Gardening is a great opportunity to practice some planning and organization skills. Take the time now to read up on beginning gardening projects for kids. When the weather is right, you will be glad you did! For kids, gardening offers a way to get messy and watch the payoff for their hard work, in the form of growing veggies and beautiful flowers. You can say, “Hey! I grew the thing! Look at the thing that I grew! Isn’t it pretty?” Imagine the Instagram fun! And maybe enjoy a little reading too!
Making a connection between gardening and food is an important skill for small children. Where does food come from BEFORE it is in the grocery store? We can help you get started learning about where food comes from. Gardening can supplement any family learning from home opportunities. Get started with Plant the Tiny Seed, by Christie Matheson.
Talk!
After listening to the story, talk about some of the things that happened in it.
- Have you ever planted any seeds? Did the seed you planted grow? If they did, what did the seeds grow into?
- Can you name any seeds that we eat?
- Can you name the main parts of a plant?
- How do bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds help plants?
Read!
Click on one of the book covers below and listen to more gardening stories read aloud.
Find more FREE online reading at 100+ Free Video Read Alouds or try storytime at home!
Use your indyPL Library Card to check out books about gardening at any of our locations, or check out e-books and e-audiobooks from home right to your device. If you have never used Axis 360 or OverDrive before, you can learn how to use them for both e-books and audiobooks.
- Gardening e-books and audiobooks from Axis 360 Kids
- Gardening e-books and audiobooks from OverDrive Kids
Need help? Ask a Library staff member at any of our locations or call, text, or email Ask-a-Librarian. The Tinker Station helpline at (317) 275-4500 is also available. It is staffed by device experts who can answer questions about how to read, watch and listen on a PC, tablet or phone.
Sing!
Watch how cooperation makes garden grow and sing along, "Together we can make a pretty garden grow!"
Write!
Find some crayons or makers to color a picture, practice writing the letters, or see if you can follow your way through a maze without getting stuck.
- Printable: Plant the Tiny Seed Activity Guide
- Printable: Bell Pepper Letter Tracer Worksheet
- Printable: Tomato Plant Letter Tracer Worksheet
- Printable: Garden Letter Tracer Worksheet
- Printable: American Farm Bureau Farm to Cart Game
Play!
Take a walk and read a story as you go! We invite you to visit StoryWalk® in Ruckle Street Park at 3025 Ruckle Street. Stroll through the park and read a book displayed in mounted frames. Or Skip. Or gallop!
- PBS Parents Video: Egg Carton Seed Starters
- National Wildlife Federation: 9 tips for Gardening with Kids
- National Wildlife Federation: Kids Garden for Wildlife
- Eartheasy: 10 Crops to Plant with Young Gardeners
- Kids Gardening: Planting with Pre-K Gardeners
Cloistered Gardening for Kiddos
Sunshine. Flowers. Veggies. Dirt. What's not to love? Gardening can be a great way for families to interact during social distancing. It's also a fun way for children to get exercise and time outside, when playing with neighborhood friends is not an option. Here are some stories and resources to help introduce your child to the joy of growing things.
Flower Garden
In this picture book in-verse, a little girl and her father plant a garden without a huge plot of land. Beautifying their home and neighborhood in the process.
The Secret Garden
Chapter Book. This perennial classic (pun intended) tells the story of how Mary Lennox discovers a garden and brings it back to life. The garden returns the favor.
The Tiny Seed
The life cycle of a plant as only Eric Carle can tell it. Here brought to you on the Library Hoopla page.