Fairy gardens are magical spaces of make believe. They are miniature gardens that invite fairy friends to come and live in your world. Whether they are set at the bottom of a tree or planted in a favorite container, these miniature environments promote imagination, creative play, and nurturing behaviors.
Click for a larger view of this natural, homemade fairy hideaway constructed from natural materials found around the house, complete with a swing set and resting spaces.
You're never too old or too young
Fairy gardens can be static or interactive, and offer opportunities for engagement and creation for all ages. Try these variations:
Children: Small figurinesare fun for playing pretend in the garden, and the tiny movable pieces helpchildren practice fine motor skills.
Adults: Try to give a garden a makeover for each season. Making fairy furniture is a good winter craft. If you have children,consider moving the pieces around each evening, as if the fairies came out to play overnight. See if your children notice the changes!
There’s no one way to create a fairy garden, but most follow these general steps:
Planning: Discuss with all participants, what should your garden look like?
Placement: Where will the fairies live? Perhaps in your garden, in a container on your porch, or on a windowsill in your home?
Style: What materials are available? Will the fairies live in a colorful, gem-filled world? Or a more natural environment full of repurposed twigs and stones?
Construction:Put on your builder’s cap to create the garden’s features. You might want to use a small spoon or shovel, or some glue, or you might prefer to have construction be done only with small fingers.
Installation: Set up your fairy world.
Play:Fairy gardens are for all ages and there’s no one way to use them.
“Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” – C.S. Lewis
Make a Natural, Homemade Play Area
Construct a fairy hideaway from natural materials and found objects from around your house including:
- Twine
- Small knife
- Cutting board
- Hot glue gun & glue sticks
- Twigs & sticks
- Bark pieces
- Moss, lichen, dried grasses
- Acorns, seedpods, etc…
- Rocks, pebbles, stones
- Gems & geodes
- Shells
- Bottle caps
- Glass pebbles
- Painted ceramics
- Recycled birdhouses
- Small wooden figures
- Wood scraps
- Snow globes
- Action figures
- Garden trinkets
- Board game pieces
- Fabric scraps
- Toy cars or trains
