Introduce little ones to the joys of nature at the Atlanta Botanical Garden! This event offers fun activities that will stimulate children’s interest in the natural world. With a new theme each month and activities designed to engage the senses and spark creativity, Garden Playtime is an enjoyable and enriching experience for families throughout the spring, summer, and fall.
Dates: Tuesdays, March – Oct.
Time: 10 a.m. – noon
Free with Garden admission
Suggested ages: 6 months – 5 years. Weather permitting. The event will be canceled if rain or inclement weather makes outdoor programming impractical. To check the status, email classes@atlantabg.org.
March: What’s the Weather?
Kick off a new season of Garden Playtime by exploring the wonder of weather. Children can visit the art station to create their own rain stick and play a weather matching game at the kinetic sand tables! Be sure to check out the rainbow sensory bins to bring in the sunshine.
April: Art in Nature
Celebrate National Haiku Poetry Day in April by combining art with nature. Kids can learn how natural patterns create interesting textures, mimic those textures in art, explore forest scenes in sensory bins, and create their own nature bookmark to take home.
May: Enchant Your Senses
This May, children can discover the magic of Patrick Shearn’s Enchanted Trees. They will adventure into the sounds and colors of the world around them, explore the wonder of light in the Amphitheatre, look for hidden friends in fairy garden sensory bins, and design their own wind chime to take home.
June: Pollinator Friends
In June, families can celebrate National Pollinator Week by learning about the valuable role of diverse pollinator species in ecosystems. Kids can investigate these fascinating critters up close, participate in a bug tic-tac-toe game, dig into “bees in a hive” sensory bins and honey slime, and design their own beehive using bubble wrap!
July: Kids in Wonderland
Alice’s Wonderland returns for another season of fun, showcasing beautiful mosaiculture sculptures throughout the Garden. Families can find the giant rabbit and other interesting sculptures, let imaginations run wild in the Children’s Garden at the tea party sensory station and flamingo croquet, and visit the art station to paint red roses using celery pieces!
August: Froggy Fun
In August, children dive into the wonderful world of frogs with lawn games, frog pond sensory bins, playdough stations, and frog feet sponge paintings. Families are encouraged to cool down in the Splash Pad before heading home.
September: Enchanted Trees
The joy of Patrick Shearn’s Enchanted Trees continues in the Children’s Garden in September. Participants can enjoy leaf rubbings and a pinecone painting mural, explore apple pie themed sensory bins, and create their own four-season tree to take home.
October: Harvest Time
In October, activities are inspired by the harvest season. Families can enjoy the delicious aromas of food and the crunching sounds of leaves, all while relaxing into the nostalgia of autumn as Garden Playtime winds down for the year. There will also be opportunities to hunt for favorite Scarecrows in the Garden.
