This is a fun couple of hours to spend with the kids! It also makes an unusual gift - with the added bonus of not being a toy!

First: Find a large glass container that will hold a couple of plants - it doesn't need to have a matching lid - you can always use a glass plate to cover the opening. We actually bought a big glass jar at Target for $12 and it came with a lid.

Second: Go shopping for plants - something tropical works best - they need to like moisture! We usually use 3 plants per terrarium but it really depends on the size of your container.

Third: Fill the bottom of your jar with small rocks or a layer of gravel. Add the dirt and plant the plants. Now the fun part! For a dinosaur loving son of a friend we added two dinosaurs. They looked just like they were in Jurassic park! For a friend of my daughter's - she made little flower fairies out of fake flower petals, wire, string for hair, and a little wooden ball for a head. They looked adorable hidden among the plants and we decorated the dirt with pretty colorful rocks and jewels. It was a fun activity to do together and their friends really enjoyed their gifts. The terrariums creat their own moisture - so they only need to be watered as they start to dry out, and mist from a spray bottle does the job nicely!