Can Children Garden on Their Own?
When adults plan a garden, they carefully consider every detail—where each plant will go, which plants grow well together, how much sunlight different areas receive, and what type of fertilizer to use. But what if the garden was cared for entirely by children?
Many adults worry that children would pull up the plants, dig out the seeds, or cover everything with sand. But what would really happen if we let children take care of their own garden?
We want to find out!
The Experiment
To explore this, we will introduce a garden box in our kindergarten’s play yard, where children spend their mornings and afternoons. The children will fill the box with soil and plant their own seeds. Then, we’ll step back and observe.
Will they nurture their garden or destroy it?
The Benefits of Gardening for Children
Gardening is more than just planting seeds—it offers many benefits for children:
Boosts the immune system – By getting their hands in the soil, children are exposed to beneficial microorganisms that help strengthen their immune systems.
Teaches responsibility – Caring for plants helps children experience the joy of nurturing life while learning about the consequences of neglect.
Encourages a connection with nature – Seeing plants grow fosters appreciation for natural cycles and ecosystems.
Stimulates creativity and imagination – Designing and personalizing their own gardening space allows children to express themselves.
Keeps them active – Digging, planting, and maintaining a garden keeps kids moving and engaged.
Promotes nutrition awareness – Growing their own fruits and vegetables may encourage children to try new foods they would usually avoid.
Develops social skills – Gardening can be a shared experience, teaching teamwork and communication.
Builds patience – In an age of instant gratification, gardening teaches patience and persistence as children wait for their plants to grow.
Setting Up the Garden
For this experiment, we will need:
✔ A small rectangular gardening box
✔ Soil
✔ Non-toxic seeds
✔ Shovels
✔ A watering can
We have chosen to place the garden box in a sunny corner of the yard, a popular play area where it will get sunlight in both the morning and afternoon.
Our kindergarten includes children from ages 1 to 6, meaning a wide range of activity levels and abilities. We want all children to be able to participate, so we have selected non-toxic seeds—safe even if the youngest ones decide to taste them once they bloom.
Since our yard is mostly covered in sand, we had one big concern: What if the children dump buckets of sand into the garden? To address this, we’ve chosen flower seeds that thrive in both sand and soil—so even if sand gets mixed in, the plants should still grow!
We also want children to feel that the garden is truly theirs, even as part of their play. Once the flowers bloom, they will be free to pick them and use them as decorations for their sand cakes.
What Will Happen?
We’re excited to see what unfolds once the children have full access to their garden box.
Will they dig up the soil to play with it?
Will they ‘‘garden’’ by adding rocks to the soil?
Will they protect the plants from being damaged?
Will they lose interest, or will they stay engaged?
What Has Happened So Far…
Each group has discussed the purpose of the garden boxes with their children. Children from all groups participated in opening soil bags and filling the boxes with fresh, rich soil.
By the end of May, once the weather was warm enough, the children were guided to plant flower seeds—specifically marigolds—in all three boxes. We also have mixed lettuce and green pea seeds available, but those have not been planted yet.
The children were thrilled to water the seeds after planting! Everyone took a turn helping, and this will become a fun and ongoing task during the warmer days.
The goal of this project is to observe whether the children develop empathy or a sense of connection to the plants they’ve planted themselves. From this point on, the staff will step back and let the children take the lead. The garden boxes will naturally become part of their daily play. If the children pull up the plants, we will simply replant with them—treating it as part of the learning experience.
We will observe and document the process, sharing our findings along the way.
Try it at Home!
Planting with kids is an excellent way to foster a love for nature, teach them about growth, and encourage responsibility. Here are some kid-friendly plants that are easy to grow and fun to work with:
1. Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus): Tall, bright, and cheerful, sunflowers are perfect for kids to measure and track their growth.
2. Radishes (Raphanus sativus): Quick-growing radishes can be harvested in as little as 20 days, providing a sense of accomplishment for young gardeners.
3. Cherry Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum): Who doesn’t love tomatoes? Cherry tomatoes are easy to care for, produce fruit quickly, and are a great snack for kids.
4. Zinnias (Zinnia spp.): These colorful flowers are simple to grow from seed and come in a variety of shapes and sizes, making them perfect for kids to observe and learn.
5. Carrots (Daucus carota): While they take a bit longer to mature, carrots are a great choice for kids to learn about root vegetables and the importance of patience.
6. Green Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris): Easy to grow on a trellis or in a container, green beans are a fantastic choice for kids to learn about climbing plants and harvest their own snacks.
7. Herbs (Basil, Cilantro, Parsley): Many herbs are easy to grow and can be used in a variety of dishes, teaching kids about the connection between gardening and cooking.
8. Pumpkins (Cucurbita pepo): While they require more space, pumpkins are a fun and rewarding crop for kids to grow, especially around Halloween.
9. Marigolds (Tagetes spp.): With their bright orange and yellow flowers, marigolds are an excellent choice for kids to learn about companion planting and pest control.
10. Microgreens (Various species): These young, nutrient-dense greens are easy to grow and can be harvested in as little as 7-10 days, providing a quick and rewarding experience for kids.
Remember to choose plants that are suitable for your climate and the age group of the children involved. Make it a fun and educational experience by teaching them about the life cycle of plants, the importance of watering and sunlight, and the joy of watching their hard work grow!
If you’re curious to see how this experiment unfolds, follow our journey on Facebook and Instagram for updates!
