo to head outside with you, give these indoor plant crafts a try. Some of these are simpler than others for the little ones, while some will keep your preteens busy for hours. Either way, these are a fantastic way to add a little bit of greenery indoors while spending some quality time together.
- Air Plant Holder with Rock and Wire {DIY Air Plant Display}
- Air Plants in Seashells
- A Succulent Snow Globe Will be the Star of Your Collection
- Creating a Moss Terrarium Garden for Gorgeous Green Indoor Decor
- Find Peace of Mind in a Mini Succulent Zen Garden
- Make These Colorful Terrariums to Brighten Up Your Day!
- Wood Burned Coasters with Floral Pyrography
- How to Grow Healthy Sunflower Microgreens in 2 Weeks
- Jar-to-Table Gardening: Grow Your Own Spicy, Sweet, and Crispy Sprouts
Whew! Ok, that is a LOT of crafty projects to get kids out in the garden. Please share the projects you like best and suggest any others to add to this list. Please also share this list with parents out there looking for ideas to get artistic kids excited about plants. I will also be sharing more projects you can do with kids to get them involved in gardening. Stay tuned for the next post in the series.
More Crafty Garden Ideas You will Love
- Soothing Ways to Use Lavender in Crafts, Recipes and More
- Elegant + Upscale Pinecone Crafts
- Beyond the Garden: Getting Creative with Begonia Crafts
- Pallet Planter Ideas that Stylishly Bring Upcycling to Your Garden
- Celebrate Halloween with Quirky Garden Projects Made from Nature that Keep You (and the Earth) Healthy
- 32 Terracotta Pot Hacks to Liven Up Your Home and Garden
- These Aren’t Your Grandma’s Houseplants! Indoor Plant Projects for Modern Day Decor
