Every winter, we struggle with the same thing in Wisconsin: the cold months seem to drag on. By mid January, I’m itching to start our garden Or stop by a local farm stand to get some fresh fruits and vegetables. Luckily, we found a few cold-weather friendly garden themed things to do to make January, February and even March more tolerable!
These simple winter garden activities for preschoolers make getting through the cold months so much more fun. Plus, you’ll be able to garden year-round regardless of where you live!
Most of these activities don’t require a ton of supplies. They’re a great way to spend the day if you’re feeling the winter blues, too. Keep reading to find the perfect easy winter garden activity for you and your preschooler!
Table of Contents
Winter Garden Activities for Preschoolers
Create a Windowsill Herb Garden
Windowsill herb gardens are such a delicious way to garden in the winter. One of the reasons we love indoor herb gardens so much is because it can help us teach gardening skills in a much smaller setting. This way, our daughter is able to help us with our outdoor garden a little more.
Don’t let not having the perfect windowsill for your garden stop you, either! You can easily create an indoor herb garden that can be moved with the sun throughout the day.
Learn how to make an indoor herb garden so you can enjoy fresh herbs all winter long.
Create a Garbage Garden
If you’re looking for a fun experiment to try in the winter, try regrowing plants from fresh produce. It’s a cool way to see what can grow in soil, water, or even just pebbles.
You can also grow a leafy garden with the tops of beets, carrots, turnips, celery bases, or other root vegetables. Check out this guide to garbage gardening to get details on growing everything from apples to pears, lemons to limes, parsnips to radishes and more.
Read Garden Books
One of our favorite ways to spend days where we’re stuck inside because of the temperature is to read spring themed books, especially garden ones. It’s a temporary escape from the gray days of winter and it gets us excited for planning our garden.
Check out these gardening books for toddlers for some ideas. A few of our favorite gardening books for preschoolers are listed below.
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Hardcover Book
- Carle, Eric (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 36 Pages - 03/10/2009 (Publication Date) - Little Simon (Publisher)
- Gerardi, Jan (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 16 Pages - 01/24/2012 (Publication Date) - Random House Books for Young Readers (Publisher)
- Hardcover Book
- Worth, Bonnie (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 48 Pages - 03/27/2001 (Publication Date) - Random House Books for Young Readers (Publisher)
Make Seed Bombs
Can’t wait to plant flowers in the spring? Make a seed bomb! Seed bombs are an easy garden activity that can be done in winter and saved for spring.
With just a few supplies, you’ll be able to make seed balls that are ready to be tossed in your backyard in an hour or two. Learn all about how to make seed bombs.
Build a Birdhouse
Building a birdhouse is a great indoor and outdoor winter garden activity for preschoolers. With a some help cutting the wood and assembling, kids have a blank canvas for them to decorate with paint. If you don’t have the tools available for cutting the pieces for a birdhouse, consider this birdhouse kit that comes with everything precut.
- Build and paint A classic 6" Tall bird house bungalow using the parts In this kit
- Welcome Birds to the backyard with a colorful new home
- Made using safe and high quality materials and FSC Certified wood products
- Includes wood pieces, chain for hanging, 4 paint pots, paint brush, nails, glue and instructions
- Recommended for ages 5 years and up
If you’d prefer to build a bird a super simple feeder, here’s a few ideas that you might be able to make with things you already have at home:
- Cover a pine cone in peanut butter and roll it in bird seed
- Smear peanut butter on a bagel or a piece of toast and cover it in bird seed‘
- Hollow out an orange peel and fill it up with bird seed
Then just tie these homemade bird feeders up so they can hang from the tree. You can also make your own birdseed that can be formulated to attract more of your local birds. This is a fun way to teach kids about the birds that are native to your area.
Make a Terrarium
These are so many DIY terrarium ideas out there that this alone could keep you busy all winter long. If you’re missing the ocean, consider this beach inspired terrarium. Embracing winter or looking for a cute Christmas gift? Try this winter wonderland terrarium.
