Summer is for the Garden (with your toddler)

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I would be remiss if I didn't start with this: my daughter loves being outside.

Every morning, after we are dressed, we take our dogs (Birdie and Goose) for a walk around the neighborhood. We look at flowers, birds, and clouds. Freya often reaches out and takes one of the leashes, and she munches on blueberries and cheerios as we go.

When we get home, we often go out back into the garden, where the tomatoes are bursting along with green onion, jalapenos, bell peppers, cucumbers, blackberries, and basil.

She would stay out there all day if she could.

As we’ve grown together over the last year and a half, and as she has become stronger and more capable, I’ve discovered a few garden activities that absolutely light her up.

Not only do these activities nurture your garden and kitchen, but they also engage your toddler’s senses, curiosity, and imagination all at once. Being outside stimulates your toddler’s senses, gives them freedom to move and explore, and supports emotional regulation.

Outdoor play is also one of my favorite ways to encourage independent play and boredom tolerance in toddlers — two things I care deeply about as a mother.

Outdoor play helps build critical neural connections in the developing brain.

This list is meant as inspiration, but keep in mind that I live in Texas, where winter is short and gardening season lasts a long time.

And remember, these activities require you to be present the entire time.

Have fun.

Watering the garden

My daughter LOVES the spray nozzle. One of her very first outdoor toys was actually a broken spray nozzle I saved for her. I let her water, I water and "accidentally" water her, and she loves to touch the wet leaves.

I suggest this spray nozzle because the pressure is gentle enough for baby hands.

Picking vegetables/fruits

What better lesson at 16 months than what constitutes a ripe tomato?

Ok, so we aren't quite to the ripeness conversation yet, but when I show her a tomato that is that lovely blush color and pick it and give it to her, she puffs up proudly.

She gets to put all the stuff I pick into the basket, which brings her great joy. I recommend a basket like this for a small to medium sized garden.

Washing produce

More water play — which is a huge win here in Central Texas, where it is hot almost all year long.

For this, I fill a large mixing bowl or tub with water, throw in a quarter-cup of baking soda, and let my daughter put the fruit from the basket in the water. Then, we put everything on a tray with a towel underneath.

She loves to splash and "wash" the fruit (full transparency: I do 98% of the actual washing).

Pulling weeds

Similar to our conversations about ripe vegetables, the difference between weeds and plants is still a little advanced for my kiddo. Even if this turns into her picking dandelions while I weed, she enjoys herself.

Tip: tiny vases for those baby bouquets!

Planting seeds

This is a big one. Little fingers love a reason to dig in the dirt.

Grab a pot, some soil, and a pack of summer flower seeds, cucumbers, zucchini, or peppers and let your little one press seeds down into the soil. (Here are the seeds I use).

Once they sprout and are happy enough to go into the ground, I let her help me dig a hole and pop them in the ground.

Talk about the weather

My daughter is constantly learning, and teaching her about the weather lights her up. Whether she’s waving at the moon, squinting into the sun, or listening to approaching thunder, I try to talk with her about what the sky is doing.

This book is a great place to start when it comes to teaching weather.

Eating herbs

Basil, Cilantro, Parsely, Mint -- you name the herb, we are munching on it while we play in the garden. Freya's favorite is mint.

Eating directly from the garden teaches her where food comes from — and how different it tastes when it’s fresh. She can even eat dandelions, though she usually ends up spitting them out.

Popsicles in the garden

Talk about a mess! Whether you make them or buy them, a popsicle is a perfect summer treat. Eating them in the garden adds a sense of play, especially because those sticky drips don’t matter nearly as much outside.

This goes in line with my core belief that children thrive when they are allowed to play, explore, and get dirty. When the popsicle is gone, use that spray nozzle to hose them off. In the summer heat, what a delight.

If you’re looking for more simple ways to keep your toddler engaged this summer, I also put together a huge list of screen-free toddler activities for overwhelmed moms.

At the end of the day

Letting your toddler help in the garden is such a beautiful way to spend the summer together. They learn how food grows, how the weather changes, how dirt feels in their hands, and how good it feels to move their body freely outdoors.

And the benefits are not just for them. Slowing down outside together has a way of regulating both of you.

After all the digging, splashing, picking, and popsicles, fill up the kiddie pool and let them play until they are exhausted. You’ll end the day with a tired, happy child — and probably feel a little more grounded yourself, too.