Introduce your little one to the joys of nature! Join us for fun activities that will stimulate your child’s interest in the natural world. With a new theme each month and activities that engage the senses and spark creativity, Garden Playtime is an enjoyable and enriching activity for families throughout the spring, summer and fall. These activities are inspired by the sculptures featured in Trolls: Save the Humans by Thomas Dambo, who have come to the Garden to help little ones connect with nature. Suggested ages: 6 months – 5 years
Weather permitting. We will cancel if rain or inclement weather makes outdoor programming impractical. To check the status, email the Registration Coordinator, Angela Clingan, at classes@atlantabg.org
Schedule: Tuesdays, March – Oct., 10 a.m. – noon
Location: Children’s Garden
March: Sounds of Spring
Shake off winter and revel in the wonders of spring with us as we tune-in to the sounds of the Garden like Sofus Lotus troll. Create your own wind chime, explore the sounds of birds and bugs up-close, and have a dance party as we experiment with various instruments.
April: Ready to Recycle
Kamma Can trolls loves to recycle and so do we! Visit our recycled sensory bins where we’ll discover new uses for everyday items, create your own recycled jewelry to take home, and swing by our egg carton building blocks station.
May: Botanical Bliss
Garden like Rose Sunfinger troll! This month we’ll make connections between everyday foods and the plants that nurture them to our plate. Plant a seed to take home, examine pieces of flowers up close in our sensory bins, and explore our farmer’s market. There’s so much to see and learn about the amazing plants that fill our bellies!
June: Pollinator Friends
Celebrate National Pollinator Week with us this June. Learn about the valuable role of diverse pollinator species in our ecosystems, and investigate these fascinating critters up close. Be sure to make your own birdhouse like Ibbi Pip troll!
July: Paint a Rainbow
Play with color in our activities this month as we learn to paint like Basse Buller troll! Create vibrant artwork, explore our rainbow sensory bins, and let your imagination run wild at our colorful play-dough stations.
August: Nurturing Nature
Let’s explore the creatures of the Garden! Find out what woodland animals are living in our sensory bins, say ‘hi’ to the fairies and gnomes in our treehouse, and add your own artistic stamp to our Kindness Tree. Don’t forget to make a garden flag like Ronja Redeye troll using natural materials!
September: Art in Nature
Have you ever tried to find a perfectly straight line in nature? It’s not easy! Nature has many interesting contours to discover. Come learn how natural patterns can create interesting textures and are fun to mimic in art. See how many unique shapes you can find on your visit.
October: Harvest Time
This month’s activities are inspired by the harvest season. From delicious food aromas to the crunching sounds of leaves, relax into the nostalgia of autumn as we wind down Garden Playtime for the year. Save some time to hunt around for your favorite Scarecrows in the Garden.