Flowers for Children: Bouquets for Girls and Boys

Flowers are not just a grown-up gift: children love a bouquet, especially one chosen for them. Children receive flowers for birthdays, after concerts or competitions, at kindergarten graduation and on 1 September. Here is which bouquet suits a child of each age, which flowers are safe and what to add to the gift. Ideas for other people and occasions are in our guide what to give: gift ideas. For gift ideas, see first birthday gifts. Gift ideas to go with flowers: gifts for girls.

Small bright bouquets are available in our flowers for children section, and vase-free arrangements among our flower boxes.

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When to give a child flowers

• Birthday — a first "real" bouquet is remembered for a long time.
• A performance — a concert, play, dance tournament or sports event.
• Graduation from kindergarten or school.
• Success — the end of the school year, winning an olympiad.
• Getting better — a bright bouquet or plant to lift the mood.

Choosing a bouquet by age

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Safety first

• No thorns: dethorn roses or choose other flowers.
• No toxic plants: lilies, lily of the valley, daffodils, dieffenbachia and oleander are not for children (especially toddlers who put things in their mouths).
• No strong scents or heavy pollen.
• Light and small — the child should be able to hold it.
• No small decorations — beads, rhinestones or parts that could be swallowed.

Read more in houseplants toxic to pets and children.

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Bouquet and gift ideas

• A sweet bouquet — flowers with sweets or fruit.
• A bouquet with a soft toy — for little ones.
• A flower box — no vase needed, easy to take home.
• A potted plant — spider plant, peperomia, African violet: children learn to care for something alive.
• A growing kit — sunflower or nasturtium seeds with a small pot.

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Flowers after a performance or competition

A music school concert, a dance recital or a first competition is a big event for a child, and a bouquet afterwards reinforces the feeling of success. Choose compact, bright flowers that are easy to hold on stage and in photos: 3–7 gerberas, a mini bouquet of roses or sunflowers. Give them after the performance, not before, so they don’t get in the way. For boys, a single large flower, a potted succulent or an edible bouquet works well.

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A child’s first plant: learning to care

Instead of cut flowers, give a potted plant — it teaches responsibility. Easy first plants include spider plant, kalanchoe, African violet or a small cactus, and in spring a grow-from-seed flower kit. Label the pot with the child’s name together and agree who waters it and when.

What to give a boy

Boys often like bright, simple bouquets: sunflowers, orange gerberas, blue and yellow flowers, or plants — a cactus (careful with the spines), succulents, a terrarium. After a competition, a small bouquet "from the fans" goes perfectly with a medal.

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Teach the child to care for the bouquet

A gift can become a small lesson: recut the stems together, change the water and remove faded flowers. Children enjoy looking after "their" bouquet, and the flowers last longer.

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FAQ

Can I give flowers to a small child?

Yes, if the bouquet is small and free of thorns, toxic plants and small decorations.

What flowers suit a girl's birthday?

Gerberas, tulips, spray roses, alstroemeria or lisianthus in bright or pastel shades.

What bouquet is best after a performance?

Small and light, so the child can hold it on stage and in photos: gerberas, spray roses, chrysanthemums.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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