Create a Children's Sensory Garden at Home

Get your kids outside more and instill a love of nature by creating their own spot in your landscape! Bright colors, fun smells, sound and motion, plus touchable plants are everything you need to make them a complete sensory experience!

Plant flowers around their sandbox, behind a swing set, around a kiddie pool, or create their own little area in your yard. Let your children, of course, help you pick out their favorites!

Benefits

Kids that spend more time outdoors learn to appreciate nature and respect living things, and are often healthier, and have fewer allergies and asthma. Inspire their creativity, STEM learning, problem-solving skills and their desire to learn and discover that lasts for a lifetime!

They can enjoy a place to be active and relax, relieving tension and anxiety. You’ll notice better attention spans and focus and reduced tension, fidgeting and restlessness!

This doesn’t even start talking about the many health benefits they gain physically! Fresh air, sunshine and physical activity galore!

Kids Garden Ideas and Additions

Here are some nifty additions for your children’s garden to spark imagination and stimulate curiosity!

Create a Teepee or Reading nook

Plant a ring of sunflower seeds or plants, leaving a gap where the entrance will be. Once they’ve reached a certain height, gently tie the tops together to form the top of the tent. Snip off any interior leaves and lay down straw, sand or outdoor turf for your kids to relax in the shade!

This can also be done with other tall-growing plants or climbing Vines, pole beans or flowering plants. To train the vines, secure twine or cordage in the circle and secure them to an overhead hook, several feet above for the vines to climb. Planting seeds or plants at the base of each cord. Install poles that form the teepee, secured at the top, and spread netting, chicken wire or mesh over the poles to give the vines something to climb on.

Create Tunnels

Use flowering vines or any type of fruiting or leafy vining vegetable and use chicken wire or hoops to create tunnels for kids to crawl through or walk through, depending on how much height you can achieve. Occasionally, go through yourself to remove debris and leaves growing inside, and the occasional spiderweb.

Some great plants to use for Teepees or Tunnels

Try Clematis, Passionflower, Trumpet vines, Wisteria, Honeysuckle, and annuals like Sweet Pea flowers or Morning Glory.

Vegetable vines for tunnels

Easy to grow Pole Beans or edible Peas, Kiwi vines, Grape vines, Cucumbers, and Squashes (summer or winter squashes).

Sensory Garden Additions

Planting a Sensory garden that will stimulate all 5 senses and benefit the young and old alike!

Fun to Touch

Whether it's easy-care Daisies for plucking petals. Snapdragons that you can make the 'mouths' open and close by pinching the base of the flower. Play with Jewelweed/Touch-me-Nots or Spider flowers that have seed pods that explode when touched, these are kid-friendly flowers that always beckon for touch!

Sight - Visually Stimulating

Bright colors and big blooms call attention best. Choose bright yellows, reds, hot pinks, orange and purple.

Oriental & Asiatic Lilies, Agapanthus, Nerine lily
Sunflowers
Tall Delphinium or Hollyhock
Rainbow Fizz™ Spirea
Big leaves - Banana tree, Elephant Ears, Caladium, Coleus, Coral bells, & Hosta
Iris
Hydrangea - touchable pompoms!
Hibiscus blooms

Fun to Smell - Tickle the Nose

Marigolds are spicy and tickle the nose, they’re also easy to grow!
Herbs of all kinds!
Spring bulbs like Hyacinth and Tulips
Roses
Peony
Stinky Dutchmans Pipe
Garlic & Onions - Both flowering ornamental and herbal varieties

Sound - Treat for the Ears

Nigella (Love-in-a-Mist) rattling seedpods

False Indigo - Natural maracas
Money Plant - a ‘weed’ with unique flat, clear seed pods!
Dried Gourds - become rattles
Tall ornamental grasses rattle in the breeze

Windchimes, Flags, Pinwheels & Garden spinners
Bamboo - rustling sounds
Water features or fountains

Taste - Herb and Vegetable Gardens

Food is always a great motivator and an easy, inexpensive way to get kids involved with the outdoor world! You don’t need a huge area to start, a simple raised bed, large container or planter, or corner of the yard is perfect for them to plant seeds and watch them grow!

There’s nothing that creates core memories for your child than gathering plump berries and eating fresh fruit from the bush or sampling a fresh carrot they pulled out of the ground themselves!

Fast-growing Radish, Lettuce, Peas, etc…
Cherry tomatoes
Zucchini & Cucumbers
Pumpkins & Gourds
Strawberries
Dwarf fruit trees: Romeo & Juliet Cherry, Bonfire Peach, etc.
Dwarf Blueberries, Baby Cakes Thornless Blackberry & Raspberry Shortcake Bush
Herbs of all kinds!

Kid-Friendly Favorites

Curiosities

Unique blooms and textures that spark the imagination and curiosity, plus they’re generally allergy-free for little hands to pick without worry. As always, monitor your child at all times for safety!

