Even toddlers can help grow sunflowers in a garden. Prepare the garden site by tilling the dirt or fill a flower pot with potting soil. Insert the sunflower seeds into the soil and water with a small watering can or spray bottle. Keep flower pots in a sunny place. Once the seeds have germinated, pull out the smaller plants and leave only the largest. When they are large enough, transplant outside. Children can also use pictures of sunflowers to create labels that mark where the seeds are planted. Continue watering them regularly and watch them grow. Older children can measure the height of the plant as it grows and record the amount of water used and the daily temperature.
Children can make a sunflower mask that can be worn for school plays, Halloween or any dress-up time. Cut petal shapes from yellow construction paper. Depending on the size of the child's head and the size of the petals, you will need approximately 16 petals. Cut the center out of a paper plate or for larger children, cut a large circle out of a piece of cardboard or poster board and cut a smaller circle 2 inches from the outer edge. Glue the petals around the circle. Paint or color a craft stick green and glue it to the bottom for a handle/stem.
Children can make their own sunflower craft to display in their classroom. Draw petal shapes on yellow construction paper and cut them out. Lay a paper plate on the table and fill the inner circle with glue. Sprinkle sunflower seeds on the glue and press them in place gently. Glue the petals around the edge of the plate. Cut out shapes to make a face, including the eyes, nose and mouth. Glue them on the seeds. Allow adequate time for the glue in the center to dry.
A standing sunflower craft can be used as a table centerpiece or other decoration. Tape or glue green construction paper around an empty cardboard paper towel tube. Trace the child's hand prints on yellow construction paper to be used as petals. You will need about six hand prints. Glue or staple the hand-prints around a small paper plate, allowing them to overlap slightly and cover the center of the plate. Pour glue in the center of the flower and sprinkle in sunflower seeds. After the glue has dried, squeeze the top of the tube closed, and staple it to the back of the flower.