Celebrate Earth Day with hands-on nature play and a touch of everyday magic!
With Earth Day just around the corner on 22 April, now is the perfect time to slow down, get your hands a little dirty, and connect with your child through nature-based learning - starting with your very own home garden.
At Papilio Early Learning, we understand that small, everyday experiences - like planting seeds or watching a flower bloom - can spark a deep love of learning and an early appreciation for our planet. While not all of our centres have gardens, many offer meaningful sustainability experiences that support children’s curiosity and sense of responsibility.
Through our Aussie Wildlife Champions program, children aged 3–5 are introduced to the incredible biodiversity of Australian wildlife and begin building conservation awareness through age-appropriate, hands-on learning.
And at home, a few pots and a sunny spot are all you need to start your own garden adventure.
Why Gardening Is So Powerful in the Early Years
Gardening offers children a meaningful connection to nature - and it’s full of learning opportunities.
It helps young children:
- Develop patience and responsibility
- Strengthen fine motor skills and coordination
- Discover where food comes from
- Learn about lifecycles and ecosystems
- Build confidence through caring for something living
It’s also a beautiful way to slow down together and celebrate everyday growth.
No Backyard? No Problem
Gardening doesn’t have to be big or complicated - you can start small and still create something magical.
Try:
- Growing basil, parsley or mint on a sunny windowsill
- Using recycled containers like yoghurt tubs or egg cartons as planters
- Creating a vertical garden on your balcony or fence
- Giving your child a small watering can and daily ‘garden helper’ role
These simple steps foster independence and turn daily routines into rich learning moments.
Easy Plants to Grow with Your Child
Fast-growing and sensory-friendly plants are perfect for little hands. Try:
🌿 Herbs like basil or mint – quick to grow and fun to smell
🥬 Lettuce – grows fast and is exciting to harvest
🌻 Sunflowers – tall, bold, and rewarding to watch grow
🥕 Carrots – plant from seed and observe the green tops
🌱 Snow peas – grow upwards and are tasty straight from the vine
Let your child choose a plant, help care for it, and celebrate each small milestone - because those moments matter.
Let Your Child Lead the Way
Giving your child ownership over their gardening experience nurtures confidence, curiosity, and responsibility.
Invite them to:
- Choose the seeds or plants
- Water and observe the garden daily
- Talk about changes they see — “Can you spot a new leaf?”
- Journal or draw their plant’s progress
These joyful moments tie beautifully into the values we foster through our Aussie Wildlife Champions program, where we encourage children to care for native species, understand ecosystems, and take small steps toward environmental stewardship.
Sustainability at Papilio
While each Papilio centre is unique, many of our locations offer garden spaces, worm farms, or nature-inspired play that introduce sustainability concepts in age-appropriate ways.
We support children to:
- Explore recycling and reducing waste
- Engage in nature play and wildlife observation
- Ask questions about their environment
- Take pride in caring for the world around them
These experiences complement our Lifelong Learning Curriculum, which supports every child’s development - intellectually, socially, physically, and emotionally.
Let’s Grow Together
A garden doesn’t have to be big to be meaningful. Whether you grow herbs on the windowsill or plant sunflowers in the backyard, it’s all about helping your child build a connection to nature - and growing their confidence along the way.
Want to learn more about how we nurture sustainability, curiosity, and care?
Find your local Papilio centre and book a tour today.
This Earth Day, let’s grow something special - together.