Foraging Boards / Kids Foraging

Holidays are the perfect time to slow down, get outside, and see the landscape through fresh eyes. Foraging with kids turns an ordinary walk into a treasure hunt. It builds curiosity, observation skills, and a real connection to the land beneath their feet.

One simple activity that children absolutely love is making their own foraging boards. It gives purpose to what they’re gathering and creates something they can take pride in at the end.

To make a foraging board, cut up an old cardboard box into rectangles, about the size of a book. Wrap string around the board a few times or stretch a couple of rubber bands across it. As you walk, kids can tuck their finds under the string or bands, building their own little collection. You can bring a pen and help them label each plant, or do it together when you get home. It becomes part art, part learning, part memory of the day.

Autumn is a generous season for easy, abundant edible weeds.

Some gentle, beginner friendly plants you’re likely to find (and that I cover in my foraging guides) include:

Chickweed

Tender, mild and fresh. Great for nibbling straight from the garden or adding to salads.

Plantain (broadleaf and narrowleaf)

A common lawn plant. Young leaves are best, and it’s a beautiful one for kids to recognise and learn for its soothing properties.

Dandelion

Leaves, flowers and roots all have their place. The leaves are more bitter now, but still useful in small amounts or cooked.

Dock

Large, wavy leaves that are easy to spot. Best used young, or cooked to soften the texture.

Puha (sow thistle)

A classic wild green. Bitterness varies, but blanching makes it more gentle and child-friendly.

Nettle

Handle with care, but kids are often fascinated by it. Once cooked or dried, it becomes a deeply nourishing food.

The beauty of this activity is that it’s not about collecting large amounts. It’s about noticing, identifying, and building familiarity over time. These small, repeated experiences are what grow confident, respectful foragers.

If you’d like support with identifying plants safely and confidently, check out my Foraging Guides for seasonal, locally relevant plants. I also share deeper learning inside my Online Foraging course, and run hands on Workshops where you can learn directly in the field.

Foraging is a skill that grows slowly, and it’s one of the most valuable things we can pass on to our children.