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Top tips for gardening with children

Blog
Cosy Direct
05 May 2026

Gardening with children is one of those simple activities that brings so much value to schools and early years settings. It helps children notice change over time, explore textures and scents, build physical skills and develop care for the world around them. With warmer days arriving and planting season underway, now is a great time to get children involved in sowing, growing and harvesting. Here are some easy ways you can start:

Create a planter together

A planter is a brilliant way to begin. It gives children a clear, manageable space to work in and can feel much less daunting than starting with a large garden bed. Whether your outdoor area is big or small, there are lots of planters available to suit different spaces.

You could fill your planters with flowers, fragrant herbs or vegetables. Herbs such as mint and lavender are reliable choices and grow well, and leafy greens like lettuce and rocket are ideal for shallower spaces. Deeper planters can support vegetables such as carrots or potatoes, giving children even more to discover as they grow. When choosing what to plant, it is always worth checking that varieties are suitable for early years and school environments and that any plants used are non-toxic.

Try gardening in small spaces

You do not need a large garden to make growing exciting. Small-space gardening can be just as rewarding and often brings quick results. Children are often fascinated by how much can grow in a compact area.

Tomatoes are a great option here because they can be grown upwards, making the most of vertical space. Add bright pots, watering cans and children’s gardening tools to make the area even more inviting and accessible. Using resources that are the right size for children helps them take part more confidently and safely.

Grow ingredients for your own salad

One of the best ways to build enthusiasm is to give gardening a clear purpose. Growing ingredients for a shared salad is a lovely way to help children connect planting with everyday life.

You could begin by reading Oliver’s Vegetables together, then explore which salad ingredients are in season. From there, children can help grow lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, beetroot and herbs. Once everything is ready, turn it into a full harvest day by picking, washing and preparing the produce together before enjoying it at lunchtime. If your setting has a cook or chef, inviting them into the project can enrich the experience and help build a stronger sense of community. As with any food activity, it is important to check allergies and dietary needs before planting and tasting.

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Plant a herb garden for play and cooking

A herb garden is a simple way to create a space full of colour, scent and purpose. Children can help plant herbs such as basil, parsley, coriander, mint and lavender, then care for them as they grow.

Herbs are especially rewarding because many can be planted when already established, giving children something to enjoy straight away. They can then be used in sensory activities such as water play, potion making and mud kitchen experiences. If your setting has a kitchen team, herbs can also be used in food preparation, helping children see how their efforts contribute to daily life. Washing hands after digging, planting, and harvesting is a simple but important part of the routine.

Grow a rainbow garden

For a more ambitious project, why not create a plot inspired by the colours of the rainbow? A colourful growing space can be visually exciting and encourage children to think creatively about food, plants and seasons.

You might grow different coloured crops within one large plot or organise separate planters by colour. Yellow, green, red, purple and blue planting areas can become beautiful talking points outdoors and inspire follow-on sensory play, such as coloured water or natural paint-making. As always, adult supervision and a quick check of tools and planting areas will help keep the experience safe and enjoyable.

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Plan a garden through the seasons

A seasonal garden project can bring learning to life across the whole year. Work with children to decide what to plant each half term, when it is likely to be ready to harvest and how it can be used.

This kind of ongoing project creates endless opportunities for nature-based learning and gives children a chance to revisit the space again as it changes. From planting and caring to harvesting and using what they grow, the garden becomes a meaningful part of the year. Before starting, it can be helpful for educators to conduct a simple risk assessment of the gardening area, resources, and routines to ensure the space is ready for safe exploration.

If you need some guidance on what to plant when, Twinkl have some fantastic seasonal gardening resources to support your lessons and activities. Click here to browse.

Whether you are starting with a single planter or planning a full outdoor growing area, we hope these ideas inspire you to get outside and start growing together.

Ready to get started?

Discover YPO’s range of plants and gardening resources, which has everything you need to help you bring your school or nursery garden to life.

Author

Cosy Direct

Cosy promote a natural, engaged and active childhood by supplying sustainable nursery and educational equipment worldwide. As a home of new ideas, they’re continually innovating and developing their product range with teacher-led research and play in mind. Champions of rural and real-life childhoods, where children are encouraged to play and take part in adventurous activities that enable them to learn and develop whilst having fun.