For children of all ages and the young at heart alike, here are my picks for some of the coolest fun and educational nature and gardening gifts for kids:
Edited with new products 12-26-22.
Greenhouse and Garden Set
This traditional plywood greenhouse has a door and 2 removable roof panels. Kids can fill it with two seed trays, a planting bench, four pot plants, and three tomato shrubs. It has an included cold frame for nurturing seeds, a raised bed with nine vegetables, a compost bin, lawnmower, watering can, wheelbarrow, and a topiary tree.
$109.99
Seed Slinger Wilderness Restoration Kit
This wilderness restoration kit features everything young eco-enthusiasts need to tackle local habitat fragmentation including an embroidered Wilderness Warrior Merit Badge that recognizes work done to better the planet. Simply sling seed balls into spaces devoid of plants (like medians, under power lines, and new developments.) Includes wooden slingshot, 10 seed balls (clay, non-gmo USDA seeds), reusable tin, embroidered merit badge and full instructions to make more seed balls at home. 8″H, 2.5″W, 8″L.
$30.00
Green Dollhouse
Crafted from recycled, natural rubber wood and dyed with vegetable and soy dyes, the Green Dollhouse demos energy-conscious inspiration. Its energy-efficient design includes a wind turbine, a solar cell panel, an electric inverter for generating electricity, a rain barrel for collecting rain, and recycling bins. The house has a bio facade, which uses the natural cycle of plant growth to provide shade and an awning for adjusting the amount of sunlight exposure and air circulation. The dollhouse includes furniture for five rooms: living room, kitchen, bathroom, children’s bedroom, and master bedroom.$300 $231
Goose Lamp That’s Not a Lamp…
My kids had the iconic lamp version of this goose when they were tots, and then they stopped making them, so very few are available, and they are pricey. But kids can dress this 23-inch tall plastic goose up for different occasions. She’s suitable for indoors or out.
$24.99
Soft Vegetables in Crate
So soft and sweet for little hands. This garden box includes pretend soil, carrot, potato, beet, pumpkin, tomatoes, mushrooms, and an activity guide in a reusable cardboard crate.
$21.99
Le Jardin Little Explorer’s Kit
Get them outside and into nature with this beautifully outfitted garden explorer’s kit. The cool case includes a pair of binoculars, water bottle, pocket compass, an Explorer’s Notebook for keeping track of discoveries, and a tin box for tiny collected treasures.
$65.99
Kids Gardening Set With Real Tools
This gardening tool set for toddlers encourages kids to play outside and learn about plants, nature & sustainability while developing fine motor skills. Includes high-quality metal tipped tools with wooden handles: Set includes a tote bag, rake, trowel, fork, gloves, and watering can.
$25.95
Plantable Blooming Lollipops
Kids and grownups too will love these eight all-natural botanical flavors like lavender-lemongrass and strawberry-basil: eat, then plant the seed-filled sticks to grow one of the ingredients in the lollipop. Handmade in California.
$20.00
Succulent Planter in Wood Crate
Made of washable polyester and pine wood, this succulent garden includes 30 assorted sizes of plush rocks, six plush succulent plants, and a cute little plush rattlesnake, all planted inside a real wooden crate. (Desert heat not included.)$79.00 $63.20
Child’s Porcelain Tea Set in Wicker Basket
For older kids, this heirloom quality porcelain ceramic tea set for two comes in a red gingham-lined wicker basket with a carrying handle. Set contains a teapot, creamer, sugar bowl, 2 cups, 2 saucers, 2 plates, 2 forks, and 2 spoons. All you need to add is two kids and some cookies.
$39.99
Born Kids Complete Gardening Set
The real thing but kid sized: Metal garden tools, washable apron with pockets for tools, gardening gloves, adjustable drawstring hat to keep the sun off little faces, real water sprayer, shovel, spade, and trowel all in a see-through gardening bag.$34.95 $29.95
Little Tikes Go GreeN! Playhouse
Kids can grow a garden together outside this playhouse. Includes 3 accessories: shovel, rake, and watering can. Made with 10% recycled plastic, the house includes:
• Solar panels power interior LED lights
• Working pump sink can be removed for play outside the house
• Recycling center with dual removable bins
• Planting box and water reservoir, fed by a rain barrel
• Small roof section can be filled with soil and planted with grass seed for a living roof
• Working Dutch door, doorbell, and mailbox
• Roof section opens for ventilation
$355.71
Wooden Farmers Market Stand
Kids learn about fruits and veggies and math with the cash register. Includes over 30 pieces: eight kinds of fruits and veggies, chalkboard, chalk, cash register, and shopping tote bag.
$129.99
My First Garden and Gro Pro Membership
My First Garden comes with everything you and the kids need to plant, grow, and harvest fresh vegetables and herbs on a patio, balcony, sidewalk, or backyard. Each easy-to-assemble garden is customized by growing location and what you are planting. Includes fully rooted starter plants that are shipped from the farm partner right to you. Best of all: Comes with a seasonal Grow Pro membership with garden reminders and weather alerts that will teach children about the benefits of gardening and the fresh flavors that come with seasonal harvests.
Includes:
• 5-6 gallons of planting media (2 large coir tiles)
• Growbag to prevent overwatering
8 Reusable growing containers for next season’s crops – monogrammed Grow Bag “My First Garden”
• Soil Primer
• Triple Blend Plant Food
• Customized Plant Nutrients
• Spray Bottle
• 30 Day Plant Feeding
• Grow Pro membership with garden reminders and weather alerts
• Two full-sized garden tools crafted of ash wood and stainless steel
$98.00
Child Size Real Metal Wheelbarrow
Just like the ones the grownups use, this wheelbarrow has a round tray edge to keep fingers from getting scratched. The tray body and handles are made of real metal and super sturdy wheels for strength and durability.
