Be it a flower or a vegetable, gardens are a wonderful place to introduce children to growing plants and enjoying nature. Gardens should be a place that children feel welcome in and enjoy being a part of. Adding an easy to make and affordable DIY garden hopscotch path is the perfect way to make any garden space more child friendly!
Why a hopscotch path?
When the oldest country kid was little, he loved to play hopscotch. He would draw hopscotch boards with sidewalk chalk only to have it rain and disappear. With a quick trip to the home improvement store and a little bit of time, I no longer had to hear about the disappearing hopscotch boards or buy stock in sidewalk chalk! And the funniest part? Even the neighbor kids come over and enjoy using it! Not to mention by placing it in the garden, we introduced them all to an exciting new world of plants!
So how do you make a DIY Garden Hopscotch Path?
I went to the home improvement store and bought seven one square foot patio block. Why seven? Because I measured how long the path needed to be to get to the green bean tee pee and for my distance, that is all I needed. When I got back home, the oldest country kid wanted to know what I was up to and could he help. He could have, because this is easy to do, but I was making it as a surprise, so I told him to just be patient.
I always have acrylic paint on hand so I grabbed some and set to work painting each block. Once the base color was dry, I painted on the numbers. I just free hand painted the numbers on mine. If you don’t feel comfortable with doing that, then by all means, use stencils.
After the numbers dried you can add a layer of paint sealer. You can pick up a can of spray sealer at any home improvement store. If you don’t spray the paint with sealer, rain and time will fade them. It has been over five years since we made ours, and our youngest is beginning to out grow hopping. Since we didn’t seal ours, they are starting to look a little rough too. Of course re-painting them is easy enough and this summer I will let my young men transform them.
I think our DIY garden hopscotch path turned out great. Once I placed them in the garden, the oldest country kid was so thrilled by them that he took ownership of the area around the path. He asked to visit the store to purchase accent plants! He really enjoyed digging in the dirt and every year since, helps pick out seeds to grow. Our youngest has grown up using the DIY garden hopscotch path since he could walk. He is my little weeding machine and has a love affair with growing pumpkins.
Just seven little brick and a few bottles of paint drew my children into our garden, made them feel welcome, and hooked them on growing things. In a day and age when so many children are disconnected from where their food comes from, the DIY garden hopscotch path is a great way to get them into the garden to learn. It is also a great way to get them outside and active!
What a great idea! Looks fab too 😀 x
Thanks!
This is such a fun idea!! It looks like it would be an awesome neighborhood gathering place. We'll be featuring this at Someday Crafts tomorrow 🙂
It really is so simply and doesn't cost much to do. Glad you like it!
What a super cute & FUN idea!
so happy I found your blog too!
Glad you found us too!
That is a really cool idea! Thanks for sharing this at the HomeAcre Hop! We'd love to have you back again today: http://blackfoxhomestead.com/uncategorized/the-homeacre-hop-25/
I love the HomeAcre Hop! So glad you stopped by!
Fantastic idea! My sister's children would LOVE this in their garden!
Thanks for sharing at the Creative HomeAcre Hop. Looking forward to seeing what you share this week!
http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/2013/06/join-creative-homeacre-hop.html
– See more at: http://homefront.prudentliving.com/my-garden-beneficial-bugs/#comment-13146
It was so cheap to put together and really does make kids smile… I hope your sister's children get one.
I LOVE this! I was thinking about doing this for the Pixie… but sort of perma-paint them onto the sidewalk because out yard is so small! 😉
~ Christine @ Once Upon a Time in a Bed of Wildflowers
If it is a public walkway, make sure your city doesn't get yucky with you about it or you might have to pay to have that section replaced.
Way too cute. So going to do this. Visiting from Green Thumb Thursday Blog Hop
Hugs,
Valerie
Cottage Making Mommy
http://www.lovingmyheartandhome.blogspot.com
Cute and really easy!! Thanks for popping in!
This is so cute! It's a great and fun way to remind kids to stay on the paths too. Thanks again for sharing at Green Thumb Thursday!
So glad you liked!
Too fun! My grandkids will love this project! I don't have a bean tee pee but I am sure we can pick something else as home!
Your a wonderful Grandma!
This is a great idea! I've always loved hopscotch! Thanks for sharing at my Creative Ways Link Party! Hope you'll be back this week with more inspiring posts!
Blessings,
Nici
So glad you like!
This is soo cute! I remember playing hopscotch all the time in my childhood 🙂
Hope you make a path 🙂 Your never to old to play!
What a great idea! It looks fantastic and I love the bright colors! Thanks for linking up with Mom's Library last week! This is one my features on this week's link up 🙂
Thank you!!!
Thanks for sharing this on Green Thumb Thursday last week and we hope you'll be back http://homesteadlady.com/green-thumb-thursday-51514/. I chose this post as my featured article from last week – I think another of the hosts chose another of your articles, if I remember correctly! You're just uber garden groovy! Be sure to grab the featured button for your posts!
I have never been called uber garden groovy before!!! Thanks!!! 😀 LOL
Fun project- my son saw this on my computer and liked it! Thanks for linking up on Delightful Mom!
It is so super easy to make and really adds a splash of color and whimsy. I hope he gets one *wink*
What a lovely idea for the kids (and grown ups). Thanks for sharing with us at #WednesdaysWisdom
I have caught myself hoping LOL But our boys just love it.
These look great! What a good idea. 🙂
Such a fun idea, I am assuming you hop along it too when ever you are out there – has to be done!
I might *wink*
What a fabulous idea for summer fun!Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful creativity on The Inspiration Board at homework.
Have a wonderful and creative day!
carolyn ~ homework
Thank you and thanks for taking the time to pop by!
Great idea and looks terrific. I loved hopscotch as a kid so hopefully my son-in-law can make this for my grandson to enjoy. Thanks for sharing at #WednesdaysWisdom
it is so easy to make, I hop he does!
How creative you are! It backs me to childhood and raise my mood. 🙂 I'm sure your neighbors love you.
Awww thanks Chloe!
Love getting new ideas for the garden. Found you on Simple Homestead Blog Hop
Thanks, ours has been used by many a neighborhood children over the years.
I like this! I think I might do it in some pastel colors for my grandkids.
🙂 gwingal
They will love it!