Turn reusing toilet paper rolls into a fun learning experience for kids with this easy toilet paper roll seedling pot tutorial. And for fun learn how to paint garden stone markers to know what you planted where in your garden.
Today I’m stepping outside of the kitchen to show you guys two fun and easy DIY garden-themed activities perfect for the whole family. Don’t worry, even the least experienced gardener will have a blast.
And the best part? They’re educational! But, shhh. I won’t tell the kiddos if you don’t.
DIY PART 1- Upcycled Toilet Paper Seedling Pots
Teaches kids all about,
- gardening
- plant life cycle
- the importance of upcycling everyday products
- where some of their favorite foods come from (like carrots!)
Upcycled Toilet Paper Seedling Pots
Fun, easy, and enjoyed by both kiddos and adults, these Upcycled Toilet Paper Seedling Pots reuse old paper towel rolls and teach kids about plant growth and gardening. An easy indoor activity for cold, wet weather.
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Materials
Pair of Scissors
Instructions
- Cover the bottom of a small waterproof container with small pebbles or rocks.
- Cut the twine into approximately 6-inch pieces and use scissors or a sharp knife (careful with the kids!) to cut the toilet paper rolls in half. Tie the piece of twine around the toilet paper roll (the twine is to prevent the toilet paper roll from unraveling with watering of the seedlings).
- Gently nudge the toilet paper roll in the pebbles so that it stands straight up and doesn't fall over. Fill the paper towel roll with soil, gently pressing down on the soil with your fingers. Add the seeds to the soil according to recommended depth and cover soil.
- Surround the toilet paper rolls with moss. Water each seedling until fully saturated, but not drowning.
- Cover the container with plastic wrap (or place in a plastic bag if it will fit). Keep the soil moist, but not too wet to prevent the toilet paper from molding. Once seeds start to sprout, remove plastic wrap to allow air circulation. Place them in an area that gets plenty of sunlight.
- Transfer entire toilet paper roll to the desired planting location and remove twine. Make sure entire toilet paper roll is covered in fresh soil.
Jessica's Notes
Colored craft paper rolls are not recommended as I am unsure if they are fully compostable. Unfortunately, I could only scrape together 3 toilet paper rolls in time for this post.
DIY PART 2: Painted Stone Garden Markers
Teaches kids,
- how to hold a pencil (or paint brush),
- writing and drawing skills
- their colors plus color combinations.
The end result of this project could not come at a better time. Octavian, my sweet little 4-year-old, suggested we gift this homemade, family project to his grandmother who loves gardening and spending time in her garden more than anyone I know.
DIY Painted Stone Garden Markers
Kids will love painting rocks for friends and family in this DIY Painted Stone Garden Marker activity. A great way to let kids explore their own creativity and contribute their own artistic touch to the outdoor living space.
Ingredients
- Newspaper
- Smooth flat rocks of various sizes
- Clean paint brushes
- Paint trays
- Tempera or Acrylic paints - (see notes)
- Acrylic paint pens - (optional-recommended only for adults and older children)
- Outdoor varnish
Instructions
- Find a safe working space, either indoors or outdoors. If you are painting with young children, I highly recommend setting up outdoors and dressing your children in play clothes that you don't care about.
- Cover a table with newspaper or craft paper and pick desired paints. Depending on how detailed you prefer your rocks to look, you will likely need to work in layers, waiting for each previous layer to dry before moving on to the next (this is the hardest part).
- For these rocks I used acrylic paint pens as they dried the fastest, making this a one-day project instead of two or three. However, this takes some practice and has limitations. For Octavian, I allowed him to go crazy with acrylic paints as that is what I had on hand.
- Once you have finished painting the rocks and the paint has dried, spray with the varnish according to instructions and allow varnish to try completely.
Jessica's Notes
Paint types- if young children under two (or children who like to put paint in their mouth) will be participating in this activity, I recommend that they use tempera paint, as it is least toxic and totally kid safe. For older kids and adults, acrylic paint is best. Take note that these paints are water soluble and will require an outdoor varnish to seal the paint and prevent chipping. Always spray the varnish outdoors.
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)
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