Kids’ Rhubarb Projects: Growing, Cooking, and Crafts
Rhubarb isn’t just for the grownups! Its bright stalks, huge leaves, and early-season growth make it a wonderful crop for children—sparking curiosity, teaching gardening skills, and providing endless fun in the kitchen and with crafts. Here are engaging, hands-on rhubarb projects to try with kids at home or school.
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Growing Rhubarb with Kids
Why it’s great:
- Early to emerge: Exciting to watch buds break ground after winter.
- Easy-care: Tough enough to withstand a little neglect!
- Instant “wow” factor: Giant leaves and bold colors.
How-To:
- Plant a new crown together: Let children help dig the hole, spread mulch, and water.
- Put their name on the patch: Paint a sign or marker stone for “ownership.”
- Start a “rhubarb diary”: Track growth, leaf size, weather, and first harvests with photos or drawings.
- Watch for pollinators: Hunt for bees and bugs visiting flowers or hiding under the leaves.
Cooking with Kids: Rhubarb Favorites
Easy Rhubarb Crumble
- Let kids wash and chop rhubarb (with kid-safe knives), mix topping, and sprinkle on sugar.
- Assign taste-testing, crumble-making, or stirring!
Rhubarb Popsicles
- Simmer rhubarb with orange juice and honey. Cool and spoon into popsicle molds with fruity extras.
Rhubarb Jam on Toast
- Supervised stirring is fun—spreading jam even more so!
Rhubarb Crafts and Garden Fun
Rhubarb Leaf Art
- Use big leaves as “nature paintbrushes”—dab in paint and press on yard signs, t-shirts, or canvas bags for plant print art.
Leaf Stepping Stones
- Press a giant leaf into wet cement/sand mix for beautiful garden pavers.
Fairy Hats or Umbrellas
- Rhubarb leaves make the perfect play props for a garden tea party or backyard fairy tale!
Rhubarb Dye
- Boil chopped stalks and leaves separately to make pink and green dye for eggs, paper, or fabric crafts.
Learning & Curiosity
- Experiment: Compare red and green stalk flavors, or watch how much stalks “grow” in a sunny week.
- Safety lesson: Teach kids that the leaves are toxic and must never be eaten.
Wrapping Up
Rhubarb gives kids big rewards for little effort—a hands-on way to grow, cook, and create throughout the garden season. Make it part of their gardening journey, and you’ll sow seeds of curiosity and joy for years to come.