Here at Jaques of London we LOVE outdoor games and are the proud inventors of many fantastic garden games, such as our world renowned Croquet. We believe that gardening goes hand in hand with outdoor games for kids. There are numerous benefits that gardening has for childhood development. Read on to find out more.

Gardening Benefits For Kids:

• Gardening is the perfect way to teach kids about nature and the environment. Children will get hands on, practical experience in identifying different types of plants and will become familiar with a range of bugs and creepy crawlies!

• Through gardening, kids will develop an understanding of plant life cycles and food chains. They will also observe the effect that seasons have on the garden, plants and wildlife.

• There are numerous sensory benefits in gardening. Children will explore using their sight, hearing, smell, touch and even taste (we would only recommend eating fruit and vegetables you have grown, however!) Sensory time has fantastic mental and physical health benefits

• They will need to remember to plant seeds at the right time, water the plants daily, trim and prune their plants and so on. It encourages a sense of responsibility and organisation, which are valuable life skills.

• Gardening is a lifelong hobby! It is a consistent past time that has been enjoyed for generations. It is a hobby that children will not outgrow, as it is suitable for adults and kids alike. Gardening for beginners is accessible and highly adaptable, meaning it is never too late for people to start.

• Garden provides kids with imaginative freedom and allows them to express themselves creatively through the plants they grow and the way their garden looks.

Child Gardeners of Instagram

We took to Instagram to ask parents and carers for their opinions on gardening for kids:

@montessoriplaying

‘We love gardening! It's so beneficial for toddlers to get outside and work their fine and gross motor skills, all whilst learning about nature! This year we've grown some beautiful plants, sadly out carrots never materialised 😅! I also find that when Stella gets to her cranky/tired time of the day, a great strategy is to get outside and water the plants! Water play fixes everything 🙌!’

@amie_renesmee_smith

‘My daughter absolutely loves the outdoors, she loves seeing creepy crawlies and digging in the mud! We've actually got her a mud kitchen for her birthday!’

@rach_mummy2_hugo_sofia

‘Mine both love gardening ♡ they are 2 and 4 Hugo gets so excited seeing things grow and Sofia loves to help pat down the soil ♡♡♡’

@lifewiththehoulders

‘My two kids absolutely love gardening and both help water the flowers every day! They also help to pot up the plants!💜’

Summer Holiday Kids Gardening Ideas

When the sun comes out, gardening is an ideal way to keep kids busy! Summer gardening is a fantastic place to start, with many beautiful plants already fully in bloom, encouraging kids outside and off screens!

Our Mini Minds Hub can help with inside or outside screen-free fun!

Here we have some gardening ideas for kids and the whole family!. 

Once your garden is looking beautiful, why not indulge in some garden games?

At Jaques of London, we have an impressive range of Garden Games and traditional games to entertain the whole family! 

We have a brand new, ever expanding, Let’s Explore range too, which aims to nurture your kids' love for the outdoors and keep them playing!

Share what you get up to with us over on our Facebook www.facebook.com/jaquesoflondon and Instagram @jaquesoflondon - use the hashtag #jaquesoflondon so we can see it!