Children In The Garden
Cultivating Curiosity:
A Guide to Creating a Child-Friendly Garden
Children in the garden: Gardens hold a special place in the hearts and minds of children, serving as vibrant classrooms where nature’s lessons are learned through the senses. A child-friendly garden is a wonderland of exploration, where every leaf, flower, and insect sparks imagination and instils a lifelong appreciation for the natural world.
By thoughtfully incorporating elements that engage sight, sound, touch, taste, and even smell, you can create an outdoor space that not only educates but also fascinates and entertains.
Here’s how to transform your garden into a sensory-rich haven that will nurture your little ones’ curiosity and create cherished family memories.
The Garden as a Learning Landscape
To a child, a garden is more than just a plot of land; it’s a place of magic and mystery, where nature’s secrets are waiting to be uncovered.
It’s important to design your garden with this sense of wonder in mind, creating spaces that invite exploration and interaction.
From the vibrant dance of butterflies to the soft texture of lamb’s ear leaves, every detail can contribute to a rich, hands-on learning experience.
Designing for the Senses
Forget just looking at flowers! This guide unlocks your garden’s potential to delight all five senses.
We’ll explore vibrant sights, soothing sounds, playful textures, delicious tastes, and fragrant aromas, creating a sensory adventure that sparks your child’s imagination and love for nature.
Ready to turn your garden into a wonderland? Let’s dive in!
Sight
A Kaleidoscope of Colours and Shapes
Start by painting your garden with a palette of bright colours and diverse textures to captivate the young eye.
Plant sunflowers, which children can sow themselves, to add height and drama.
Create a “river” of pebbles for them to arrange, enhancing their sense of ownership and creativity.
Sound
Nature’s Symphony
Encourage children to experience the garden with their ears.
The rustle of sweet corn leaves, the rattle of love-in-a-mist seed heads, and the gentle hum of bees create a natural symphony that stimulates the auditory senses.
These sounds can help children develop a deeper appreciation for the quiet wonders of nature.
Touch
A Textural Tapestry
Incorporate plants with a variety of textures to engage the sense of touch.
From the silky leaves of lamb’s ear to the prickly surface of cacti, tactile experiences help children learn about plant adaptations and the diversity of the natural world.
This hands-on exploration is crucial for sensory development and fosters a personal connection with nature.
Taste
The Garden’s Bounty
Create an edible garden section where children can taste the fruits of their labour.
Growing strawberries, tomatoes, and herbs not only teaches them where food comes from but also instils a sense of responsibility and pride in nurturing life.
Remember to educate them about the importance of recognizing safe plants to eat and the dangers of unknown berries or leaves.
Smell
A Fragrant Adventure
Plant aromatic herbs and flowers like lavender, which can be used in baths to calm little gardeners after a day of play.
Encouraging children to identify and appreciate the various scents in the garden helps develop their olfactory senses and creates lasting sensory memories.
Safety First
Navigating Nature’s Hazards – Poisonous Plants to Avoid
While fostering exploration, it’s crucial to ensure the garden is a safe space. Educate yourself and your children about the plants in your garden, especially those that are poisonous.
Consider removing or securely fencing off plants that pose a risk, and always supervise young children during their garden adventures.
Below is a comprehensive list of poisonous plants that should not be used in a child-friendly garden, formatted for clarity and quick reference.
Scientific Name | Common Name(s) | Parts Poisonous | Potential Effects |
Abrus precatorius | Rosary Pea | Seeds | Severe vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, even death |
Aconitum spp. | Monkshood, Aconite, Wolfsbane | All parts | Cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, death |
Actaea spp. | Baneberry, Dolls Eyes, White Cohosh, Snakeberry | Berries, roots | Nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, convulsions |
Aesculus spp. | Horse Chestnut, Buckeye | Seeds, leaves | Digestive upset, liver damage |
Agrostemma githago | Corn Cockle | Seeds | Skin irritation, dizziness, vomiting |
Aleurites fordii | Tung Oil Tree | Seeds, fruit | Skin irritation, nausea, diarrhea |
Allium spp. | Commercial Onions, Wild Onions, Swamp Onions, Chives | Bulbs, leaves (in large quantities) | Digestive upset, skin irritation |
Amanita spp. | Monkey Agaric, Panther Cap, Death Cap, Death Angel Mushrooms | All parts | Liver damage, kidney failure, death |
A. muscaria | Fly Agaric | All parts | Hallucinations, delirium, liver damage |
