Gardening with Kids

Looking for ways to keep your children entertained during summer vacation?  Enlist their help in growing a garden.  It’s a great outdoor activity that provides many opportunities for kids to learn about ecology, biology and nutrition.

Recommended Books

(Grades 3-6)

Gardening Wizardry for Kids
by L. Patricia Kite and Yvette Santiago Banek
Easy to follow instructions for craft projects and science experiments, including some that feature pill bugs and earthworms.

(Grades 1-4)

Gardening with Children
by Monika Hanneman, Sam Tomasello and Sigrun Wolff Saphire
This colorful book, published by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, has over 40 hands-on activities for learning about nature and gardening including science experiments, art and craft projects. 

Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots
by Sharon Lovejoy
Instructions for creating a backyard moon garden to attract night creatures and the pizza garden, a giant-size wheel garden planted in "slices" of tomatoes, zucchini, oregano, and basil.

(Ages 3 to 6)

Plant Secrets
by Emily Goodman
A book for young readers about the life cycle of plants written by a horticulturist.

My Garden
by Kevin Henkes.
My Garden is not a “how to” book, but one that may spark your child’s imagination about the possibilities of gardening.

The Tiny Seed
by Eric Carle
The adventures of a tiny seed illustrate the life cycle of a flower.

Recommended Websites

Kidsgardening.com
A website from the National Gardening Association. Visit the "Family Resource Room" for articles on topics such as "Gardening at Every Age", "Plants Kids Love" and "Gardening Safely".

My First Garden
My First Garden, created by University of Illinois Extension, is designed to teach 4th grade students the basics of gardening.

The Kid's Garden
TheKidsGarden has printable puzzles and garden activities for kids, as well as great educational content, including a list of poisonous plants that may pose a threat to children.