Gardening with kids: fun, simple ways to connect children with nature
Gardening isn’t just about plants - for me, it’s just as much about people, too. Since becoming a mum, one of the most rewarding things is seeing children connecting to nature in their gardens - getting hands on: touching, smelling, tasting, listening and exploring.
Whether you have a big garden, a balcony, or just a few pots, there are so many ways to bring kids closer to the magic of plants and wildlife.
Sensory planting: engage all five senses
🌿 Touch - gardening can be so wonderfully tactile. Plant things that are pleasing to touch, such as lamb’s lugs (Stachys byzantina) with its soft, velvety leaves. Grasses like Stipa tenuissima are wonderful for running hands through too.
🌿 Taste - strawberries, blackcurrants, raspberries, blueberries, rhubarb, apples and plums. Delicious and easy wins that taste all the better for being homegrown. If you don’t have any space, then a walk to a local woodland for bramble picking is the next best thing.
🌿 Smell - herbs like lavender, rosemary, mint and thyme release fragrance when brushed against or picked. All do well in pots - just don’t overwater them!
🌿 Sight - brightly coloured flowers such as Calendula, Nasturtiums and poppies give instant impact. Or if you like to garden on the wild side (like me) dandelion flowers and seed heads are obvious, fun and really are the gift that keeps on giving.
🌿 Sound - grasses swaying in the wind, the rustle of bamboo, or the trembling leaves on a tree during a woodland walk. Encourage kids to close their eyes and listen to what they can hear.
Planting for the senses makes gardening an adventure. What have you tried at home and what do you think works wonders with kids? Drop me a message on social media and let me know!
Quick, rewarding crops
Children thrive on fast results. Some great options:
Radishes - from seed to harvest in just a few weeks.
Cut-and-come-again salads - rocket, mustard, or mixed lettuces - quick to grow and perfect for lunches and dinners, encouraging kids to eat healthy too.
Broad beans or runner beans - fun to sow, and easy to harvest. They both do really well in our Scottish climate.
Calendula and Borage - edible flowers that also attract pollinators, so it is win win.
Create wildlife havens
Gardening with kids isn’t just about planting - it’s about making space for nature. My wee boy loves nothing more than going out into the garden with a little trowel and looking for ‘wriggly worms’. Seeing snails, spiders, beetles and earwigs is always a win too! Try:
🪲 Building a bug hotel from sticks, pine cones and bricks.
🐦 Putting up a bird box or bird feeder.
🦔 Leaving a gap in the fence for hedgehogs. Could you go out in the evening to look for them?
🍂 Piling up leaves or logs for insects to shelter.
These projects teach children about ecosystems, and give them a sense of responsibility and inquisitiveness.
Exploring beyond the garden
Sometimes the best way to connect kids with nature is to step outside your own gate. Local parks, woodlands or places like Mugdock Country Park are full of opportunities. Rainy day? Just pack waterproofs and embrace puddles, ponds and muddy adventures. For me it’s as much about fun for kids as it is for my own child within.
Final thoughts
Gardening with kids doesn’t need to be complicated. Small steps - sowing a few seeds, noticing wriggly worms and bumble bees, building a bug hotel - all add up to a lifetime of connection with nature.
The goal isn’t a perfect garden. It’s curiosity, joy, and the chance to grow together.
Are we connected on Instagram yet?
👉 Find me here
Nicola
The Bonnie Gardener
nicola@thebonniegardener.co.uk
