Skip to main content

NewFolks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

4 fun vegetable garden games to foster your fifth grader’s green thumb

Growing a vegetable garden is a wonderful family-friendly activity that is a great way to go green and teach kids about farm-to-table eating. Fifth grade is an ideal age to encourage kids to get involved in the family veggie garden, because planting, growing, and harvesting vegetables involves multiple steps and outdoor chores. Of course, parents mention chores, and tweens tend to groan, but when games and contests are incorporated, most 10-year-olds are in for the long haul. The trick to helping to develop a fifth grader’s green thumb and a lifelong appreciation for gardening is in the presentation. As Mary Poppins said, a spoonful of sugar really does help the medicine go down a bit smoother. So, when planning this family-wide project, keep these four fun vegetable garden games in mind.

mom and daughter tending to vegetables in garden
Ronnachai Palas/Shutterstock

Garden games for kids

Grow your name

Involving kids in the planning process of the vegetable garden is perfect for garnering interest. Designing the garden’s layout so kids and tweens can grow their own name is sure to keep interest in the family veggie garden high. To grow names, set aside a spot in the garden for kids to grow their names if the name is short. Do initials instead if there are a lot of kiddos involved. When planting, arrange the seed holes in the form of the necessary letters. Leaf lettuce or basil work well for growing names and initials. If the garden includes flowers like marigolds to keep away the bunnies, planting marigold seeds to spell names or initials is a nice touch, too. Another method kids will love when Halloween rolls around is to carve names into pumpkins when the fruit is the size of a melon. As the pumpkin grows, the skin will scar over, and as it grows, kids and tweens will have a cool name pumpkin for the fall festivities.

What shall we grow?

Deciding on what to grow in a veggie garden can be a difficult choice. Choosing vegetables kids eat is a no-brainer, but gardeners also need to take into account climate and soil. Have your fifth grader do research online to determine what vegetables are good picks for the climate. Then have everyone in the family write down the names of vegetables they want to grow. Toss all the slips of paper into a hat or basket, and have the youngest child in the family pull out the veggie names. How many you decide to use will depend upon the space available for the garden.

Garden designing contest

Gardens do have to be planned out, given the amount of space available and deciding where to plant what, since some vegetables may require more room. To get the kids and tweens excited about the upcoming veggie garden, invite each one to create his or her dream garden on a piece of construction paper. The entry should be colorful and include the veggies and or flowers each person wants to include. Keep the judging anonymous by not writing names. In order to avoid hurt feelings about the winning entry, have a third party like a grandparent or other relative decide on the winning design. For a little incentive, the winning entry gets an Amazon gift card.

Container decorating contest

Even if your yard doesn’t have the space for a veggie garden, you can still grow one using containers. Tomatoes, peas, potatoes, squash, salad greens, peppers, cucumbers, radishes, and eggplant do well in containers. Get tweens and the younger kids excited about the upcoming container garden with a container decorating contest. Head to the garden store or order terra cotta pots online. Kids can get creative designing their own terra cotta pot for the family’s container garden using acrylic paint.

mom and tween daughters working together on family vegetable garden
kryzhov/Shutterstock

Other ways to have fun in the garden with kids

As the family garden grows, kids can still be invested in the process like they were when planning the garden. Tending a vegetable garden is a big job, and kids will need to be hands-on about watering and weeding, as well as keeping bugs and other neighborhood animals wanting to stop by and snack away. Weeding contests can be an exciting way to get tweens interested in this often despised chore. Perhaps offering extra video game time to each week’s winner will be incentive enough to get the kids outside to weed. Not all bugs are harmful, but those that are will need to be removed from the garden. A Name That Bug contest could be a helpful way of keeping good insects like ladybugs and worms in, and bad bugs like aphids out.

From garden to table

Part of the joy of a vegetable garden is enjoying the fruits of your labor. When the veggies are ready to be harvested, plan on making different dishes using the tasty home-grown vegetables. Get kids involved in making salads or other meals using vegetables from the family garden. This a wonderful way for kids and tweens to get the complete farm-to-table experience.

Growing a vegetable garden is a fabulous family activity that can be a real learning experience for everyone involved. While parents may be excited about the prospect, tweens and teens may need more encouragement than younger kids. Vegetable garden games like grow your name are fun and work as incentives for tweens to want to join in on all the different aspects of growing your own veggies.