Or grab a terrarium kit that has everything you need to get started:
- TERRARIUM KIT FOR KIDS: Discover the wonder of nature and science with the Creativity for Kids Grow 'N Glow Terrarium! This kids science kit is fun and engaging. This STEM project for kids ages 6-8+ allows you to craft, plant, water, and grow your own mini ecosystem. Just add water to discover a unique educational science experience!
- EDUCATIONAL SCIENCE KITS: Includes everything a young botanist needs to plant and grow their terrarium twice! The complete science and arts and crafts kit for kids ages 6+ features a plastic terrarium jar, potting mix (vermiculite), plenty of quick-growing organic chia and wheatgrass seeds, glow-in-the-dark forest figurines, and more!
- STEM PROJECTS FOR KIDS: Grow by day, and glow at night! Make your terrarium kit for kids one-of-a-kind with colorful sand, star and constellation stickers that glow in the dark at night. Hold your terrarium up to the light and watch it GLOW! This terrarium kit is the ultimate gift for 6 year old boys and girls
- CRAFTS FOR KIDS: Combine the fun of arts and crafts with science for a creative STEM craft for kids ages 6-8+! Create your own terrarium while learning responsibility and nurturing. Your guaranteed-to-grow terrarium kit will begin to grow in as little as 3-4 days! All seeds are from and packaged in the USA
- KIDS GIFTS: Give the gift of creativity! Grow 'N Glow Terrarium is the perfect 7 year old boy and girl gift for kids who love science and working with their hands! Have fun while building creative confidence! Since 1976, Creativity for Kids has proudly made fun and creative experiences today to nurture children's confidence for life. This science kit features kid friendly arts and craft supplies and is recommended for ages 6-8+
- CREATE A DINOSAUR WORLD – With this exciting indoor activity set, kids can easily grow a mini indoor garden with a prehistoric look and feel! Just choose a backdrop, decorate, plant & water the seeds, and watch their new dinosaur habitat flourish!
- WIDE MOUTH & PANORAMIC VIEW - The unique, wide-mouth design of this terrarium makes it easy for smaller hands to set up and work with the provided materials. And the panoramic view lets kids explore what's inside as their habitat evolves.
- USB-POWERED LIGHT - The light-up lid on this terrarium is powered by the included USB cable, so no batteries are required. It also makes a perfect night light for bedtime!
- REAL ROCK SPECIMENS - Genuine blue calcite, rose quartz & aventurine specimens are included, adding to the prehistoric vibe of the terrarium habitat and making for an even cooler look!
- EVERYTHING KIDS NEED - Our water-tight, light-up terrarium kit includes chia and ryegrass seeds, a peat pellet, spray bottle, colored pebbles, rock specimens, river stone, faux succulent, 2 dino figurines, and reversible laminated backdrop!
- 【Extensive DIY Terrarium Craft Kit】: Our craft kit includes everything girls need to build and customize their unicorn terrarium. A girl can DIY her own unicorn terrarium with cute unicorn models, a variety of flower and plant models, castles, sparkling crystals and more!Unleash the imagination as your kids creates their own magical world inside the terrarium.
- 【Multi-functional Night Light】: Watch the LED lights bring your terrarium to life. In addition to incandescent light, it has an additional 12 color lighting options. And it features 2 flashing modes, 2 timer modes, and 5 levels of brightness adjustment. It can be controlled remotely with a remote control.so your kids can choose their favorite lighting mode to create a colorful glow that will capture their attention. The timer function provides added convenience based on your child's sleeping habits.
- 【Engaging & Screen-Free Activity】: Keep your kids away from excessive screen time with this captivating DIY craft kit. It provides hours of creative fun and allows them to immerse themselves in a hands-on project that sparks their imagination. As they design and assemble their terrarium, kids will not only have a blast but also enhance their artistic and crafting skills.
- 【Unique Bedroom Decor】: This Unicorn Terrarium Kit is not just a craft project, but also a beautiful addition to any girl's bedroom. It can be placed near a bedside table, emitting a gentle glow that soothes and comforts. It adds a touch of magic and creates a cozy and enchanting atmosphere that girls will love.
