Garden Activities for 1-3 Year Olds
Please note, some activities may only be suitable for 3 yr-olds who are mature enough not to swallow small parts, and some activities may need constant guidance and supervision.
Get a large bucket or plastic storage box and fill with water. Add some soap and give them long wooden spoons or sticks to mix the mixture and make it as foamy and frothy as they can.
Get them a water and sand table, or improvise and use large plastic boxes or lids set on the floor or in an empty raised garden bed.
In a large garden, make a huge maze using very large cardboard boxes (lids off) taped against each other. Little arch-shaped openings can be cut into the walls of the boxes to make the maze for them to crawl through.
Tape three hollow pool noodles (woggles) on a wall, mainly vertically whilst twisting across each other. Place three funnels at the top opening of each and a container under the bottom openings. Give them a bucket full of water and a beaker and let them pour water into each funnel.
Mount a chalk-painted board to the fence or wall, and let them scribble on it using large kid-safe chalk.
Put playing sand into a large tray, give them a spade and bucket. You can also hide ‘treasure’ in the sand.
Do crayon rubbings against bark, or other suitable surfaces.
Give them a magnifying glass and go on a bug hunt. Look under stones and leaves.
Make mud pies, using kitchen utensils and cupcake cases. Let them scoop up loose mud and fill the cases then decorate them with flowers, pebbles, etc.
If it has been raining, let them wear wellies and jump in puddles.
Give them a small bucket. Let them collect things such as twigs, petals, stones and leaves.
Mount a plywood board onto a wall. Bolt these wall-climbing holds on the board. You may want to lay down some yoga mats or foam play mats under the ‘climbing wall’ in case of falls.