Perennials: Hens-n-Chicks, Ferns, Columbines, Daisy family, Liatris
Ornamental Grasses
Barrenwort
Kangaroo Paw
Chamomile, Tansy & Herbs
Buttonbush
Annuals - Pansy, Petunia, Cleome Spider flower, Celosia, Zinnia, Snapdragon

Plants With Cool & Unique Seed Pods

After the blooms are done, you get unique sensory seed pods in the fall! Kids love to play with these and help spread seeds. In fall, kids love to collect seeds and help you disperse them for next year!

Money plant
Blackberry Lily
Lantern flower
Blanket flower
False Indigo - Natures maracas!
Milkweed pods
Columbine seed pods
Allium & Garlic - Both ornamental and the culinary herb
Dill, Fennel & Queen Anne's Lace

Butterfly Gardens & Beneficial Insects & Lightning Bugs

Kids love butterflies, ladybugs and watching pollinators buzz from bloom to bloom! This introduction to how pollination works, and how plants and insects live in harmony with their environment. Catch fireflies in jarsYou can actually buy Butterfly eggs or larvae and watch them grow and munch on the leaves and turn into cocoons and hatch.

Plants like Salvias, Bee Balm, Coneflower, Coreopsis, Milkweed, Butterfly Plants & Buddleias are prime butterfly plants. Grab a butterfly net and a terrarium or jar for kids to watch their catches, before letting them free after a few minutes of observation.

Whimsical Flowers to Spark Imagination

These are unique garden plants that are kids’ favorites!

Red Hot Poker plants & Liatris
Foxglove or Hollyhock
Allums & Flowering Garlic
Milkweed & Butterfly plants
Ornamental grasses, Bunny Grass and Northern Sea Oats
Agapanthus, Nerine Lily, Calla, Tiger & Oriental Lily
Hibiscus Blooms
Bleeding Hearts
Mimosa Tree flowers
Balloon flower & Campanula
Clematis - even their seed pods are like Dr. Seuss made them

Whimsical flowers that spark imagination

Great Things to Include:

Add these great learning and wildlife-attracting decorations to expand learning!

Fairy doors & Fairy houses, Frog & Bat houses, Birdfeeders & houses & Birdbaths
Bee Hotel & Bee watering station
Garden statues & scarecrows
Paths/pavers for tic-tac-toe & hopscotch, create a maze & sidewalk chalk areas
Bubble station and finger painting station
Sticks and rocks in various lengths and sizes for building
Set up a blanket for cloud gazing/Telescope for stargazing
A book for pressing flowers and leaves for crafts. Great rainy day fun!
Supply a magnifying glass or binoculars to look at the world around them
Listening Station - listen to the crickets, locusts, cicada, birds and bees!
Sandbox or Water Station - Include recycled containers, funnels and utensils for play

You can easily create a place where kids can run around with fist fulls of flowers and make wishes on dandelion puffs. Don’t forget the fun of a good old-fashioned mud puddle or pile of fall leaves can contribute to a child's exploratory nature! Don’t worry about getting dirty! Kids wash! And soil has mood-boosting benefits!

Go Big or Keep it Small!

Even a porch or patio mixed container garden will be enough to start - a Children's garden doesn't have to take up the yard! Start small with a window box or planter, or a patch along the side yard. You and your kids will enjoy exploring the wonders of nature and inspiring your children's investment in the world of life and learning!

Head over to NatureHills.com today to find what inspires them the most and we’ll help you find the right plants for your climate and sun needs! Hands-on learning and expanding the inquisitive minds of a child is easy with the help of Nature Hills!

Happy Planting!

Frequently Asked Questions

Which non-toxic, child-safe plants work best for a sensory garden or children's garden?

For a sensory garden designed around kids, focus on plants that engage multiple senses while remaining safe to touch and be around. Sunflowers (zones 2-11) are a classic choice for height and visual impact, while soft lamb's ear, fragrant lavender (zones 5-9), and colorful marigolds add texture, scent, and bright color kids love. For edible and interactive options, pole beans and peas make excellent tunnel or teepee plants that children can snack on straight from the vine. Start by letting your kids pick a few favorites from each sensory category, then plan your planting around your last frost date to get transplants and seeds in the ground at the right time.

How much sun, shade, and open space does a children's garden or sensory garden need to thrive?

A children's or sensory garden generally thrives with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day, which supports the widest variety of flowering plants, vegetables, and sensory herbs. That said, incorporating a mix of sun and partial shade allows for both active play areas and shaded retreats like a sunflower teepee or vine tunnel, which kids love. Plan for a dedicated area of at least 10 by 10 feet to give room for structural features like tunnels, teepees, or a sandbox surround, though even a smaller plot can work if you go vertical with climbing vines. Choose your site based on the plants you want to grow, then layer in structures and sensory elements to match the available light and space.

Which fast-growing plants are most likely to hold a child's attention from seed to harvest?

Pole beans and edible peas are top choices for keeping kids engaged, as they germinate within 7 to 10 days and produce harvestable pods in as little as 50 to 60 days from planting. Sunflowers are another excellent option, growing several inches per week and reaching towering heights that children find thrilling to measure and track. Both are best started after the last frost date in your zone, direct-sown into the garden where they will grow. Pick varieties like 'Mammoth' sunflowers or 'Blue Lake' pole beans, let your child plant the seeds themselves, and give them a simple ruler or garden stake to track growth weekly.