- 【Ideal Gifts for Girls】:Make birthdays and Christmas extra special with this unique and thoughtful gift.Girls aged 5-12 will adore the opportunity to create their own unicorn terrarium and showcase their artistic skills. Our Unicorn Terrarium Kit is sure to bring a smile to their face. Order now and let the magic begin!
- 🌱 𝐀𝐋𝐋-𝐈𝐍-𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐔𝐌 𝐊𝐈𝐓: The terrarium starter kit comes with everything needed to set up a healthy terrarium, including premium 5-blend soil mix for proper drainage, nutrient supply for plants and oxygen supply for roots; a substrate layer with mesh to facilitate aeration and water holding; sphagnum moss for moisture and nutrient retention; and lastly, decorative materials to enhance aesthetic appeal. This self sustaining ecosystem terrarium kit also includes maintenance tools and detailed instructions, making it effortless for beginners to create a complete terrarium landscape.
- 🌱 𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒: All ingredients and materials in this DIY terrarium kit for kids and adults are meticulously researched and screened to ensure the strongest possible ecosystem. They support the environment of your terrarium and plants for a long time, helping to create a stable ecosystem.
- 🌱 𝐒𝐄𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄 & 𝐒𝐎𝐈𝐋 𝐌𝐈𝐗: Premium mesh net is specially designed to separate drainage substrate layer from potting mix layer for the purpose of preventing issues such as soil compaction, root congestion and air suffocation.
- 🌱 𝐀𝐅𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐄 & 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐕𝐎𝐋𝐔𝐌𝐄: Duspro special succulent terrarium kit is a perfect choice for those who want to save costs without compromising product quality. Our price is 30% cheaper than other mini terrarium kit supplies while still maintaining high quality and large volume. Our DIY terrarium kit comes with a generous amount of materials that is equivalent to a large terrarium kit available on the market.
- 🌱 𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍: Duspro cactus terrarium kit with a beautiful package design is a perfect gift for nature lovers, on special occasions: Mother's Day, Father's Day, Christmas gifts; Noel; Children Day
- CREATE - Make your own unique terrariums from glass or containers you already have at home. This quick start kit includes a guide to help you get started and the materials needed to make healthy environments for small plants that you add yourself. Just add your own container and plants.
- VALUE - The Medium Terrarium Kit includes a 4.5’’x 2.25’’ container of Moss (Reindeer Moss, Forest Moss & Lichen), 4.5’’x 2.75’’ Potting Soil Blended with Activated Charcoal, 4.5”x 1.75” Gardening Vermiculite, 4.5”x 1.75” Pea Pebbles & River Stones, 1 oz fl Plant Food, Bamboo Tongs, Natural Hair Brush, (3) Miniature Dinos, Succulent Care Guide, Build & Care Guide, and Cute Farms Sticker. Save when compared to buying individual materials.
- PREMIUM INGREDIENTS - The included Moss mix is preserved, and it will keep looking fresh without any maintenance for a long time. The beautiful bright moss colors are the perfect finishing touch to any terrarium. The Blended Potting Soil increases drainage abilities while allowing airflow, and it's a perfect mix of nutrients. Charcoal is added for its natural ability to retain nutrients. Our Fine Grade Horticultural Vermiculite soil amendment provides the right amount of water drainage.
- UNIQUE GIFT IDEA - Do you know someone who loves plants? Our Medium Terrarium Kit is a perfect idea for all nature lovers. Perfect for kids, adults, family projects, team events, or as a gift idea. Whether you’re looking for a housewarming gift or just want to bring extra greenery into your home, a terrarium is an ideal present.
- USA MADE - Our terrarium kits are made and packed in the USA to ensure quality. If you don’t absolutely love our Terrarium Starter Kit we’ll refund your entire purchase amount within 30 days. Please contact us with any questions or concerns.