Editors' Recommendations

Dawn Miller
Dawn Miller began her professional life as an elementary school teacher before returning to her first love, writing. In…
The best third birthday party ideas for a fun – and stress-free celebration
Use these birthday party ideas to throw an amazing party for your preschooler
Birthday cake with a number 3 candle on it

Your toddler is turning 3, and that is definitely something to celebrate. They will soon be a preschooler, and you are finally turning the page of those terrible twos. Kids love birthday parties, especially when all the gifts have their names on them. Of course, you want to throw a party your child and their friends will totally enjoy without making you crazy.

It is possible, and we have some fun birthday party ideas for 3-year-olds to make your little one's special day amazing while keeping your stress level to a minimum. The key to having a successful birthday party for 3-year-olds is to keep it simple.
How to throw a stress-free third birthday party
When it comes to birthday party ideas for soon-to-be 3-year-olds, it's best not to have the theme and the activities be too complicated. With preschoolers, stick to party basics. Here's how to throw a 3-year-old birthday party that is low on stress and high on fun.

Read more
Bring imagination back into your kid’s playroom with these ingenious DIY ideas
These DIY kid's playroom ideas are super easy to achieve and great for boosting imagination
Montessori shelf playroom

The kid’s playroom should be a space not just for fun and letting off some of a child’s youthful energy, but also an educational hub that encourages imagination. As you curate a space for your child to play and grow, you’ll want to include unique activities to help them express themselves. So, we’re giving you some incredible DIY playroom ideas that not only make the space look nice but add more room for imaginative play and learning.

Add a chalkboard wall
A chalkboard wall is a classic playroom addition, functioning as both a teaching opportunity and an art station. Not to mention; it also curbs that desire to draw on the walls!

Read more
Family fun: Your kids will love these springtime activities
Get ready to rock spring with these family fun activities
Family out for a bike ride in the woods

Spring is in full swing, but just because the school breaks are over doesn't mean the family fun has to stop. Weekends in April and May are earmarked for family fun activities. Sure, Mother Nature does tend to rain on the parade sometimes, especially in April. Don't worry. That's why there's not a shortage of cool indoor and outdoor activities to get the family together and enjoy one another this season, regardless of the weather.
Family fun indoor activities
When those April showers hit, don't waste a weekend on the couch. There are always indoor family fun activities that are a great way to spend quality time together. Looking for spring places to enjoy? Try these.
Public library
Libraries aren't extinct and chances are your local library has a lot going on, especially during spring. A rainy day is a perfect pick to head to the library and see what programs are available. From crafts to family yoga and STEAM activities, public libraries are full of fun things to do for all. Even better is the price. The programs are free for library card holders. Don't have a library card? Sign up for one now.
Museums
A rainy spring day is an ideal time to check out one of the local museums in your area. Usually, you don't have to travel far to a historic or art museum. Nearby college campuses are also great places to find museums to explore.
Theater
A Broadway ticket can put a dent in the family budget, but local theaters don't have quite as high ticket prices. If you are looking for something different this spring, try checking out a local family-friendly theater production.

Family fun outdoor activities
When those spring temperatures start heating up and flowers begin to bloom, everyone gets an itch to be outside. Here are some family fun activities to enjoy outdoors this spring.
Bike paths
Bike riding around the neighborhood is always a blast, but spring is a wonderful time to explore an area bike path. Spring temperatures are just right for the kiddos to pedal a longer distance. Look for family-friendly bike paths or trails that aren't too long or hilly if you have younger riders. For tweens and teens, get them out there peddling in nature -- the longer the better. Tweens and teens will be proud of completing a path and will have great pictures to post. Just remember the snacks and plenty of water.
Tulip farm
Tulips are one of those wonders of spring that just make you smile. If you've never visited a tulip farm, make it a point to do it this spring before the petals fade away. Tulip farms are a stunning place to spend a sunny spring Saturday or Sunday. Some even allow visitors to cut their own, which the kiddos will love.
Hit the beach
If you live near the ocean or a lake, you know how crowded these destinations get in the summer. A warm spring day can be a lot of fun on the beach. Pack a lunch and sand toys, and don't forget the sunblock. April and May can be some of the best beach days for making sandcastles and playing with your dog without people getting in the way.
Hiking
Just like bike paths, spring is one of the best times of the year to do hikes. Flowers and trees are starting to bloom again, which makes for beautiful scenery during a family hike. Kids will enjoy a hike more without the higher temperatures and the insects that summer unusually brings.
April showers, May flowers
Spring is a wonderful time of year to plan some family fun activities. Just because breaks are over, and the kiddos are back in school, doesn't mean springtime fun has to stop. There are plenty of fun family indoor and outdoor activities to enjoy this spring, from tiptoeing through the tulips and getting a head start on those sandcastle designs to exploring new museums.

Read more