A great place to grow!
Getting the youngest generation interested in gardening can be as simple as giving them some quick sprouting seeds and a small patch of ground to work with. I find that gardening opens a whole new world to children. They take an interest in the wonder of living things, the earth, and their community.
Here are some simple suggestions to aid in children's gardening endeavors:
Children love
spending time with their parents or grandparents
(at least when they're little!) Just working in the garden will motivate your children to garden with you. Countless times I would be in the garden and the children would end up beside me, mimicking whatever activity I was doing. It's a wonderful way for them to learn.
(at least when they're little!) Just working in the garden will motivate your children to garden with you. Countless times I would be in the garden and the children would end up beside me, mimicking whatever activity I was doing. It's a wonderful way for them to learn.
Our community was fortunate to have a "Little Sprouts, Junior Gardening" program at the local library. The children enjoyed tending to their seedlings each week at the library until it was time to plant in their gardens. The program had an added incentive - a ribbon and a prize.
I’ve read several books that recommend buying children's tools, however I prefer the quality garden tools available for the adult. Many manufacturers produce smaller model garden tools. I think they are sturdier and safer than most of the children's tools I have seen.
(there’s a news flash!) I recommend planting fast growing seeds that germinate quickly to capture their interest. Radishes are especially helpful because they can be harvested quickly and they enjoy the satisfaction of "feeding" the family at suppertime. Beans and sunflowers are another hit because the children can recognize them sprouting easily.
Tasty plants are a great motivator
Great examples of this are strawberries and sugar snap peas. I don't think I ever had a sugar snap pea that actually made it to the table. My children would play in the garden and grab a snack off the vine and continue on their way. Do I mind? Of course not. These are the healthiest snacks they'll ever consume.
Great examples of this are strawberries and sugar snap peas. I don't think I ever had a sugar snap pea that actually made it to the table. My children would play in the garden and grab a snack off the vine and continue on their way. Do I mind? Of course not. These are the healthiest snacks they'll ever consume.
Pesticides - don't use them!
I'm a firm believer of organic gardening. Would I want my kids running around in chemicals? Absolutely not. Nor would I want them ingesting them.
I'm a firm believer of organic gardening. Would I want my kids running around in chemicals? Absolutely not. Nor would I want them ingesting them.
Give them their own gardening plot
This gives them their own little spot that is their sole responsibility. I allow them to grow whatever plants they want. There are cute children's seed packets that entice children to try plants they normally wouldn't try. I do recommend sunflowers and other bright colorful flowers such as zinnias. Keep in mind that the smaller the child, the larger the size of the seed, the better. Little hands have a problem with small seeds. I don't really help the kids with their garden space, it is their own. If weeds grow, well, weeds grow. This is as good a time as any for kids to learn "you reap what you sow".
This gives them their own little spot that is their sole responsibility. I allow them to grow whatever plants they want. There are cute children's seed packets that entice children to try plants they normally wouldn't try. I do recommend sunflowers and other bright colorful flowers such as zinnias. Keep in mind that the smaller the child, the larger the size of the seed, the better. Little hands have a problem with small seeds. I don't really help the kids with their garden space, it is their own. If weeds grow, well, weeds grow. This is as good a time as any for kids to learn "you reap what you sow".
Build a Toad
Abode
Invite these wonderful critters into your garden. They are beneficial to the garden as the consume hundreds of slugs, flies, grubs, cutworms, and mosquitoes. Need I say more? It's a very simple process to entice these friendly amphibians into your child's garden. Find a terra-cotta pot with a large chip on the rim (large enough for a frog to enter) or use a hammer to chip away at the rim leaving an opening of at least 2 inches wide and 1 1/2 inch high. Then place the pot upside down in a shady spot near the edge of the garden or flower bed. Top the pot with a terra-cotta saucer to make the roof. Place water nearby in a shallow saucer, sunk into the ground near the toad abode. It may take some time for the toads to find the shelter, but don't give up. Once they find what an inviting garden habitat they've found, they can stick around for up to twenty years. Just remember that toads eat mainly on insects. Avoid using pesticides and poisonous chemicals (which of course makes sense in a child's garden.)