- UNIQUE TERRARIUM SET: This unicorns art kit for kids comes with magic sand, preserved mosses, a 13-colored LED night light with remote control, unicorns miniatures, mushroom miniatures, castle miniatures, and decorative accessories. The cute arts and crafts project for kids.
- FANTASY ART TOY: Our unicorns toy is included with a remote control which works up to 5M distance, avoiding the trouble of manual operation back and forth. 13 colors types and 3 adjustable light modes, transform the kids terrarium kit into a colorful fantasy night light.
- MAGICAL NIGHT LIGHT: With sensory sand, preserved moss, and decorative accessories such as a unicorns, castle, and gemstones make the scene looks even more real and create an astonishing sight.
- SAFE AND FUN: The decorating tools included in the kid crafts are safe and eco-friendly, which you can feel free for your boys or girls to play with. Enjoy your parent-child time with the arts & crafts supplies and crafts for girls ages 8-12.
- BEST UNICORNS GIFTS FOR GIRLS: The unicorns craft kit is the perfect gift for 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 year old girls. Idea gift for Christmas, Halloween, Birthdays, Easter Day, Valentine's Day, or any other holiday. Great arts and crafts toy for kids to do.
- MERMAID GIFTS: Decorate, plant, and grow your own mini terrarium in a mermaid egg-shaped environment. The mermaid toy is a fun and engaging 7 year old kids gifts. Use the quick-growing seeds and under-the-sea decorations to bring your mermaid terrarium kit to life (Mermaid Garden measures 5.25” h x 3” w.)
- KIDS GIFTS: Give the perfect mermaid gift for girls to kids who love science and hands-on activities! Everything you need to grow your own mermaid terrarium kit for girls is included! The craft for kids ages 6-8 includes potting mix, quick-growing chia seeds, mermaid stickers, pearl accents, mini mermaid accent toys, colored sand, and more
- STOCKING STUFFERS: Easy indoor gardening with great results! These enchanting mermaid toys make fun stocking stuffers for kids and birthday gift ideas. Our guaranteed-to-grow terrarium kit means a green thumb for all! Included chia seeds sprout within 3-5 days of planting for immediate results. Potting mix is vermiculite, and all seeds are from and packaged in the USA
- CRAFTS FOR KIDS: Explore the wonderful world of nature and science with a mini terrarium for kids. This STEAM science toy for girls is fun to do with a unique learning experience. Spark curiosity, inspire creativity, and intrigue about ocean life while creating a magical mermaid under the sea craft
- TOYS FOR GIRLS: Growing a mini mermaid garden makes an easy and fun 6 year old girl gift. The activity encourages independent play while developing nurturing skills! Since 1976, Creativity for Kids has proudly made fun and creative experiences today to nurture kid's confidence for life. This mermaid gift for girls is recommended for ages 6-8+
- Premium Terrarium Supplies, MADE IN THE USA, Our starter kits Have The Key Ingredients to get you going.
- Soil - Our bioactive soil is THE BEST. MADE IN USA. IT’s full of composted pine bark. This is the cadillac of plant food. Full of bioactive life. This helps soil and roots remain healthy. Imported Soils are STERILIZED. Perfect Succulent Soil.PH balanced.
- Our Kits come with Charcoal, U.S. Pea Gravel Gems, Activated Charcoal, And Preserved Moss. Expensive to buy alone!
- Great for adult terrariums, or snail terrariums. Our soils have no additives. Just full of hearty natural ingredients.
- USA MADE: TerraGreen Creations Is the Original Terrarium Kit company. We have sold Tens of thousands of kits since 2016! IF you Are Not Happy. Let us know and we will refund your order.
- DIY Creation** - Craft your own unique terrarium with this DIY kit, which includes all the materials you need to create a beautiful miniature landscape. You can also enhance your terrarium by adding additional plants such as ferns and succulents to make it even more vibrant.