How should I design paths, borders, and ground surfaces to keep kids safe while they explore?

When designing paths for a children's garden, aim for wide, smooth surfaces at least 3 to 4 feet across to allow easy movement and prevent tripping, using materials like compacted gravel, stepping stones, or rubber mulch that cushion falls better than hard pavement. Border plantings should be kept to non-toxic, non-thorny varieties, and any raised bed or border edging should be smooth and rounded rather than sharp-cornered. Lay down straw, sand, outdoor turf, or shredded bark mulch at least 3 inches deep around active play areas and beneath any structures to soften landings and discourage weeds. Start by mapping your paths before planting so you can keep taller sensory plants like sunflowers and vines to the perimeter, leaving the interior open and easy for kids to navigate safely.

Should I use raised beds or in-ground planting beds when building a children's garden?

Both raised beds and in-ground planting beds work well for a children's garden, and the choice comes down to your existing soil quality and the age of your kids. Raised beds offer better drainage, warmer soil that extends the growing season, and easier access for smaller hands, while in-ground beds cost less to establish and support larger plants like sunflower teepees or sprawling vine tunnels. For a children's garden, consider combining both approaches by using a raised bed for vegetables and herbs while reserving in-ground space for tall statement plants and sensory features. Start with a 4x4 foot raised bed filled with quality amended soil so kids can reach every corner without stepping inside and compacting the roots.

How do I divide a children's garden into separate zones for active play, hands-on planting, and quiet sensory exploration?

Divide the space into three distinct zones by using low-growing border plants, stepping stones, or small fencing to separate them visually and physically. Place the active zone near existing play structures like a swing set or sandbox, ring it with bright sunflowers or tall ornamental grasses for a sense of enclosure, and keep a clear path of at least three feet wide between areas so kids can move freely. Dedicate a raised bed or ground-level patch in the planting zone where children can get their hands dirty growing easy crops like pole beans or peas, and tuck the quiet sensory zone into a sheltered corner with fragrant plants like honeysuckle, soft lamb's ear, and wind-chime features. Let your kids help choose the plants for each zone from the start so they feel ownership over their space and are more likely to engage with all three areas throughout the season.

How can I make a children's garden safer for toddlers around water features, garden tools, and plants with sharp edges?

For toddlers, keep any water features like kiddie pools or birdbaths to a maximum depth of 2 inches and always supervise closely, as even shallow water poses a drowning risk for young children. Store all garden tools in a locked shed or out-of-reach cabinet immediately after use, and choose child-safe, rounded-handle tools sized for small hands when kids are actively involved. Avoid planting sharp or spiny specimens like roses, barberries, or ornamental grasses with cutting edges along pathways and play areas, opting instead for soft-textured plants like lamb's ear or smooth-stemmed sunflowers. Walk the garden at the start of each season to reassess plant placement, tool storage habits, and water feature safety as your toddler grows and explores further.

Which low-maintenance plants hold up well to curious kids while still looking attractive season after season?

Tough, kid-friendly plants like Coneflower (Echinacea), Black-eyed Susan, and ornamental grasses thrive in zones 3 through 9, bounce back from accidental bumps and busy hands, and return reliably year after year with minimal upkeep. Lamb's Ear is a favorite for sensory gardens because its soft, velvety leaves can handle repeated touching without looking ragged. For structure and seasonal interest, consider dwarf shrubs like Spirea or Knock Out Roses, which stay tidy with just one light pruning in early spring. Shop Nature Hills for zone-appropriate varieties and plant a mix of perennials and hardy shrubs to keep your children's garden looking great from spring through fall with very little effort on your part.

How do I get children involved in planting and garden care in ways that match their age and ability?

Younger children (ages 3 to 6) do well with simple tasks like pressing large seeds such as sunflowers or pole beans into the soil, watering with a small can, and pulling obvious weeds you point out to them. Children ages 7 and up can take on more responsibility like transplanting seedlings, monitoring plant growth, and helping train vines onto teepee poles or tunnel frames. Let kids choose their own plants from the start, since ownership of the decision builds lasting enthusiasm for garden care. Start with fast-germinating, hard-to-kill plants like sunflowers or pole beans so early success keeps them motivated and coming back to check on their garden every day.

Which vegetables, herbs, and fruits are easiest for kids to grow, tend, and harvest on their own?

Pole beans, peas, and cherry tomatoes are top picks for young gardeners because they germinate quickly, grow visibly fast, and produce a harvest kids can pick and eat right off the plant. Radishes are ready in as little as 25 days from seed, making them deeply satisfying for impatient young growers, while strawberries, zucchini, and cucumbers reward minimal effort with generous yields throughout the season. Herbs like mint, basil, and chives are nearly foolproof, tolerate some neglect, and engage kids through scent and flavor. Start with a small raised bed or container so your child can manage the entire space independently, and let them choose at least one plant purely based on what they want to eat.

How to Create a Children's Garden or Sensory Garden!