$27.19
Mason Jar Terrarium Kit
Just add your own plant to this 32oz (1 quart) mason jar to create a cool terrarium. The jar comes with mint-colored reindeer and sphagnum moss, white sand, gravel, and instructions.
$19.99
Sophia’s Smithsonian Horticulturist Doll and Gardening Tools
Made by Sophia’s, a leading doll brand, this set makes any 18-inch doll a horticulturist totally ready to jump in and start gardening.
Complete 14 Piece Set Includes :
Canvas Apron, Watering Can, Gardening Shears, Planter Label, Spade, Hand Rake, Spay Bottle, Detachable Flower and Pot,
Seed Packets, Potting Soil, Bell Pepper, Eggplant, and Chili Pepper. (doll not included.)
$19.99
Little Tikes Garden Table Play Set
Plant and water the pretend flowers with a real watering can. Basin can hold water, drain plug included, for water play then lid fits over back posts to cover half the basin to become a table work surface. A purple tray goes on top of another half of the basin to keep everything covered when playtime is over. Includes 4 flower pots, 2 soil discs, 2 flowers, 1 tray, 1 sifter tray, 1 rake, 1 shovel, and 1 watering can.$44.78 $39.00
New Sprouts Toddler Gardening Set
Easy-to-grip, durable, and washable soft plastic pieces feature a real-life look and feel.$24.99 $20.24
My Little Garden Wooden Vegetables Play Set
Early learning 13-piece toy garden includes carrots, beets, potatoes, mushrooms, trowel, seeds, fertilizer, a caterpillar, realistic tools, accessories, and a handy Grower’s Guide with vital veggie facts. Made of natural wood and finished with safe, water-based paints.
$34.99
Clamp Bee to Hive Wooden Matching Game / Color Sorting Puzzle
The colorful toy set includes a beehive, seven cute bees, easy-to-implement tweezers, and one storage box. Non-toxic, completely safe, eco-friendly wood.$15.99 $13.59
Maze Planter DIY Build & Grow Botany Kit
Kids can design their own terrarium maze and grow plants while learning about phototropism. Using real botany techniques, they can experiment with different designs by planting again in specific paths through the maze. A see-through base gives a clear view of plant roots and shows how they absorb water.$19.99 $17.99
The Little Gardener Board Book
This little armchair gardener will lift the flaps to find out all she needs to know to grow and care for her very own garden in this interactive board book.
$4.49
My Growing Garden Lift-a-Flap Board Book
Explore the garden with Lamaze and your little one in this sturdy lift-a-flap board book. You’ll find discussion prompts for each scene on the handle and activities under each flap. Enjoy playing games with all of our garden friends as you learn about colors, shapes, and other early learning concepts.
$9.70
We Are the Gardeners
In this New York Times Best Seller, Joanna Gaines (HGTV’s Fixer Upper) and kids’ story chronicle their adventures of starting their own family garden. From failed endeavors, obstacles to overcome (bunnies that eat everything!), and all the knowledge they’ve gained along the way, the family shares how they learned to grow a happy, successful garden. Trying something new isn’t always easy, but the hardest work often yields the greatest reward and always new lessons to be learned in the garden!
$12.00
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt
Kids will discover the hidden wonders under the leaves, growing vegetables, and ripening fruit to explore the secret world beneath the dirt. With bright illustrations of dark earthy tones mixed with beautiful pops of color, the story follows a young girl and her grandmother as they journey through the year, planning, planting, and harvesting their garden. There’s even a glossary of animals that live in, around, and under the garden.
$17.99 Hardcover / $6.83 Paperback
A Seed Is Sleepy
By award-winning artist, Sylvia Long and author Dianna Hutts Aston, this beautiful and informative introduction to seeds introduces children to a fascinating array of seed and plant facts.
$15.89 Hardcover / $7.99 Paperback
Water Garden Aquaponics Ecosystem
Grow a succulent or houseplant garden all year round, and comes with everything you need to get started, including a month’s supply of seeds and a coupon for fish. Becomes a self-cleaning fish tank that also grows fresh food up top: the fish waste fertilizes the plants on top, and the plants clean the water. Each water garden comes with a free STEM curriculum on aquaponic and hydroponic systems to encourage your kids to learn more about it. Kids can customize the interior of the tank however they’d like to create a beautiful underwater scene.$99.99 $62.26
Grow and Glow Terrarium Science Kit
Kit includes a plastic mason-style jar, decorative lid, potting mix, organic chia, wheat grass seeds, garden figurines, decorative sand, river stones, and a plant mister to keep your terrarium watered.$15.00 $12.97
Kids First Botany and Experimental Greenhouse Kit
Using the kit’s specially designed botanical laboratory with greenhouse domes, kids will conduct experiments of plant cells and capillary action. Budding gardeners will grow beans, cress, and zinnia flowers while learning how each plant has different needs. Kids will construct an automatic watering system and learn how roots work to transport water and nutrients throughout a plant.
$39.99
Garden Explorer’s Pocket Magnifying Glass and Loop
Explore the garden, rocks, and more using this magnifying glass and loop with bright LED and UV light illumination to see objects clearly in low-lit areas.
$15.29
Paint a Birdhouse Kit
Paint will welcome birds with a classic 7″ tall birdhouse and hang it to attract fine feathered friends. Includes fully assembled FSC-certified wooden birdhouse, paint strip, brush, and hanging chain.
$17.00
