Play: In An Indoor Creative Garden

The Beast From The East

Is it going to hit?

Will it be as cold as they say?

Will we finally see some real snow?

I have some indoor garden ideas for you

Just in case!

Now that winter has hit for many areas of the world, there is a need to keep our children
entertained while they are stuck inside. Of course, sending them out to build igloos and
snowmen is a great way for them to spend a day. But there are days when going outside is not
an option, so make inside fun. One way to do that is by creating fun container gardens inside
your home, which you can do together as a family.

The best thing about these ideas is that, once the snow melts and the planting season comes
back, you will be able to take your container gardens and replant them outside. In the
meantime, we need to use the best gas snow blower available to clear a path outside and work on our gardening inside.

So let’s take a look at some creative projects you can do with your children that will not only
take them away from their tablets, phones, and televisions, it will educate them in sustainability
as well. In fact, it could serve as a form of sensory play like the one we posted about here.

Fairy Garden

There are lots of ways to make fairy gardens.

You can use soil from your garden and then fill with real plants or pretend ones.

You can use materials such as silk scarves, mirror beads, wooden toys and pom poms.

You can create a water garden too

You can use fairy dolls or create fairies with craft materials.

So many possibilities for getting creative and so many ways to play

Mason Jar Terrariums

To create this project you need some mason jars with lids, small plants, and anything creative you might want to put in your terrarium like moss, shells, or stones.

First, you need to wash and dry your mason jars. I would suggest larger ones so you can give the plant room to grow.

Next, put the lid on a surface upside down. Remove your plants from this plastic containers you
purchased them in. You can damage your plants by pulling them from the top. If you give the
container a little squeeze the roots should lift out easily without damaging the plant.

Take the root ball and give it a squeeze. Try to cover all the roots with soil, and then put it into
the lid. It is important to make sure your plants are small enough to fit into the lid of a mason
jar. Put any decorative items in the topsoil, and then carefully place the mason jar over the
plant. If you have to, use something to push the leaves or flowers upward, but be careful.

Find the groove of the lid and slowly close it off. If you see condensation, then loosen the lid a
bit to dry out the soil. You can then tie a bow around them and give them as gifts or use them as part of your sensory small world play.

https://pixabay.com/en/canning-jars-glass-homemade-food-762195/

Paper Garden

This final idea will give your children plenty to do without getting soil all over your home. There
are tons of lessons and tutorials on how to create paper flowers like roses, and this is an activity
that will allow your child to let their imagination run wild.

Do they want a tree in their garden? You can get brown construction paper and tape some up
the wall to create a trunk. Then you can cut out leaf shapes in all kinds of coloured paper and
tape each one up until your wall is just full of fun leaves. Then you can create flowers the same
way.

You can create free-standing flowers using the same sticks and pipe cleaners left over from
your fairy garden. You can cut out different shapes and even design some little bugs for your
little garden. Harmless ones, of course.

This is project that you could keep going. When the seasons change you can take leaves off
your tree. In the winter, you can make paper snowflakes and hang them over your tree. The
options are endless.

Making indoor time fun for your kids is not that difficult if you just use a little imagination and
creativity. Ask your children for their ideas on creating a garden together. You’ll be amazed at
the great suggestions they come up with.