- Great Value Kit** – The kit includes a lighted terrarium, a bag of blended potting soil (with micronutrients and activated charcoal), a bag of garden gravel, a bag of clear sand, a bag of live moss, a plant mat, 2 shovels, a rake, a spray bottle, a scoop, stainless steel tweezers, a brush, 4 pieces of driftwood, 6 landscape stones, and 2 decorative ornaments. This kit saves you money compared to buying each item separately.
- Quality Soil** - The blended potting soil is enriched with micronutrients and activated charcoal, so there’s no need to add extra fertilizer. It also has excellent drainage properties and allows for airflow when used with gravel, making it the perfect nutrient mix for your plants.
- Perfect Gift Choice** - This kit meets your needs for various occasions, making it ideal for home garden and office desk decoration. Its unique natural appeal is sure to draw attention. Enjoy the fun of crafting, suitable for all ages, from children to adults, as it's easy to start and maintain. Paired with various decorative items, it’s also a new and thoughtful gift option for men, women, birthdays, housewarmings, parties, Valentine's Day, Christmas, New Year's, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and more. It’s the best choice for a special and memorable gift.
- An ecological bottle is a mini-ecosystem that condenses natural landscapes into a transparent container, offering several advantages. Firstly, ecological bottles require low maintenance and are easy to manage, making them especially suitable for busy modern individuals. With just the right amount of watering and light, plants can thrive within them.
- CREATE - Make your own unique terrariums from glass or containers you already have at home. This quick start kit includes a guide to help you get started and the materials needed to make healthy environments for small plants that you add yourself. Just add your own container and plants.
- VALUE - The Small Terrarium Kit includes 0.6 oz. bag of Moss (Reindeer Moss, Forest Moss & Lichen), 2.6 oz. bag of Potting Soil Blended with Activated Charcoal, 1.25 oz. bag of Gardening Vermiculite, 1 oz fl Plant Food, Natural Hair Brush, (2) Miniature Dinos, Succulent Care Guide, Build & Care Guide, and Cute Farms Sticker. Save when compared to buying individual materials.
- PREMIUM INGREDIENTS - The included Moss mix is preserved, and it will keep looking fresh without any maintenance for a long time. The beautiful bright moss colors are the perfect finishing touch to any terrarium. The Blended Potting Soil increases drainage abilities while allowing airflow, and it's a perfect mix of nutrients. Charcoal is added for its natural ability to retain nutrients. Our Fine Grade Horticultural Vermiculite soil amendment provides the right amount of water drainage.
- UNIQUE GIFT IDEA - Do you know someone who loves plants? Our Terrarium Starter Kit is a perfect idea for all nature lovers. Perfect for kids, adults, family projects, team events, or as a gift idea. Whether you’re looking for a housewarming gift or just want to bring extra greenery into your home, a terrarium is an ideal present.
- USA MADE - Our terrarium kits are made and packed in the USA to ensure quality. If you don’t absolutely love our Terrarium Starter Kit we’ll refund your entire purchase amount within 30 days. Please contact us with any questions or concerns.
Grow Houseplants or Succulents
Houseplants can turn a home into a tropical paradise – even in the middle of winter. There are tons of plants that you can grow with your preschooler that can help teach them the importance of proper plant care.
You can also grow succulents if you’re looking for a slightly more forgiving plant for your family. If you already have one or two, consider learning how to propagate or regrow succulents.
Paint Garden Stones and Pots
Painting garden stones or pots is a great way to get preschoolers interested in gardening. After they paint their items, they’ll get to appreciate their artwork all garden season long.
While you’re at it, you can paint some watermelon coasters out of the bottoms of your terra cotta pots.
You can also try making a handprint stepping stone out of air dry clay or grab this kit to easily create your own.
- Milestones Stepping Stones are the perfect decoration for your garden, yard, flower bed, or walk path
- Spend quality time with your kids or grandkids; create a beautiful decoration that will last for years to come
- Easy to follow step-by-step instructions guide you through the hands-on activity
- Each kit makes one 12 inch leaf shaped stepping stone; ideal for a Mother's day or Father's day gift
- Kit includes 7 lb bag of Stepping Stone Mix, one 12 inch reusable plastic leaf mold, 12 oz mosaic glass, 2 oz glass gems, letter and number stamps, wooden mixing paddle, and writing tool; glass and gem colors may vary
Make Your Own Seed Markers
Seed markers are easy to make and can be done in so many ways. Popsicle stickers, rocks, clothespins, paint sticks, etc.
