Fun Plant Activity for Preschoolers and Toddlers
One of our favorite springtime activities is planting grass in egg shells! This is an activity I’ve been doing with preschoolers for years now as a fun way to learn about seeds, plants, and growing. Young learners love to see the progression of their own green thumb.
Fun Planting Activity With Young Children
Having young children plant their own plants is a great way to get them involved in the natural world while also using fine motor skills. Digging in dirt, picking up a tiny seed, and pouring water on plants are all simple activities that build hand-eye coordination and strengthen the small muscles of the hand and fingers.
Planting activities like this can also introduce children to the world of plants! This little project is a super simple way to build their curiosity about plants. We find that after seeing their grass grow so well they’ll want to try all different types of plants and even make their own mini garden.
Plant Materials and Set-Up
Growing grass indoors is an easy way to get toddlers, preschoolers, and even older children involved in all the steps of planting. Here’s everything you’re going to need:
- Egg Shells
- Empty Egg Carton
- Fast Growing Grass Seed
- Cotton Balls
- Water (either in a spray bottle or container that’s easy to pour)
- Marker
The most important step in setting up this fun activity is getting the small hole in the egg shells ready. Gently break off the top one fourth of a raw egg and pour out the egg part. The best way to do this is gently tap the top of the egg with the back of a spoon and slowly peel off small pieces.
After prepping the egg shells, place them in the empty egg carton to dry out.
Great Plant Activity for Children: Step-By-Step Instructions
Now that your egg shells are ready, get ready to have so much fun growing plants with your children! This planting craft is very simple and perfect for early learning. We did this activity with my grandson who’s two years old.
1. Draw On Your Face
To begin, draw a fun face on each of your egg shells! I drew on the face for my grandson who can’t draw yet. Older toddlers and preschoolers may be able to do this on their own, but still may need a little help being gentle.
2. Add Some Seeds
First, add a pinch of grass seed into each of the egg shells. Pinching is an excellent way to build fine motor skills in little fingers.
3. Add the Cotton Balls
Next, stick two cotton balls into each of the egg shells, on top of the grass seed. This is another good activity that incorporates fine motor skills for young children.
4. Water the Cotton Balls
Then, have your child pour some water to wet both the cotton balls. The cotton balls should be wet but not sitting in standing water. If you’re worried about them pouring too much water, you can either help them or use a spray bottle.
5. Add More Grass Seed
Lastly, add another pinch of the grass seeds to the top.
6. Watch Your Plants Grow!
Now leave your egg cartons out in an indoor windowsill or table that gets at least partial sun. Make a point of having your child check their plants everyday or often, at least. This way they learn more about the growing process and see the progression of their own seeds.
Time For A Haircut-Scissor Activity with Plants
Our favorite part of this plant activity is when the grass has grown long enough, it is time to give each of your egg men a haircut! We waited about a week before starting this part of the activity, but that’s up to you.
Using scissors like this is another perfect way to incorporate fine motor skills! If you’re just starting out with scissors or have a toddler, check out our complete guide to scissor use. We have a lot of great tips and advice for scissors.
Planting Your Egg
Once your child is done giving haircuts, a great addition to this activity is planting the egg somewhere outside. Because we used all natural materials, you can plant the egg with the cotton balls and grass right into the dirt. Just be sure to crack the bottom of the egg a little bit before planting.
This step is more about teaching children about plants than actually using the grass, so we decided to plant our eggs in a pot.
Sensory Opportunities with Plants
Hands-on activities this like are a great opportunity to include a sensory activities for little hands. Anything that provides new and different tactile experiences, like cotton balls, are awesome ways to include sensory play.
Another great place to involve the children in sensory activity is planting the egg shells in dirt. This is also a great form of messy play that’s beneficial for their development.
When We Do This Activity
We think the perfect time to do this activity is in the springtime, especially around Earth Day, when young kids are already hearing about plants. But you can really do this at any time of the year. Plant activities like this can easily be added into any plant theme lesson plans or garden theme unit.
More Springtime and Garden Related Activities
If you’re looking for even more fun springtime/garden activities, we have tons of ideas! Try a fun sensory bin like this farm one that includes ‘planting’ in dirt or a flower themed bin using our guide here.
Create a DIY Flower Bouquet by Children
Planting real plants can sound daunting with young children, so you could try making some fake flowers first! These easy paper flowers are perfect for even the littlest learners (and make a great Mother’s Day Gift!).