A. pantherina | Panther | All parts | Similar to Death Cap, potentially fatal |
A. verna | Destroying Angels | All parts | Similar to Death Cap, potentially fatal |
Amaranthus spp. | Pigweed | Leaves, seeds (raw) | Kidney damage, respiratory problems |
Amsinckia intermedia | Fiddle neck | Leaves, seeds | Liver damage, skin irritation |
Apocynum spp. | Dogbane | All parts | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heart problems |
Argemone mexicana | Prickly Poppy, Mexican Poppy | All parts | Skin irritation, hallucinations, heart problems |
Arisaema spp. | Jack in the Pulpit | All parts (except ripe berries) | Skin irritation, burning sensation, digestive upset |
Asclepias spp. | Milkweed | Milky sap | Skin irritation, digestive upset |
Astragalus and Oxytropis spp. | Locoweed | Leaves, stems | Tremors, weakness, paralysis, death in animals |
Atropa belladonna | Belladonna, Deadly Nightshade | All parts | Hallucinations, paralysis, respiratory failure, death |
Brassica spp. | Rape, Cabbage, Turnips, Broccoli, Mustard | Leaves (large quantities) | Thyroid problems |
Caltha palustris | Marsh Marigold, Cowslip | All parts | Skin irritation, digestive upset, heart problems |
Cannabis sativa | Marijuana | Leaves, flowers | Intoxication, impaired coordination, mental health effects |
Centaurea solstitialis | Yellow Star Thistle | Spines | Skin irritation, allergic reactions |
Chelidonium majus | Celandine | All parts | Skin irritation, digestive upset, heart problems |
Chenopodium album | Lambs Quarters | Leaves (seeds in high amounts) | Kidney problems, respiratory problems |
Cicuta spp. | Water Hemlock, Cowbane | All parts | Seizures, tremors, respiratory failure, death |
Claviceps spp. | Ergot | Fungus on rye and other grains | Hallucinations, gangrene, death |
Conium maculatum | Poison Hemlock | All parts | Paralysis, respiratory failure, death |
Coronilla varia | Crown Vetch | Seeds | Digestive upset, liver damage |
Convallaria majalis | Lily of the Valley | All parts | Cardiac arrest, digestive upset, death |
Daphne spp. | Daphne | Berries, bark | Skin irritation, digestive upset, seizures |
Datura spp. | Jimsonweed, Downy Thornapple, Devils Trumpet, Angels Trumpet | All parts | Hallucinations, delirium, coma, death |
Delphinium spp. | Delphiniums, Larkspurs | Leaves, seeds | Skin irritation, digestive upset, heart problems |
Dicentra spp. | Bleeding Heart, Squirrel Corn, Dutchmans Breeches | Roots, tubers | Skin irritation, digestive upset, heart problems |
Digitalis purpurea | Foxglove | All parts | Cardiac arrest, digestive upset, death |
Equisetum arvense | Horsetail | Stems | Thiamine deficiency, skin irritation |
Eupatorium rugosum | White Snakeroot | Leaves | Milk sickness (tremors, vomiting, death) in livestock |
Euphorbia spp. | Poinsettia, Spurges, Snow on the Mountain | Milky sap | Skin irritation, eye irritation, digestive upset |
Fagopypyrum esculentum | Buckwheat | Rutin (in high amounts) | Studies suggest potential risks for individuals with specific health conditions or taking certain medications. Consult a healthcare professional for individualized advice. |
Festuca arundinacea | Tall Fescue | Ergovaline alkaloids (in some varieties) | Tremors, convulsions, heat stress in livestock. Not a concern for humans unless ingested in large quantities. |
Gelsemium sempervirens | Jessamine | All parts | Paralysis, respiratory failure, death. |
Glechoma spp. | Ground Ivy, Creeping Charlie, Gill over the Ground | Leaves | Skin irritation, digestive upset. |
Halogeton glomeratus | Halogeton | All parts | Oxalate poisoning, kidney failure, death. |
Helleborus niger | Christmas Rose | All parts except flowers | Skin irritation, digestive upset, cardiac problems. |
Hyoscyamus niger | Henbane | All parts | Hallucinations, delirium, coma, death. |
Hypericum perforatum | St. Johns Wort, Klamath Weed | Leaves, flowers | Can interact with medications, causing adverse effects. Consult a healthcare professional before use. |
Iris spp. | Irises | Bulbs, rhizomes | Skin irritation, digestive upset. |
Laburnum anagyroides | Golden Chain, Laburnum | Seeds, pods, bark | Severe vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, death. |
Lantana camara | Lantana, Red Sage, Yellow Sage, West Indian Lantana | Berries, leaves | Liver damage, digestive upset. |
Lathyrus spp. | Sweet Pea, Tangier Pea, Everlasting Pea, Caley Pea, Singletary Pea | Seeds | Neuropathy (tingling, numbness), weakness, paralysis. |
Leucothoe axillaris and Leucothoe davisiae | Drooping Leucothoe, Sierra Laurel | Leaves, flowers | Skin irritation, digestive upset. |
Linum usitatissimum | Flax | Flaxseed (in large amounts) | Cyanide poisoning (rare but possible). Consult a healthcare professional for safe consumption guidelines. |
Lobelia spp. | Great Lobelia, Cardinal Flower, Indian Tobacco | All parts | Nausea, vomiting, respiratory problems. |
