Spring Awakenings

Spring Awakenings: Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt

Book Recommendation: Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner

Activity 1: Garden Yoga – "Seed to Sun Stretch"

• Instructions: Start in a seated position with legs crossed. Imagine you are a seed in the soil, curled up tight. On an inhale, slowly raise your arms up toward the sky, growing taller like a plant reaching for the sun. Stretch high and then slowly bring your arms back down to rest as you curl back into a “seed” position. Repeat 3-5 times, encouraging your child to move gently like a growing plant.

Activity 2: Sensory Seed Exploration

• Materials: Different seeds (e.g., sunflower, pumpkin, or vegetable seeds)

• Instructions: Lay the seeds out on a blanket or mat. Invite your toddler to explore the texture, size, and shape of each seed. Encourage them to compare the differences (smooth vs. bumpy) and notice how each one might grow into a plant. Ask them, “What do you think will happen when we plant these?”

Activity 3: Spring Scavenger Hunt

• Instructions: Go on a nature walk or garden exploration. Have your toddler search for things like:

• New buds on trees

• Flowers starting to bloom

• Birds or insects moving around

• Fresh green leaves
  Use a small notebook or a piece of paper to draw or list what you find.

• Download the app “Seek” to help identify plants and animals

Activity 4: Raindrop Dance

• Instructions: Put on some calming music, and let your child pretend to be a raindrop falling from the sky. Gently sway and twirl, pretending to fall through the air and land softly on the ground. You can also mimic rain sounds with hands clapping gently to create a soothing rhythm.

Mindfulness Moment: Planting Seeds

• Instructions: Use a small pot or garden space to plant a seed together. Before planting, encourage your child to take a deep breath and observe the seed in their hand. Let them feel the texture and imagine the plant growing over time.

• Place the soil in a small tray or bowl so that your child can feel the texture. Together, describe what it feels like.

• Add water to the soil in your tray. Add only enough water so that when the soil is squeezed it stays together but doesn’t drip water. Again, take a moment to describe what the soil feels like.

• Add the soil to your flower pot. Carefully plant the seed per the seed packet’s instructions. 

• Make it a daily ritual to check in with your seed. Use the “How a Seed Grows Into a Plant” visual to help describe all that’s happening with your little seed as it grows!

Suggested Reading: Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner
This book will guide your child through the wonders of the garden and its hidden life below the surface, making it an excellent follow-up to these activities.