Many parents find gardening an excellent way to spend quality time with their children, teach lessons such as environmental awareness and the workings of nature, and have good old-fashioned family fun outdoors in the spring summer and fall.
Take the opportunity to get your child interested in gardening by letting them help you or another adult tend to existing plantings. Later, give them a small spot of their own where they can help plan and create a small garden. Help them decide if they will plant flowers, vegetables or both.
Selecting a Sunny Spot is Important
Plants need sun and circulating air to grow the best. Sunshine will give you the nutritious vegetables and colorful flowers you desire. Because sunlight is so important, you need to find out how much sun the spot you have picked gets during the day. A spot facing south is best. Take this opportunity to teach your child that this is called "exposure" and how to track the sunlight throughout the day by following the sun from east to west.
Small Spots Can Work
Give them a small spot in a prime location will allow them more certain opportunity for success. They can also show off their accomplishments to others easily and be encouraged to keep up their new skills..
Children who have special needs or urban children who have very little yard space to work with can access outdoor gardening. Consider what new, repurposed or recycled containers can add. Fill them with vibrant flowers, edible vegetables, or exotic plants. Place them in entrances, windows, or a corner of the community. Consider getting others families in the neighborhood to participate in creating a neighborhood garden where the children can work together to help beautify a dreary vacant lot or an older persons home (with permission first, of course).
Children’s Gardening Tools
Child-sized tools are available through mail-order catalogs or many garden centers. You may want to buy gardening tools at any time for gift giving during the December holiday season or for a birthday or other personal celebration. This helps to reinforce the idea that caring for the earth is a year-round activity.
Autumn Gardening
Autumn is a good time to plant little gardens that will be ready for more lessons and fun in the spring and summer. Raking leaves into piles can be satisfying for a child. Afterwards, use this opportunity to introduce composting and recycling activities.
Children will have fun with "naturalizing," bulbs to achieve a natural look. It is easy and fun to do. They just grab a handful of bulbs, toss them out on the target area, and plant them where they fall.
Children can help roll out new sod or rake leaves the old fashioned way- by using a rake to pull leaves into piles they can then play in. After play time you can help them add the leaves to your compost pile.
Springtime Gardening
Spring is the time to involve your children in planning and planting the flower and vegetable garden for summer splendor and autumn gleaning. March is the time to plant seeds of summer vegetables and annual herbs inside that you want to transplant outside in late May. Keep in mind that it takes six to eight weeks to grow a good transplant, so this can also be a lesson in patience for your child. This waiting period gives you both the time to plan where the transplants will go into the garden.
Inviting Butterflies into Your Yard
When it comes to inspiring youngsters to get involved and sparking curiosity in them, you cannot beat butterflies.
Creating a butterfly garden can be as simple a project as a few containers of caterpillar-nourishing plants on the windowsill. Find out from a field guide which butterflies are likely to be in your area. Pick a spot that receives 5-6 hours of bright sunlight but is sheltered from wind. Place a few palm-sized stones around where the butterflies can alight near a cup of water. These comfy additions to your butterfly garden will give children a chance to observe them while the butterflies rest and refresh themselves.
It’s All About Sun and Fun
Remember that the pure fun of digging in the dirt is the real key to instilling an interest in gardening in children. Spending constructive time outdoors with your children can be a mixed blessing of fun and learning for life. Plus, couldn’t you use a little happy help with your gardening chores anyway?
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