The Atlanta Botanical Garden invites families to engage in the wonders of nature through its Garden Playtime program. Each month features a different theme, offering a variety of activities designed to stimulate children’s interest in the natural world. These hands-on experiences are aimed at enhancing sensory engagement and fostering creativity, providing an enriching opportunity for families during the spring, summer, and fall.
Dates: Tuesdays, March – October
Time: 10 a.m. – noon
Free with Garden admission
Suggested ages: 6 months – 5 years. Weather permitting. Cancellations will occur in the event of rain or severe weather conditions. To confirm program status, please email classes@atlantabg.org.
March: Joyful Movement
March’s theme features music and movement activities, encouraging children to dance at the music party station, create colorful wind socks to take home, and explore various sounds through sensory bins. Families will also have the opportunity to experiment with instruments made from natural materials.
April: Patterns Everywhere!
April celebrates National Haiku Poetry Day by combining art with nature. Participants will learn how natural patterns create engaging textures, mimic those textures in art, explore forest scenes in sensory bins, paint with natural items, and create recycled art mosaics to take home.
May: Mythical Creatures
In May, participants will discover magical creatures inspired by Niki de Saint Phalle’s sculptures. Activities will include sensory exploration with mermaids, uncovering dragon treasure in kinetic sand, and creating slithering snakes at the art station.
June: Pollinator Friends
June coincides with National Pollinator Week and focuses on the important role of diverse pollinator species. Activities include a bug tic-tac-toe game, sensory exploration of “bees in a hive,” and decorating “bug rocks” to take home.
July: Animal Adventures
In July, Garden Playtime draws inspiration from the lively animal sculptures in Niki de Saint Phalle’s artwork. Families will participate in dressing up as animals, creating a shared animal print mural, and designing their own unique animal figures to take home.
August: Wonderful Water
August’s theme celebrates the joyful movement of water found in Niki de Saint Phalle’s art. Activities include water sensory bins, water lily art, shaving cream exploration in a frog pond, and games on the Children’s Garden lawn. Participants are encouraged to enjoy the Splash Pad as a refreshing conclusion to their visit.
September: Golden Grows
September marks the Garden’s 50th Anniversary, centering around the golden colors present in the landscape. Activities will consist of making sunflower art, engaging with sunflower rice sensory bins, and painting with corn cobs at the mural station.
October: Harvest Time
In October, participants will enjoy activities inspired by the harvest season, celebrating the aromas and sounds of autumn. Families will have the opportunity to explore and find their favorite scarecrows throughout the Garden.