Invite these wonderful critters into your garden. They are beneficial to the garden as the consume hundreds of slugs, flies, grubs, cutworms, and mosquitoes. Need I say more? It's a very simple process to entice these friendly amphibians into your child's garden. Find a terra-cotta pot with a large chip on the rim (large enough for a frog to enter) or use a hammer to chip away at the rim leaving an opening of at least 2 inches wide and 1 1/2 inch high. Then place the pot upside down in a shady spot near the edge of the garden or flower bed. Top the pot with a terra-cotta saucer to make the roof. Place water nearby in a shallow saucer, sunk into the ground near the toad abode. It may take some time for the toads to find the shelter, but don't give up. Once they find what an inviting garden habitat they've found, they can stick around for up to twenty years. Just remember that toads eat mainly on insects. Avoid using pesticides and poisonous chemicals (which of course makes sense in a child's garden.)
Root'n Look Box
Here is a simple and cost effective way for children to start seeds for their garden and observe the growth of seedlings. Carefully cut off the top and one side of an orange or milk carton. Poke a hole in the bottom for drainage. The kids can have fun decorating the box in any design they would like. They can cover it with drawings, wrapping paper, or stamped paper. Their imagination is the limit. Remember to leave the top and one side open and don't cover the bottom of the box. Line and secure with a clear piece of plastic, such as one from a gift box or the transparency film used at the office on the open side. Fill the box with potting soil (not soil from the garden) and sow a few seeds, being sure to plant several seeds close to the plastic film. The kids will be able to observe the growth of the plants both above and below the soil. Be sure to keep the soil moist while the seeds are germinating.
Here is a simple and cost effective way for children to start seeds for their garden and observe the growth of seedlings. Carefully cut off the top and one side of an orange or milk carton. Poke a hole in the bottom for drainage. The kids can have fun decorating the box in any design they would like. They can cover it with drawings, wrapping paper, or stamped paper. Their imagination is the limit. Remember to leave the top and one side open and don't cover the bottom of the box. Line and secure with a clear piece of plastic, such as one from a gift box or the transparency film used at the office on the open side. Fill the box with potting soil (not soil from the garden) and sow a few seeds, being sure to plant several seeds close to the plastic film. The kids will be able to observe the growth of the plants both above and below the soil. Be sure to keep the soil moist while the seeds are germinating.
Pumpkins - a must
Enter their pumpkins - or other plants for that matter - in local fairs. My daughter has won ribbons for her flowers at the Topsfield Fair. My kids also have decorated their pumpkins and put them on display at the Harvest Festival in our community.
Sun protection - a must
It is very important to use a sunscreen when they're outside. Also, to protect against ticks, if you are in an area that is prone to Lyme disease, dress in long pants and shirts when in tall grasses.
It is very important to use a sunscreen when they're outside. Also, to protect against ticks, if you are in an area that is prone to Lyme disease, dress in long pants and shirts when in tall grasses.
Scarecrows - a great
project
Simple to make and fun to look at, watch your little ones smile in delight at their new garden friend. It’s as simple as nailing two boards together in a cross, add some great old clothes such as baseball caps, bonnets, aprons, overalls, etc., and stick it in the garden. Make it fun and different, and you've just made a funky friend for the garden.
Simple to make and fun to look at, watch your little ones smile in delight at their new garden friend. It’s as simple as nailing two boards together in a cross, add some great old clothes such as baseball caps, bonnets, aprons, overalls, etc., and stick it in the garden. Make it fun and different, and you've just made a funky friend for the garden.
Use several long sturdy branches to form a teepee shape with an opening in the front. Have your little ones plant climbing pole beans or other vining plants around the base of the house. I especially love this project for little ones because the bean seeds are large, perfect for little fingers, and they get great pleasure in making their own “house.” As it grows, the kids will go in and out of it - their secret hiding place.
Dried flowers crafts
My children have learned that the proper time to pick strawflowers are just before they open. They clip them, wrap an elastic band around the stems in a bunch, and hang it from the ceiling. They use them to make flower arrangements, decorate pumpkins, make gifts, the list is endless.
Note: Although I use silica gel to dry most flowers, I would never allow the children to work with this chemical.
My children have learned that the proper time to pick strawflowers are just before they open. They clip them, wrap an elastic band around the stems in a bunch, and hang it from the ceiling. They use them to make flower arrangements, decorate pumpkins, make gifts, the list is endless.
