A great family activity, children can learn a lot from growing their own garden. Tips for getting kids and parents interested.
Here's something for everyone to get involved in. Create a children's garden! Find a place in your yard or dig out some big planter pots and get to work. Children will enjoy seeing exactly how the cycle of life goes and you will have some great fun together. It is also and ongoing activity that requires daily care to survive so you not only have something to keep them amused everyday but you have something that is teaching them all about responsibility and nurturing.
What you will need:
· Kid friendly potting mix (always check the label, you never know what they'll eat. If you are unsure then ask. This is especially true if you are working with a toddler. Many potting mixes come with fertilizer already in them that is not safe to be consumed)
· Watering can (get one with an easy grip - especially for younger children)
· Child size trowels/shovels etc (You can also get these of the plastic variety if you are worried about them hurting themselves)
· Some kid friendly plants (Check these labels to!)
Some of the best plants to use are everyday herbs. They are very aromatic and also edible. Kids will delight in the stimulation of their senses as they smell, eat and care for these plants. The will love to get out there and water the plants and marvel at the results, especially if grown from seed. Although younger children may not have the patience to wait for a bloom to sprout through the soil (in that case switch to seedlings), but older children can appreciate the lesson.
Choose plants that are fragrant and that may be smelt be merely brushing past them. Also be sure to find plants that are able to be eaten or picked when ripened.
Some Plants you may like to try:
· Fennel (edible leaves and seeds)
· Primrose (produces early flowers)
· Spearmint (yummy leaves and strong aroma)
· Sweet Cicely (edible)
· Creeping Pennyroyal (mint flavored, tolerated under foot!)
· Lawn Daisy (make a daisy chain!)
· Lavender (beautifully fragrant)
· Sunflower (kids adore this big colorful flower!)
· Parsley (edible)
· Thyme (also tolerated under foot and edible)
· Basil (comes in many different and hardy forms)
· Chives (edible)
· Snow Peas (eat off the vine!)
· Lettuce (grows rapidly)
· Carrots (kids will marvel at this topsy turvy plant growing down!)
· Anything flowering! (Children love to see flowers bloom. Try some hardier versions of flowers like impatiens or marigolds. They are quick to flower and hard to kill)
· Cheery tomatoes (a great small plant and kids will love waiting for the little tomatoes to turn from green to red.
Set out your pots or mark out you area. Dig, plow and plant. Children are capable of assisting in all these areas. Take some time and have some patience. Read the labels on your plant choices and make sure to put them in the appropriate conditions. Many nurseries will have a section dedicated to easy care and children safe/tolerated plants. If not, then ask.
Show the kids how to turn the pot upside down and place the plant in the soil. Now is the fun part. Get out the garden hose or watering can and show them how to take care of their plants.
Most importantly, have fun!
