Gardening isn’t just about growing food—it’s about growing connections, skills, and a love for the outdoors. And if you have kids, a family-friendly garden is one of the best ways to get them outside, spark curiosity, and teach them where their food comes from.

Denver’s unpredictable climate makes gardening an adventure, and involving kids adds another layer of excitement and learning. So how do you create a kid-friendly garden that encourages hands-on involvement and fosters a love for growing? Let’s dig in!

Why Involve Your Kids in Backyard Gardening in Denver?

Whether they’re planting seeds, watering plants, or harvesting cherry tomatoes straight from the vine, kids benefit from gardening in so many ways:

Encourages Healthy Eating:
Kids are more likely to eat vegetables when they’ve grown them themselves.
Teaches Responsibility:
Taking care of plants teaches kids patience and responsibility—they learn that plants need daily care to thrive.
Hands-On Learning:
Gardening introduces science, math, and problem-solving in a natural, engaging way.
Reduces Screen Time:
Encourages outdoor play, getting them away from screens and into nature exploration.

The best part? Gardening doesn’t have to feel like a chore—especially if you design your garden with kid-friendly features that make it fun and easy for them to participate.

How to Design a Kid-Friendly Garden

1. Give Them Their Own Space

Kids love having ownership over their own little garden plot. Even if you’re tight on space, you can:

Dedicate a small raised bed or container just for them.
Let them choose a few crops to plant and take care of.
Use fun plant markers so they can easily identify their plants.

Tip: Start small! A 3’x3’ garden bed or a few large pots is plenty for young gardeners to get started.

2. Choose Easy, Fast-Growing Plants

To keep kids engaged, plant quick-growing crops that they can check on every day. Some great kid-friendly plants for Denver gardens include:

Radishes – Ready in as little as 3-4 weeks!
Lettuce & Spinach – Kids can harvest leaf by leaf for continuous picking.
Snap Peas – Fun to snack on right from the vine.
Cherry Tomatoes – Small, sweet, and perfect for little hands.
Sunflowers – Grow tall and make a great summer photo op.
Strawberries – Easy to grow in containers and fun to pick!

Bonus: Let kids pick a surprise seed packet at the garden store. They’ll love checking on their mystery plant as it grows!

3. Make Gardening Playful & Interactive

Gardening should be fun, not just another “to-do.” Try these ways to keep it engaging:

Create a sensory garden with plants that feel, smell, and taste interesting (e.g., fuzzy lamb’s ear, lemon balm, mint).
Turn watering into a game by using colorful watering cans or spray bottles.
Have a garden scavenger hunt—can they find a buzzing bee, a wiggly worm, or a yellow flower?
Build a “pizza garden”—plant tomatoes, basil, and oregano so kids can help make their own pizza toppings!

4. Let Kids Harvest (Even If It’s Messy!)

Harvesting is the most exciting part of gardening for kids!

Teach them how to gently pick veggies like tomatoes and cucumbers.
Show them how to pull carrots and radishes from the soil.
Let them dig for potatoes—it’s like a treasure hunt!

Yes, it might get a little messy, but that’s half the fun.

Auntie M’s Proprietary Soil Blend is Perfect for Denver Colorado

5. Create a Wildlife-Friendly Garden

Kids love spotting butterflies, bees, and birds in the garden. Encourage them to help support pollinators by planting:

Bee-friendly flowers like lavender, echinacea, and zinnia.
Milkweed for monarch butterflies.
A small bird feeder or bird bath to attract feathered friends.

This helps kids see the bigger picture—that gardening is part of a whole ecosystem.

Encouraging Lifelong Gardeners

*Get excited for the great harvests you’ll produce!*

Gardening with kids is about making memories, building confidence, and connecting with nature. Whether they grow one plant or a whole garden, the experience plants the seed (literally and figuratively!) for a lifelong love of growing food.

Want help setting up a kid-friendly garden in Denver?

Book a garden consultation today, and let’s design a space that works for the whole family!

🌱 Want to learn exactly what to grow (and when) in Denver?

Check out our Denver Growing Guide for in-depth advice, planting tips, and planning strategies! Let’s start planning your best garden yet.

🌱 Need help designing a garden that works for YOU?

We offer consultations, custom garden and landscape designs, and maintenance packages. Sign up for a consultation today and let’s create a space that nurtures both your plants and your well-being.

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**This post may contain affiliate links, which means I earn a small profit if you click on the link to make a purchase. Other links are not sponsored, because I also like supporting small, local businesses.**

Meet the Gardener

I’m Elisa Mack - a mom and Denverite who went from being a green-ish thumb to a kitchen garden fanatic simply by dedicating myself to the study of all things Colorado gardening.

Landscapers don’t design. And nurseries don’t make house calls.

We take a more full-service approach, from designing your dream garden to keeping it beautiful year-round.

here’s the story

And as your coach, I’ll help eliminate the guesswork through every season, no matter your level of knowledge.

Creating a Family-Friendly Garden: Getting Kids Involved in Denver Backyard Gardening

Why Involve Your Kids in Backyard Gardening in Denver?