Welcome back, fellow garden adventurers! Ready to add some enchantment to your allotment with your little helpers? In this second installment of our series, we’re diving into another five fun-filled allotment activities that are sure to keep those tiny green thumbs busy and brimming with excitement. Sometimes, we want to involve our kids in productive tasks at the allotment and some of these engaging projects are perfect for just that. At other times we all want to sit down and enjoy our allotment or garden together and that’s when tea parties and garden reading sessions are the perfect activity. These suggestions can be easily adapted for families without an allotment or garden by using any accessible public green space. Let’s make gardening a magical adventure for everyone! if you missed the first post in the series be sure to loop back and check out the first five fun and easy activities for kids at the allotment.
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Activity 6: Creating a Strawberry Patch
Getting children involved in creating a strawberry patch can be a delightful and educational experience. Start by choosing a sunny spot and preparing the soil together, teaching them the importance of rich, well-drained earth for healthy plant growth. This is also an ideal opportunity to discuss no dig gardening with your children and the benfits of not distrubing the soil structure too much when planting. Allow kids to help with spacing the plants, demonstrating how each strawberry plant needs room to grow and explaining the life cycle from planting to fruit-bearing. Engage them by letting them dig small holes, place the plants, and gently cover the roots with soil. Encourage watering and caring for the plants regularly, turning these tasks into fun, routine activities. This hands-on involvement not only nurtures their understanding of nature and responsibility but also sparks a sense of accomplishment and anticipation as they watch their strawberry patch flourish. Plus, the reward of harvesting and tasting their homegrown strawberries can be a memorable and rewarding experience for them.
Activity 7: Herbal Tea Party
Take a break from the garden grind and indulge in a spot of herbal tea party extravagance! Set up a cozy corner amidst the greenery, complete with blankets, cushions, and a steaming pot of homemade herbal tea. Encourage your kids to explore the wonderful world of herbs as they sniff, sip, and savor a selection of garden-fresh brews. From calming chamomile to zesty lemon balm, there’s a flavor to suit every palate – just don’t forget the cucumber sandwiches!
Drinking teas made from garden herbs like mint, chamomile, and lemon balm offers a range of health benefits. Mint tea is known for its soothing effects on the digestive system, helping to alleviate symptoms of indigestion, bloating, and gas . Chamomile tea is renowned for its calming properties, often used to promote relaxation and improve sleep quality . Lemon balm tea, with its mild lemon flavor, is valued for its ability to reduce stress and anxiety, and it may also aid in cognitive function and digestive health. If you haven’t planted any herbs at your allotment yet you can also use garden flowers. Making tea from garden flowers like daisies or dandelions. Daisy tea is known for its gentle anti-inflammatory properties and can aid in relieving coughs and colds. Dandelion tea, made from the roots or blossoms, is rich in antioxidants and vitamins, promoting liver health and supporting digestion. Both teas offer a unique, earthy flavor and can be a wonderful way to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of garden flowers. Add some local honey to make the tea that bit sweeter.
Activity 8: Garden Storytime
Have you heard about the Read-Aloud Revival? It is a movement that encourages parents and educators to read books aloud to children to foster a love of reading, strengthen family bonds, and build literacy skills. Created by Sarah Mackenzie, this initiative provides resources, book recommendations, and a supportive community to help make reading aloud a central part of family life and education.
Why not nestle amongst the flowers and let your imagination take flight with a garden-themed storytime? From classic tales of Peter Rabbit and Mr. McGregor’s garden to modern favorites like “The Tiny Seed” by Eric Carle, dive into a world of wonder and whimsy as you bring your favorite garden stories to life. Encourage your kids to act out scenes, create their own characters, and let their imaginations run wild amidst the blooms and blossoms.
Activity 9: Create a Mini Pond
Creating a mini pond with children at the allotment is a delightful and educational activity that fosters a sense of wonder and connection to nature. Start by selecting a suitable spot, perhaps near a vegetable patch, ensuring it receives a good balance of sunlight and shade. Together, gather materials such as a sturdy container like a large tub or an old barrel, waterproof lining, stones, aquatic plants, and perhaps a small pump for circulation. Encourage the children to get their hands dirty as they dig the hole for the container and line it carefully. Next, add layers of stones to create a natural look and provide habitat for wildlife. Let the children choose and plant aquatic vegetation like water lilies or water hyacinths, explaining their importance in oxygenating the water and providing shelter for creatures. Once filled, observe as the mini pond comes to life with insects, frogs, and maybe even the occasional newt. This hands-on experience not only teaches children about ecosystems and biodiversity but also instills a sense of responsibility as they care for their miniature aquatic haven.
Activity 10: Making S’Mores
You may not be allowed to campout at your allotment but you can always enjoy some of the best parts of a campout by making your own s’mores over a campfire. Remember to never leave a fire unattended and to ensure it is completely extinguished before you leave the allotment.
If you have never made s’mores before then you are in for a treat. After lighting your campfire begin by skewering fluffy marshmallows onto long sticks or BBQ skewers. As the marshmallows start to caramelise and puff up take them out of the flame and sandwich them between two graham crackers and a square of chocolate, creating the quintessential s’more. Or if you are not from the USA then you might do this wee cheat which is to use chocolate digestive biscuits instead of crackers and a piece of chocolate. Then simply enjoy each blissful bite of gooey marshmallow, creamy chocolate, and crunchy biscuit. The simplicity of this timeless treat fosters moments of connection and camaraderie, making memories that linger long after the embers fade.
RHS Campaign for School Gardening
Not only are these projects fun but did you know that Home Educators can participating in the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) School Garden Campaign. By engaging in various gardening endeavors such as planting vegetables, cultivating flower beds, and creating wildlife habitats, home-educated students can fulfill the campaign’s objectives of fostering a love for gardening, understanding plant biology, and promoting environmental stewardship. These projects provide practical, hands-on learning experiences that align with the RHS’s goals of encouraging outdoor education and sustainability. Furthermore, by documenting and sharing their gardening journey through photos and reports, home educators can showcase their contributions to the campaign, inspiring other families and demonstrating the educational value of gardening.
Let me know in the comments if you will be doing any of these activities with your children.
Never thought of having herbal tea parties before! Must try that. Also hadn’t thought of drinking lemon verbena.