As we begin to set up our garden for the floral season – spring has sprung, indeed – we find that our children are often as excited if not more so than we are to get their hands in the dirt and begin sprouting their little green thumbs.
Why not set them up with their own little space to tend? Whether you give them their own little patch for a small herb garden or a window box for marigolds, children are naturally drawn to gardening and they will love every opportunity they’ll get.
For our backyard, we gave our son two pots that were exclusively his responsibility. With his trusty child-size watering can, he would tend to his flowers all season. We also visited the library and took out books about plants and flowers giving him another learning experience.
Water the lawn was also a favorite gardening past-time. And what child could resist running through the sprinklers?
Does your child have a favorite gardening spot? What flowers or plants do you recommend?
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Comments (2)
We've similarly given our not-quite-two-year-old a big planter all his own. We planted peas (fast to germinate, 50-55d to harvest) and chives (early and constant harvest) since he likes to eat both. And just so there's something he can already see, we also planted a little lettuce start. He waters his garden with daddy when they water the grass, and we've even caught him taking earthworms from elsewhere to his pot (since I told him that worms are good for gardens).
Note to others: If you have kids this young, expect to put in a LOT of seeds and thin if needed. Many of the peas were enthusiastically pushed down several inches deeper than they should be, and the chive seeds were more dumped than scattered (and I later added more to ensure a good crop).
We do loads of gardening with our little girl. She is not quite two but more than able to dig small holes and press down the soil around plants for us. Her favourites are peas, snow peas and strawberries. Anything that she can eat straight from the garden.
We are also involved in a permaculture play group at our local community gardens. If you don't have much space yourself they are a great way to get your kids involved.