Spring is a beautiful time of year to introduce the concept of gardening to your kids by getting them involved in the process! Depending on their age and personality, gardening could be something they really gravitate towards.
There are some creative ideas you could try to not only get the interest planted (ha) but continue to bloom over time. I’ve listed some ideas below that I’ve tried on my two young daughters, and each helped create a passion for plants and their process and care.
Get Them Their Own Supplies
Kids love having their own set of tools, especially ones in bright colors and tailored to smaller hands. Investing in a separate set of gardening tools for your child will help them feel right at home in the process and also make teaching new lessons much easier. You can purchase kid’s gardening tools at your nearest home and garden store, and also online, like Amazon. I’ve listed a few online shopping links below:
Give Them Their Own Plot
Defining a space for them to plant and create will give them a sense of independence and pride in their work. In this designated space, they can plant and decorate as they see fit. Although it’s tough to give up control and space in your garden, simply helping in your vision will give them the feeling of true accomplishment once things start to bloom and grow. Using small fencing to designate space will give them something to tend to as their seedlings turn to buds.
Let Them Choose Their Own Plants
Let them choose their own seeds, seedlings, and blooms to create excitement in the project. Now that you’ve designated space for their garden, they can map out where and what they want to plant. From pretty flowers to small vegetables, they can grow a colorful array of things, but be sure to keep in mind what is in season and the size of garden you are working with.
Areas with low sunlight can cause an issue for some of their requests, so be sure to guide them as they are choosing. Make it a fun lesson and read the care ingredients that come on the packaging. They will quickly learn that it is not as simple as choosing what’s pleasing to the eye.
Spruce Up Their Space With Decor
Take your child to a home and garden store and allow them to select a few decor pieces to spruce up their garden. Colorful windmills and marbled tiles make for an expressive space for their garden to grow. There are also multiple DIY options for them to add a custom touch to their green space, like cement handprint kits and fairy gardens.
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Whatever route you choose, they’re sure to continue to check back in with their garden the more decorative control they have.
Make Garden Maintenance A Social Activity
Once the seeds are planted and begin to sprout and grow taller, don’t let the work of maintaining their garden become a chore. Offer to work side by side. Sing, talk, or play together and use the time to bond and chat about the plant growing process.
Never present it as a “chore” and it won’t become one. Offer a special treat after work in the garden, such as a frozen fruit pop or glass of lemonade. They’ll enjoy the process a little more with a sweet reward at the end.
Let Them Enjoy The Fruits Of Their Labor
Depending on what your little gardener grew, after some time, the sprouts can produce some delicious results. If they chose to grow strawberries or tomatoes, once they are ready for picking, let them pick, wash, and enjoy. Have your sunflowers grown to a point where they are blooming? Allow them to watch you trim the flowers and display them where they can enjoy their beauty. When they can see or even taste the fruits of their labor, the process of continuing the garden will surely become a passion.
Other Helpful Tips And Tricks
If you don’t have a space big enough to separate gardens, give them specific jobs to tend to. Depending on their age, they can dig holes and water, or handle more complicated tasks. Another helpful tip is to plant flowers that attract butterflies, ladybugs, and other interesting insects and birds. The more nature you bring to their garden, the more interesting it’s bound to be.
Encourage them to dig in the dirt. It might feel foreign and uncomfortable at first, but the more they play and get familiar with the feeling, the easier gardening will be. Above all, keep it simple. Explain some basics and tailor the information to their age level. Gardening should be fun and enjoyable. The lighter you make it, the more creative it will be for your child.
Do you have a home garden? Share pics of your family-grown fruits, veggies, and flowers with us in the comments below!
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