Lotus corniculatus | Birdsfoot Trefoil | Leaves (in large amounts) | Liver damage. |
Lupinus spp. | Lupine | Seeds, unripened pods | Digestive upset, weakness, liver damage. |
Medicago sativa | Alfalfa, Lucerne | Sprouts (in large amounts) | L-canavanine toxicity (similar to symptoms of lupus). |
Metilotus alba and Melilotus officinalis | White and Yellow Sweetclover | Spoiled hay containing mold (not the plant itself) | Warfarin poisoning (anticoagulant effects). |
Menispermum canadense | Moonseed | Berries, seeds | Nausea, vomiting, seizures, death. |
Nerium oleander | Oleander | All parts | Cardiac arrest, digestive upset, death. |
Nicotiana spp. | Tobacco, Tree Tobacco | All parts | Nicotine poisoning, addiction. |
Onoclea sensibilis | Sensitive Fern | Spores | Skin irritation, allergic reactions. |
Ornithogalum umbellatum | Star of Bethlehem | Bulbs | Skin irritation, digestive upset. |
Papaver spp. | Poppies (including Opium Poppy) | Latex, seeds | Opium alkaloids (addiction, overdose), skin irritation. |
Phytolacca americana | Pokeweed | Leaves, roots (raw) | Nausea, vomiting, seizures, death. |
Pieris japonica | Japanese Pieris, Mountain Fetterbrush | Leaves, flowers | Skin irritation, digestive upset. |
Pinus ponderosa | Ponderosa Pine | Needles, pollen | Skin irritation, respiratory problems. |
Podophyllum peltatum | Mayapple, Mandrake | All parts except ripe fruit | Skin irritation, digestive upset, seizures. |
Prunus spp. | Wild Cherries, Black Cherry, Bitter Cherry, Choke Cherry, Pin Cherry | Leaves, pits, unripe fruit | Cyanide poisoning. |
Pteridium aquilinium | Bracken Fern | Unfurled fiddleheads (in large amounts) | Carcinogenic potential. |
Quercus spp. | Oak Trees | Acorns | Tannins (digestive upset), skin irritation. |
Ranunculus spp. | Buttercups, Crowfoot | All parts | Skin irritation, digestive upset. |
Rheum rhaponticum | Rhubarb | Leaves | Oxalate poisoning (kidney damage). |
Ricinus communis | Castor Bean | Seeds | Ricin poisoning (severe vomiting, diarrhea, internal bleeding, death). |
Robinia pseudoacacia | Black Locust | Seeds, bark | Skin irritation, digestive upset, liver damage. |
Rumex spp. | Dock | Leaves (large amounts) | Oxalate poisoning (kidney damage). |
Sambucus canadensis | Elderberry | Unripe berries, leaves, stems, roots | Cyanide poisoning, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. |
Sanguinaria canadensis | Bloodroot | All parts | Skin irritation, digestive upset, seizures, heart problems. |
Saponaria spp. | Bouncing Bet, Cow Cockle | Sap | Skin irritation, eye irritation. |
Senecio spp. | Senecio, Groundsels, Ragworts | All parts (especially liverworts) | Liver damage, poisoning (especially for livestock). |
Solanum spp. | Common Nightshade, Black Nightshade, Horse Nettle, Buffalo Bur, Potato (green parts only) | Leaves, stems, unripe fruit | Solanine poisoning (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, neurological problems). |
Sorghum spp. | Sorghum, Milo, Sudan Grass, Johnson Grass | Leaves (in large amounts) | Cyanide poisoning (rare but possible). |
Symplocarpus foetidus | Eastern Skunk Cabbage | All parts | Skin irritation, digestive upset, respiratory problems. |
Taxus cuspidata | Yew | Seeds, arils, leaves | Taxine poisoning (cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, death). |
Tetradymia spp. | Horsebrush | Leaves, flowers | Skin irritation, allergic reactions. |
Toxicodendron spp. | Poison Oak, Poison Ivy, Poison Sumac | All parts | Urushiol rash (itching, blistering, swelling). |
Trifolium spp. | Clover | None | Not generally considered poisonous. |
Triglochin maritima | Arrowgrass | Leaves, seeds | Oxalate poisoning (kidney damage). |
Urtica spp. | Stinging Nettle | Leaves, stems | Stinging hairs cause skin irritation, pain, inflammation. |
Vicia spp. | Vetch | Seeds (in large amounts) | Lathyrism (neuropathy, weakness, paralysis). |
Veratrum californicum | Corn Lily, False Hellbore | All parts | Veratridine poisoning (severe vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, death). |
Wisteria spp. | Wisteria | Seeds, pods | Skin irritation, digestive upset. |
Xanthium strumarium | Cocklebur | Spines, pollen | Skin irritation, allergic reactions, respiratory problems. |
Zigadenus spp. | Death Camas | All parts | Cardiac glycosides poisoning (similar to digitalis poisoning). |
Acer spp. | Maple (Red, Sugar, Silver) | Leaves (in large amounts, especially in fall) | Saponin poisoning (digestive upset, hemolysis). |
From Seedlings to Scientists:
Practical Applications for Growing Young Minds
This isn’t just about pretty flowers – it’s about cultivating a love of learning through your garden! Here, we’ll explore activities that transform playtime into practical applications, fostering curiosity, scientific thinking, and a deeper connection to the natural world. Let’s get those tiny hands dirty and those young minds growing!
