Children learn by doing, and if you wish to orient a youngster to gardening, consider giving him chores that make him love getting involved with plants.
Love of gardening comes with exposure and education to the ways of Mother Nature. Telling a child about such wonder does not instill an appreciation for the green life like actual participation in gardening activities does.
Children learn by doing, and if you wish to orient a youngster to gardening, consider giving him chores that make him love getting involved with plants. The key is keeping the work fun and making him feel useful.
Safety is the utmost concern when teaching gardening. Shears, herbicides and fertilizer chemicals are hazardous considerations when assigning gardening tasks to your young person. With that in mind, assign these tasks for kids.
Younger gardeners - elementary ages
Pull off dead blooms. Ornamentals like petunias blossom more often once the spent flowers die, but someone needs to discard the old blooms.
Put water in the birdbath. What child doesn't like the water hose and water?
Help dig holes for plants. When planting annuals or small shrubs, let little ones have a trowel of their own and dig to their heart's content. Help them understand how to properly plant and pack the dirt letting them get as filthy as they like to make the task more fun.
Planting seed. If very young, the grown-up prepares the bed then lets the child drop and cover up seeds. Every child likes watching seeds break out and grow.
Pull up weeds. Teach children what is a weed and what is an ornamental or vegetable by educating him on the names of plants in a garden. They learn about root structure and leaf design as they grasp the difference between the good plants and the pesky ones.
Pick ripe vegetables. What kid doesn't like plucking strawberries or red tomatoes from a vegetable patch?
Rake leaves. Home supply stores now offer children-size tools like four-foot rakes with smaller sweeps making the job more comfortable for smaller hands and legs.
Bug watching. While a little one can't dispense poisons, she can learn to spot damaging worms, beetles and flies. Her little eyes may catch critters you miss.
Pot checking. Potted plants need more attention and judgment. Teach a child to check the dirt for dryness and recognize plant damage due to lack of or excess moisture. They may also pull dead blooms and check for pests.
Refilling bird and squirrel feeders. Wildlife captures the attention of all ages, and making a child responsible for live creatures teaches accountability.
Older gardeners - middle and high school ages
Cut the grass. Insuring the youngster has close-toed shoes and eye protection, you can allow him to mow the lawn. Be aware of allergies that many have to fresh-cut grass.
Tie up plants. Tomatoes, gladiolas, pestemons and a few tall, lanky plants need tying up to avoid breaking and bending stalks top-heavy with flowers and fruit.
Pruning. Proper pruning requires knowledge about the plant, its growth patterns, and it blooming schedules. An older child can be taught how to maintain plants and understand their characteristics.
Watering. Whether by timer, sprinkler or hand, teens can water beds, lawns, and shrubs as needed while learning what plants need regular moisture and which ones like to dry out first.
Weeding. Allow an older child to use tools such as hoes, trowels, and prongs to rid gardens of deeply rooted weeds.
Vacuuming and blowing. Leaves, pine straw and grass clipping collection take harder work that a teen can easily handle with hand tools, electric or gas powered equipment.
Their own tools
Giving a child tools of her own makes the work more appealing. Consider the following purchases specifically for your child gardener:
Gloves to fit
Rake
Trowel
Basket for vegetables or flowers
Apron
Hat
Sunglasses
Showing pleasure in kids' gardening activities will accelerate their interest. Give them chores to do in the yard, and complement them for doing a good job, and you might cultivate a permanent gardener who will enjoy the outdoor life for years to come.
