Kids love to garden and play in the dirt. There are so many wonderful gardening kits and child-sized garden tools that they feel right at home in the garden with Mom and Dad. Here are 10 gardening gifts that you can enjoy along with your kids.
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Gifts for Gardeners | Gifts for Guys | Stocking Stuffers under $20 | Gift Basket Ideas | Gifts to Make1. Windowsill Desert Hothouse
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The hard part about getting kids interested in gardening is that it takes more patience than the average child has. You plant the seeds and wait a month for them to emerge, then another couple of months for the plant to bloom or yield. With a windowsill kit the garden is right there in front of them, so they're reminded of it everyday. This one, from DuneCraft creates a prickly desert seen with cacti and succulents, boulders and sand. What kid doesn't want his own giant Saguaro? And what better choice of plants for forgetful kids than drought tolerant succulents? Recommended for ages 4 and older.
2. Rugged Red-Poly Child's Wheelbarrow
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The advantages of child garden labor aside, kids love to haul things (and each other) around the yard and this wagon is tough enough to stand up to the abuse. Measuring 33 in.L x 17 in. W x 15 3/4 in. H, it's big enough to hold things, but small enough for them to maneuver. Handles are made of wood. The tire is solid rubber. Minimal assembly required. For ages 3 and older.
3. The Garden Game
If your family likes board games every age can enjoy, I'd recommend The Garden Game from kidsgardening.com. It's a little like playing SimGarden; there are seeds to plant, plants to feed and water, bad weather, natural disasters and hopefully, harvest festivals. The game takes players through the seasons of a garden. The player who grows the largest garden and saves the most seeds wins. If nothing else, they'll never look at their vegetables the same way again. Ages 6 and up, 2-6 players.4. Rootvue Farm® Garden Laboratory Kit
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I want this. This clever little set-up gives kids a window on how roots - or root crops - grow. It's a simple Styrofoam base with a window-fronted basin. Put in the included soil wafers and seeds, then watch and wait. It's not immediate gratification, but it sure is cool. There's also a 16-page guide full of experiments to run. Rated for ages 4 and up.
5. WormLab from the National Gardening Association
What could be better than watching icky worms turn leftovers into compost. The WormLab can compost up to seven lbs of food scraps each week, with squiggly red wigglers and a Grow Brick to get started. Fun and educational for the kids and a big bonus for your garden.6. Elephant Watering Can
Photo Courtesy of aHa! Modern Living
If there's one place that kids excel in the garden, it's watering. They do it with gusto, why not let them have some fun with the can itself. This chubby elephant is sized for small hands, with a trunk that points up, so less falls out in transit. Made of recycled plastic.
7. Make Your Own Stepping Stones
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We can't guarantee their plants will grow forever or even sprout at all, but a stepping stone is something they can take pride in for years and you can cherish for life. They're messy, but easy to make. You can imprint their hands, their names or any special memento.
This kit comes with 2 lbs. of concrete mix, concrete tint, a trowel, 8 and 10" round forms, stamps to make uppercase letters, numbers and punctuations and instructions.
8. Garden-opoly
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I want this, too. It's the old familiar game with a botanical twist. Swap out houses and hotels and move in pots and greenhouses. Just watch out for insect infestations, weeds and drought. Who knew it could be so much fun? It's a great game for learning what goes into maintaining a garden and it's something you'll enjoy playing with them.
And for those of you who dread an endless game of whichever-opoly, Rest easy. There's a 1 hour version. Recommended for ages 8 and up.
9. Window Song Bird Feeder
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Bring the birds to the kids. This clear bird feeder, by Duncraft, attaches to any window with suction cups, so there's no worry about heat loss through the window. Sprinkle your seeds and when you least expect it, cardinals, chickadees, finches and nuthatches will be staking out their turf. It's a nice way to keep kids interested in nature, during the cold months of winter. Combine it with something like Gardening with Kids iFlyer bird id tool, to help them learn to recognize birds by their appearance and their songs.
10. My First Garden Planter
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The kids can set up their garden on the back patio, where you can keep an eye on them. This is a raised bed planter sized for children, but deep enough to hold a vegetable or cutting garden. Made of wood and requires assembly. Exterior dimensions: 32 in. L x 24 in. W x 18 in. H. Interior of box: 28-1/2 in. L x 20 in. W x 8-1/2 in. D
