How to make a terrarium for children

Bring the wonder of nature inside by helping your child create their very own miniature garden in a jar. They’ll love it!

A terrarium is basically a small garden or plant enclosed in a clear jar or container. Kids love them, because they’re small, just like they are. Terrariums are fun to make and they look beautiful. Creating a DIY plant terrarium is a lovely way to spend an afternoon with your child, nurturing their green thumb and teaching them about how plants grow. You might like to prepare the materials in advance or plan an outing to your local nursery together to pick up supplies and choose your plants. If you’re curious to find out just how you make a simple terrarium for kids, read on for the instructions:

How to make a terrarium

Materials:

• Clear jar
• Small plant/s (check out the indoor plants at your local nursery or see if your friends/family/neighbours can give you a cutting)
• Potting soil
• Moss (optional)
• Small pebbles
• Fun decorations (animal figurines or dinosaurs, coloured stones, shells, fairy garden ornaments)
• Water

Method:

• Wash a clear jar and leave it to dry
• Add pebbles to the bottom of the jar in a light layer for drainage
• Add an optional layer of moss for extra drainage and to help keep the soil layer distinct from the pebbles
• Add a layer of potting soil for the plants to grow
• Plant your plant/s in the soil
• Decorate the terrarium to reflect your child’s taste
• Teach children to water the plants lightly, perhaps with a spray bottle
• Place the terrarium in a spot where your child can show it off, with enough light to help the plants grow

The developmental benefits of terrariums

Creating a DIY plant terrarium is a wonderful mindfulness activity for children, giving them opportunities to learn and develop a range of skills.

• Fine motor skills: Scooping soil, placing plants and decorating the terrarium require precise hand movements, helping to develop coordination and dexterity.
• Creativity: Encouraging children to design and personalise their terrariums helps to stimulate their imagination and artistic expression.
• Responsibility: Caring for a living terrarium teaches children about responsibility and the importance of looking after living things.
• Sensory exploration: Handling soil, stones, and plants introduces children to different textures and natural materials, enhancing their sensory development.

How terrariums connect with our early learning framework

Inquiry and discovery: Making a DIY plant terrarium can be a rich learning experience for children, encouraging their natural curiosity to inquire, explore and ask questions about how living things work and what plants need to grow. It helps to support their developing understanding of the natural world.

Social and emotional learning: This plant terrarium DIY activity helps to develop patience and resilience as children carefully layer the materials and arrange their decorations. Working with a parent, sibling or friend can build teamwork skills, such as sharing and taking turns.

Show us your plant terrarium DIY creations

We’d love to see your creations. Share a photo of your DIY plant terrarium and tag us on social media. We’re active on Facebook and Instagram. You may also like to try making a worm farm, making your own compost or growing your own flowers. Explore the Edge Early Learning centre blog for loads more ideas for hands-on, nature-based learning.