Want your children to have fun, learn, and spend time outdoors? Then why not help them create a backyard herb adventure?
Kids love anything hands-on, and gardening gives them a chance to explore, play, and discover new things without leaving home. Moreover, a small herb garden is very easy to set up, as you don’t need a large yard or fancy equipment.
Indeed, all it takes is a few pots, some soil, and a handful of kid-friendly herbs. Once everything is in place, you’ve got a space where your children can touch, smell, taste, dig, and enjoy the outdoors till their heart’s content.
Sounds great, doesn’t it? Here’s how you can make it happen.
For kids, gardening activities open up a whole world of learning in a way they can easily engage with. They will discover how plants grow and learn how to care for something each day. Herb gardening also encourages them to spend time outdoors, which, in turn, can help to maintain a good level of physical and mental well-being.
A herb garden is a great sensory experience. Kids can dig, water, and explore without needing screens or complicated tools. They can also smell, touch and taste safe herbs like mint and basil and learn how plants add flavour to food.
Additionally, gardening with herbs tends to spark their curiosity and often prompts them to widen their food preferences to incorporate them. You can kickstart this process by cooking meals for them with organic, certified dried herbs from Austral Herbs.
The great thing about setting up a backyard herb garden is that it doesn’t take much. Many families start with pots because they are easy to move around. However, you can also use a planter box or a small garden bed.
It is important to find a sunny spot in your garden where the herbs can grow well. Most respond best to sunlight and will thrive with a few hours of warm Aussie sun each day. You will also need potting mix, a trowel, and a watering can. Additionally, some kids love having their own mini tools, which enables them to feel like real gardeners.
Be mindful that a herb garden doesn’t need to look perfect. But it should be inviting for kids. Therefore, let them decorate labels, pick out pots, and help with the setup. The more invested they are in the gardening space, the more time they will spend enjoying it.
You might be wondering which kid-friendly herbs to include in your backyard garden. Some will naturally be more exciting for children than others. So, it is a good idea to choose herbs that grow quickly, smell great, and are safe to touch and taste.
Here are a few good options for you to try:
Mint: Kids love mint because it grows fast and smells fresh. They can pick a leaf and taste it.
Basil: This has soft leaves, a bright scent, and is great for including in spaghetti bolognese or other simple recipes.
Parsley: One of the easiest herbs to grow, parsley can be a lot of fun to chop for family meals.
Chives: A simple herb that grows very well in pots. Kids can also snip the leaves.
Thyme: It has small leaves and a lovely smell.
Rosemary: This popular herb has a strong scent. It is also great for sensory play.
Generally speaking, these herbs are great for young gardeners because they grow well, recover easily, and don’t need much attention. They are perfect starter plants for anyone looking to create a backyard herb garden.
When it comes to planting herbs, start by filling your pots with potting mix. Kids should love this as they can scoop and pat the soil. Then show them how to make a small hole for the herb and have them place it gently into the pot. Make sure they press the soil lightly around the base.
Next, let your child water the plant. They will feel like this is an important job, and it should help them learn how plants drink. Establish a simple watering routine and encourage them to stick to it.
It is a good idea to explain to your children how roots grow. Show them how leaves change, and have them check the plants each morning. This should help them remain connected to their garden and witness sustainability in progress.
Most kids love stories, imagination, and play. In the context of gardening, there is a great opportunity to turn a simple herb garden into a backyard adventure.
A good starting point is to let your children watch old episodes of Mr Bloom’s Nursery, a BBC children’s TV show for young people about gardening. It taught children about the activity and nature through live-action, puppets, and songs.
Outside, you can create a herb treasure hunt. This could involve hiding clues around the garden and asking kids to find the herb with the strongest smell or the softest leaves. You can also let your kids become “garden explorers” by giving them magnifying glasses and encouraging them to look at leaves, bugs, and soil.
Other fun activities you can do include making herb crafts, such as small sachets filled with dried mint or rosemary. These smell lovely and are easy for kids to make. You can also make nature art by pressing herb leaves between heavy books. If you have little ones, create a mixing station with leaves, water, and small bowls. Then allow your kids to pretend to make potions or garden soups.