Note: Although I use silica gel to dry most flowers, I would never allow the children to work with this chemical.
Press flowers pictures
It's as simple as having the children pick any flowers or foliage they like and lay them in an even, single layer in an old telephone book. You can use several pages in each phone book. Weigh the book down with some old bricks or another heavy object and you’ll find that in a short time they are ready to use. Using a toothpick, gently dab a tiny drop of glue on the petals before pasting them onto the paper. Just be sure you have several picture frames near by. They'll love showing off their masterpieces. This art project also makes great gifts.
It's as simple as having the children pick any flowers or foliage they like and lay them in an even, single layer in an old telephone book. You can use several pages in each phone book. Weigh the book down with some old bricks or another heavy object and you’ll find that in a short time they are ready to use. Using a toothpick, gently dab a tiny drop of glue on the petals before pasting them onto the paper. Just be sure you have several picture frames near by. They'll love showing off their masterpieces. This art project also makes great gifts.
Gathering seeds
A simple project for the older children, have each child collect the seeds of the plants they want to grow for the next garden season, put them in a regular paper envelope or download a cute seed packet template you can find online, label them with the name of the plant and the date the seed was collected, and put them aside. According to their germination time, pull them out, and have them sow the seeds in the next gardening season.
A simple project for the older children, have each child collect the seeds of the plants they want to grow for the next garden season, put them in a regular paper envelope or download a cute seed packet template you can find online, label them with the name of the plant and the date the seed was collected, and put them aside. According to their germination time, pull them out, and have them sow the seeds in the next gardening season.
Bird houses are a wonderful
addition to a garden
I remember the three of us hanging out the small bathroom window to watch the baby birds leaving their bird house for the first time in a downpour. Birds and other backyard wildlife are fascinating to watch and give children an appreciation of nature. Kids also enjoy building and painting the bird houses for their own gardens. Just be sure not to paint the interior of the house.
The house needs to be of proper size and material to ensure a family will move in. Proper bird house dimensions can be found by clicking on the Bird House tab.
I remember the three of us hanging out the small bathroom window to watch the baby birds leaving their bird house for the first time in a downpour. Birds and other backyard wildlife are fascinating to watch and give children an appreciation of nature. Kids also enjoy building and painting the bird houses for their own gardens. Just be sure not to paint the interior of the house.
The house needs to be of proper size and material to ensure a family will move in. Proper bird house dimensions can be found by clicking on the Bird House tab.
Petal Power
Oohs and aahs
will abound if you decoration on top of a cake using sugared flowers from the
garden. Simply have the children pick healthy, unblemished petals from roses,
nasturtiums, violets, or any other edible flower. Dip them in room temperature
water, shake the excess off gently, and sprinkle with fine sugar. These look
fabulous on top of cakes, cookies, or even as a garnish for the dinner plate.
Garden Journal
A wonderful
keepsake for both parents and children is creating a garden journal. Provide
the children with paper, crayons, pens, and pencils and allow them to create a
record of their gardening experiences. They can record their garden activities,
write the size and color of each plant, create a page that contains a
rain/watering chart, and the wildlife they find in the garden. Another page could contain their pressed
flowers. Compile all these papers in a notebook, preferably one with a clear
cover. The cover should have their name, time frame, and drawing of their
garden.
Winter's Mittens
and Boots
I love this idea that was emailed to me from a visitor. Plant your children's out-grown winter mittens and boots and plant them for the summer. Hang the mittens from fence pickets or posts, while rubber boots will look great beside the door. Remember that rubber boots will need a drainage hole in the sole. This is a great way of turning winter's memories into summer ones. Thank you for sharing!
I love this idea that was emailed to me from a visitor. Plant your children's out-grown winter mittens and boots and plant them for the summer. Hang the mittens from fence pickets or posts, while rubber boots will look great beside the door. Remember that rubber boots will need a drainage hole in the sole. This is a great way of turning winter's memories into summer ones. Thank you for sharing!
One day when my children were very little I observed them in their
sand box stirring their sand pail feverishly. I asked them what they were
making. It seems they had found the "beer traps" I had put out to
collect the slugs. They poured all the cups, complete with the beer and slugs,
into their little sand pail. They proudly told me they were making "slug
soup". Yum.
#kidsgardening, #childrensgardening
No comments:
Post a Comment