In series 4 of our Sustainability in the Childminder’s Home, we look at how you can encourage children’s exploration and learning through gardening.
“We don’t have time for paperwork,” remarked childminder Siobhan, during our chat recently. Siobhan explained that early summer is a particularly busy time , as she and the children work together to prepare and plant their garden, eagerly anticipating the vegetables and flowers they will enjoy in the weeks and months ahead.
Now is a perfect time to get little hands into the soil and explore nature through gardening and composting. By including these simple, hands-on experiences, childminders are providing high-quality, play-based learning opportunities for the children and a fantastic way to introduce sustainability in a fun, age-appropriate way.
Here are a few easy ideas to try in your childminding home:
Mini Herb Pots
Use recycled containers (yoghurt pots, tins) to plant herbs like basil or chives. Children can help water them and notice changes daily. You will find some lovely ideas here Herb Gardens for Children.
Grow from Scraps
Regrow spring onions, carrot tops, or lettuce from kitchen scraps in a shallow tray of water—great for curiosity and observation! More great ideas here 10 Plants You Can Regrow From Kitchen Scraps
Make a Mini Compost Bin
Use a small tub to start a simple compost with children—fruit peels, paper scraps, and garden bits. Talk about what breaks down and why. Check out this wonderful YouTube video How to make a mini compost bin!
Worm Hunt or Bug Hotel
Encourage respect for living things with a gentle worm hunt or by creating a bug hotel using twigs, leaves, and old toilet roll tubes. Learn how to build a worm hotel.
Garden Craft
Try potato printing with garden-grown spuds or create nature collages with leaves, flowers, and petals collected on a walk. Garden Crafts for Kids
As children dig, plant, water, and watch their plants grow, they take part in meaningful, hands-on exploration that triggers curiosity, encourages problem-solving, and builds a strong connection to the natural world. These activities support communication, teamwork, and responsibility as children work together and care for their garden. Gardening also helps boost a sense of wellbeing and pride, building confidence and resilience in young learners. Without even realising it, childminders are putting the themes of Aistear into practice—offering high-quality, play-based learning through everyday routines that are fun, engaging, and full of learning.
If you have been working in the garden with your children, we would love to see what you and your little gardeners have been up to, share your photos or stories with us. Please send them to