If you’re looking for something that won’t fade in the sun, check out these clay stamped seed markers.
Vermicomposting
We have yet to try Vermicomposting, but this is a great indoor winter garden activity. Vermicomposting uses worms to decompose waste, similar to regular composting. This makes a worm manure that can be used for a fertilizer. Learn more about vermicomposting or try out this Vermicomposting kit:
- The Worm Factory 360 has a standard 4-Tray size which is expandable up to 8 trays, giving it the largest volume of any home composter.
- The redesigned lid converts to a handy stand for trays while harvesting the compost.
- Includes digital instructional manual with step-by-step guide for managing your Worm Factory 360.
- Bonus "What Can Red Wigglers Eat?" infographic refrigerator magnet (6" by 9") allows you to quickly determine which foods are perfect for your worms, and which you should avoid. Imagine the peace of mind you will feel knowing that your worms are always eating a healthy diet!
- Built in "worm tea" collector tray and spigot for easy draining.
Plan Your Garden
This is probably my favorite winter garden activity for preschoolers because I love seeing what our daughter wants in our garden. Not only is it a great teaching opportunity, it also allows for a ton of creativity. We learn about spacing, measuring, plant needs, the garden season and more. But we also get to have fun with what we’d plant in our dream garden if we had all the space and resources.
We use our garden planner to plan ours out which helps us keep a record of everything we need to do throughout the harvest season.
Start Your Seeds
What better way to get through the colder months than to start your seeds for the garden? There are multiple benefits to starting your seeds indoors, but my favorite is that we can usually get our harvest even a little sooner.
This activity is great for preschoolers because they get to easily see the transformation from seed to plant. Plus, it’s a great activity to spend even a few minutes on every day.
Play Garden Games
Board games are one of our favorite things to do in winter so it only makes sense to add gardening board games for kids to the mix! Check out a few ideas below:
- 【Creativity Development】Develop creativity and imagination in children when playing this manipulative toy flower playset.
- 【Amazing Vibrant Colors】 Each piece of the flower toy set are colored vibrantly to help stimulate visual sense and color recognition. Great toys for kids sensory development.
- 【Super Fun To Play】With all the interchangeable pieces, girls can make hundreds of possible flower arrangements! Which is great for imagination and creativity develompent. It is also great gifts for 4 year old girls gifts!
- 【Safe And Study】Designed to withstand playfulness of children and made from non-toxic child-friendly, high-quality materials.
- 【 Safety & Satisfaction】 We prioritize safety by conducting rigorous lab inspections of our toys. Plus, we're committed to customer satisfaction. If any issues arise with our products, we strongly encourage customers to contact our support team - we'll assure to resolve any problems swiftly.
Books That Can Help With Winter Gardening
If you’re looking for some more ideas for gardening during the winter or with you kids, check out these books.
- Jabbour, Niki (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 256 Pages - 12/14/2011 (Publication Date) - Storey Publishing, LLC (Publisher)
- Hardy, Emma (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 144 Pages - 08/13/2019 (Publication Date) - CICO Books (Publisher)
- Ships from Vermont
- Coleman, Eliot (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 264 Pages - 04/15/2009 (Publication Date) - Chelsea Green Publishing (Publisher)
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Hardcover Book
- Bourne, Val (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 144 Pages - 06/01/2005 (Publication Date) - Cassell (Publisher)
- Brown, Renata (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 136 Pages - 04/01/2014 (Publication Date) - Quarry Books (Publisher)
I hope these ideas for winter garden activities for preschoolers help you make the most of long winters! If you have any other garden activities that you like to do in the winter with your young kids, I’d love to hear about them in the comments!