Gardening with kids is fun and educational. It gets you outside, teaches children about plants and science, and you may even produce food for your kitchen. If you’re hoping to get your children involved with the garden this season, here are a few tips to make gardening with kids fun for everyone.
Designate a Garden Spot for Kids
If you’re lucky enough to have a garden in your yard, designate a spot for your children to grow plants. If you don’t have a garden or live in a small space, give them a container with soil to grow plants on the deck or patio. Even in a small area, you will enjoy the benefits of gardening together.
When Gardening With Kids, Let Them Select the Tools
Children are curious and excited to get involved with every part of the process. Let them pick out their tools if you’re gardening with kids. Choosing a hand trowel, gardening gloves, watering can, and seeds will capture their attention. When you allow your children to select their equipment, make sure they choose tools that are small enough to manage independently.
Shop for Plants Together When Gardening with Kids
Gardening with kids is a great way to teach them about different plants: fruits, vegetables, flowers, annuals, and perennials. Let them decide what types of plants they would like to grow and choose a few varieties that are especially easy for kids to care for. Buy seedlings and packets of seeds. Check the library for books about plants and read the story together.
Decorate Your Garden
Get the kids involved in picking out ornaments for the garden to keep them invested. Select a garden statue, choose decorative pots, install a hummingbird feeder, or find a wind chime. Personal touches make a garden feel more inviting, and your kids will feel pride that they helped decorate. If there are trees nearby, have the kids build and decorate birdhouses to liven up the space.
Monitor the Plants’ Progress
Have kids keep track of how their plants are doing by letting them measure growth every few days using a small ruler. Not only does this help children practice essential math skills, but it teaches them to have patience, as well.
Gardening with Kids: Learn About the Weather
Use gardening with kids as an opportunity to teach them about the weather and how it affects plant growth. Discuss the importance of rain and sun and how it relates to plants. They can learn about photosynthesis and the seasons of the year. Discuss which plants do best during each season.
Get Them Involved With Yard Work
Planting isn’t the only way to interest kids in gardening. Find tasks in the yard to get them involved in lawn care. Children can pull weeds, water plants and young trees, and rake leaves.
Gardening is a wonderful pastime for children because many are visual and tactile learners. Spend time together creating an attractive garden space, making memories, and learning skills that will last a lifetime.
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