Fostering a Love for Wildlife
Teach children about the importance of insects and other garden creatures.
Creating habitats for wildlife, such as rock piles, wood stacks, and diverse planting, not only supports biodiversity but also offers endless opportunities for observation and learning.
Avoiding pesticides and opting for natural pest control methods protects these valuable ecosystems and teaches children about the importance of environmental stewardship.
The Magic of Photosynthesis
Use the garden to introduce children to the basics of photosynthesis.
Explaining how plants create their own food from sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide can spark an interest in science and deepen their understanding of nature’s cycles.
Observe the growth of different plants and experiment with sunlight exposure to see how it affects their development.
Gardening Around the World
Embark on a global gardening adventure with your child! Explore diverse gardening practices from around the world, from the vibrant vegetable gardens of Southeast Asia to the intricate bonsai creations of Japan.
Learn about the unique plants grown in different climates and their cultural significance.
This not only broadens their understanding of global diversity but also inspires creativity and appreciation for the various ways humans connect with nature through gardening.
DIY Projects for Young Gardeners
Here are some fun and educational DIY projects you can do with your children in the garden:
Rose Science with a Splash
(Ages 7+)
Materials:
- White rose (or other light-colored flower)
- Clear glass or vase
- Water
- Blue food coloring
- Knife (adult use only)
Instructions:
- Adult:Â Carefully cut the stem of the rose at an angle using a knife.
- Place the rose in the glass or vase filled with water.
- Add a few drops of blue food coloring to the water.
- Observe the rose over several days.
What happens:
The rose will slowly absorb the colored water through its stem, causing the petals to change color. This demonstrates the process of plant absorption and how water travels throughout the plant.
Who does what:
- Adults should handle sharp tools and supervise the experiment.
- Children can help mix the water and food coloring, observe the rose, and discuss their observations.
Enchanting Wind Chimes
(Ages 5+)
Materials:
- Colored glass pieces (stained glass scraps, pebbles, or marbles)
- Fishing line or string
- Stick (driftwood or branch)
- Drill (adult use only)
- Scissors
- Optional: Beads, bells, or other decorations
Instructions:
- Adult:Â Using the drill, carefully make small holes near the edges of the glass pieces.
- Cut equal lengths of fishing line or string for each chime.
- Thread the string through the holes in the glass pieces, creating a variety of hanging lengths.
- Tie the ends of the strings together to form a bunch.
- Adult:Â Drill a hole near the top of the stick.
- Tie the bunch of strings securely to the hole in the stick.
- Decorate the stick with beads, bells, or other embellishments (optional).
- Hang your wind chime in a breezy spot and enjoy the tinkling sounds!
Who does what:
- Adults should handle drilling and cutting tools for safety reasons.
- Children can help choose the materials, thread the strings, decorate the stick, and hang the wind chime.
Butterfly Bonanza
(Ages 3+)
Materials:
- Alyssum seeds
- Nasturtium seeds
- Planting pots or garden space
- Watering can
Instructions:
- Choose a sunny spot in your garden or fill pots with soil.
- Plant alyssum and nasturtium seeds following the packet instructions.
- Water the seeds regularly and watch them sprout.
- As the plants grow, explain to your child how they attract butterflies with their bright colours and sweet nectar.
- Observe the butterflies fluttering around the flowers and learn about their life cycle.
Who does what:
- Adults can help with planting tasks and provide supervision.
- Children can choose the planting location, help water the plants, and observe the butterflies.
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Growing Minds and Gardens
A child-friendly garden transcends mere play space. It’s a vibrant canvas where education, exploration, and imagination blossom. By designing with the senses in mind, prioritizing safety, and nurturing a connection with nature, you can cultivate a magical outdoor classroom. This haven will ignite young minds and inspire budding gardeners for years to come.
Let your children dig in, get dirty, and discover the endless wonders the garden holds. Every day becomes an adventure, filled with opportunities to learn, create, and connect with the natural world. Watch their creativity flourish as they explore the sights, sounds, smells, textures, and tastes that this sensory wonderland offers.
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