Why Growing Herbs with Children is More Than Just Gardening
There’s something quietly magical about watching a tiny green shoot push its way through the soil, especially when that sprout is nurtured by tiny, soil-smudged fingers. Growing herbs with children isn’t just a fun, muddy afternoon project — it’s a deeply grounding experience. Involving our little ones in growing something from seed to plate offers lessons in patience, care, and our deep connection to the earth.
When I planted our first indoor herb garden with my daughter, Léa, the basil seedlings grew faster than our sleep cycles during her teething phase. And just as I felt I couldn’t possibly bloom on two hours of sleep, there was this little plant — thriving under her densely watered (and slightly affection-heavy) care. It reminded me that growth doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.
The Gentle Beginnings: Choosing the Right Herbs
Before donning the tiny gardening gloves, it helps to choose herbs that are forgiving, fast-growing, and sensory-rich. Think about herbs that little hands can munch on safely and that smell delightful — something that brings a whiff of summer into even the grayest morning routine.
Here are a few child-friendly herbs to get started with:
- Basil – Quick to sprout, it thrives in sunny kitchens. Perfect for making mini pesto together!
- Mint – Hardy and fragrant (though a bit invasive in the garden bed). Pop a few leaves in water for a refreshing drink.
- Chives – Their grass-like stalks are fun to snip and mild enough for curious taste-testers.
- Parsley – Rich in vitamins and a lovely garnish on almost anything kids already like.
- Thyme – A delicate delight with a fairy-tale name; wonderfully aromatic when touched.
Where Little Seeds Dream: Creating a Growing Space
You don’t need a giant garden to start. In fact, some of the best herb gardens happen on windowsills and balconies, in recycled yoghurt pots and repurposed mugs. Children adore the novelty of growing something from inside their own cereal bowl or decorated jam jar. Let them be creators of their own little green kingdom.
If you do have outdoor space, consider creating a small « Herb Patch Palace » just for them. Use colourful plant markers (popsicle sticks work beautifully), and let them paint pebbles to place around each herb. It becomes their safe haven — where they can dig, water, and whisper secrets to the thyme.
Planting Day: Making it a Hands-On Adventure
Expect a bit of wonderful chaos. Pack patience alongside your trowels. Toddlers are surprisingly excellent at overwatering, dropping seeds in clusters, and rearranging soil like they’re baking muffins. And yet — the joy in their eyes when something starts to sprout is unmatched.
Use this opportunity to:
- Talk about seeds – Explain how something that looks asleep knows just how to grow if you give it love, water, and light. A gentle life lesson tucked into soil.
- Sing to the seedlings – Honestly, it helps both the herbs and your mood. We have a little ditty about « Basil Baby » that’s become an unmissable planting ritual.
- Let them be messy – Dirt washes off. Memories stay.
Everyday Herb-Tending Rituals
Gardens — even teeny, indoor herbal ones — build rhythm into our days. Watering in the morning becomes a reason to open the curtains. Snipping a few chives gives lunch prep a little ceremony. Noticing a new leaf is like spotting a new freckle: subtle but meaningful.
Here’s how to create consistent, manageable routines with your little gardeners:
- Give each child a spray bottle — misting herbs feels far more magical than pouring water.
- Make a simple growth chart together: a weekly drawing or note about any new changes they notice.
- Let them name their plants. Seriously — Léa’s parsley is named Mrs. Fern, and she insists it prefers lullabies over watering.
Harvest Time: Little Hands, Big Pride
The first time your child clips a sprig of basil and places it triumphantly on homemade pizza, something inside glows. It’s not about the quantity — it’s about agency, pride, and connection to where food really comes from.
Let them be part of picking and preparing. Snipping herbs with small scissors (with supervision, of course) improves fine motor skills and boosts confidence. Stirring herbs into soup or sprinkling mint on fruit salad turns dinner prep into a shared ritual rather than a chore.
Cooking Together: Tastes of the Garden
Once the herbs are flourishing, bring them to the kitchen. Let the kids lead simple, safe tasks — crushing leaves between fingers to release scent, washing freshly snipped parsley, or adorning their toast with a basil leaf face. Here are a few toddler-friendly herb-based ideas:
- Herb Butter – Mix soft butter with chopped chives or parsley. Spread on warm bread and taste the smiles.
- Muddy Mint Water – That’s what Léa calls it. Mint-infused water with berries and a touch of honey. It looks fancy but is play-date approved.
- Herb Pizzas – Use pita bread as the base, spread tomato sauce, sprinkle cheese, and let tiny hands decorate with fresh basil or thyme leaves.
When Things Don’t Grow (And That’s Okay)
Not every seed we plant will flourish, and that’s a lesson in itself. Sometimes life throws a cold snap. Sometimes someone over-enthusiastically waters the mint. And yet, even then — resilience blooms. Talk about it with your child. Replant together. Laugh at the soggy disasters.
This isn’t just gardening — it’s a practice in gentle failure, shared cheer, and seasonal living. Every little pot holds a story. Some funny. Some messy. All beautiful.
Gardening as a Sustainable Family Act
In a world of glittery plastic toys and fast-paced screens, turning to the soil with your child is a quiet rebellion. Each herb you grow together is one less plastic clamshell container at the store. Each leaf picked by small fingers is an eco-choice shaped by love.
Gardening reconnects us — to the earth, to our food, and to each other. It teaches our children to nourish and be nourished, to respect time and cycles, and to savor the unfurling of growth rather than rushing towards the end.
Final Little Seeds of Encouragement
If you’ve never grown a thing in your life, that’s okay. If your idea of « outdoorsy » is drinking tea by an open window — same here. Start small. One pot. One silly-named plant. One minute of hands in dirt together.
There’s no wrong way to garden with your child, as long as you’re both smiling (eventually) and learning to notice the world a little more tenderly. Whether your basil bolts or your mint becomes a jungle, you’ve already planted something much bigger — a lifelong love for nature, nurtured heart-first.
