The Atlanta Botanical Garden presents Garden Playtime, an opportunity for young children to engage with the wonders of nature through a series of themed activities designed to stimulate curiosity and creativity. Each month features a new theme with activities that encourage sensory exploration and artistic expression. Garden Playtime is scheduled throughout the spring, summer, and fall, making it a continuous source of enrichment for families.
Dates: Tuesdays, March – October
Time: 10 a.m. – noon
Free with Garden admission
Suggested ages: 6 months – 5 years. Weather permitting. Activities will be canceled if rain or adverse weather conditions render outdoor programming impractical. For status updates, contact classes@atlantabg.org.
March: Joyful Movement
Garden Playtime begins with a focus on music and movement, allowing children to participate in a variety of engaging activities. Attendees can enjoy a music party station, create colorful wind socks, and explore diverse sounds through sensory bins. The program includes opportunities to discover instruments made from plants and to experiment with nature-inspired sounds.
April: Patterns Everywhere!
In April, participants will celebrate National Haiku Poetry Day by combining art and nature. Activities will include exploring natural patterns and textures, engaging with forest scenes in sensory bins, painting with natural items, and crafting recycled art mosaics to take home.
May: Mythical Creatures
May’s theme invites children to delve into a fantastical world of mythical creatures inspired by Niki de Saint Phalle’s sculptures. Activities include visiting mermaids in sensory bins, uncovering hidden treasures in kinetic sand, and creating slithering snakes at the art station.
June: Pollinator Friends
June’s activities will focus on National Pollinator Week, highlighting the essential roles of various pollinator species. Children can play bug tic-tac-toe, explore sensory bins filled with “bees in a hive” and homemade scented playdough, and decorate personal “bug rocks” to take home.
July: Animal Adventures
In July, Garden Playtime encourages kids to explore animal-themed activities inspired by the vibrant sculptures of Niki de Saint Phalle. Attendees can dress up as animals, create a shared animal print mural, and design their own unique animal crafts.
August: Wonderful Water
August showcases the joyful movement of water, as seen in Niki de Saint Phalle’s works. Activities will include water sensory bins, creating water lily art, exploring shaving cream frog ponds, and playing frog games on the Children’s Garden lawn. Families are encouraged to enjoy the Splash Pad as a part of their visit.
September: Golden Grows
To honor the Garden’s 50th Anniversary, September’s theme celebrates the golden colors found throughout the landscape. Activities will encompass making sunflower art, engaging with sunflower rice sensory bins, and painting with corn cobs at the mural station.
October: Harvest Time
October’s focus is on the harvest season, reflecting the aromas of food and the sounds of crunching leaves. Activities will provide a chance to unwind and reflect on autumn’s nostalgia, including a scavenger hunt for Scarecrows in the Garden.
