Gardening with Kids
First and foremost, remember to keep it simple.
Keep it simple.
Choose a small and easily accessible plot of land. Your garden will be more appealing to your children if they don't have to walk miles or climb a hill to get there. They are more likely to help if the work is manageable for them.
Have a compost bin close by. Kids love compost bins; worms, mud, and all things gross appeal to their innate curiosity about the world around them! Plus, you can teach them all about decomposition and reduce your waste at the same time.
Choose plants that are easy to grow or that grow quickly – short attention spans require immediate results so choose plants like sunflowers, strawberries, or green beans.
Make your garden inclusive.
While you're building, don't fall into the trap of having a separate garden for kids. It doesn't work. Kids are driven to participate in the things their parents do, so make gardening an activity that involves everyone in the family on equal terms. You could create a family plot where each family member has his or her own space to grow whatever they want, however they want. This creates a sense of ownership and independence for older children (so long as you're willing to overlook some chaos and disorganization).
If you're worried about your child losing interest over time or making a mess of your carefully designed space, try using pots and containers instead of planting them directly into the ground. This can give kids flexibility around design and allow them the freedom to experiment with different plant varieties throughout the season without upsetting any arrangements that have been made elsewhere in your yard.
Having something tangible—which is what growing plants provide—is also profoundly important to children's developing brains, especially during this era when their attention spans are constantly fragmented by technology. Forcing them away from screens isn't just good for their mental health; it's also good for yours!
Choose the right tools for children's hands.
It's important to give children kid-sized tools. If adult tools are all you have, look for ones with a shorter handle and a relatively lightweight head. For example, a 1/2 inch diameter hoe is easier to wield than a 1 inch one. Look for smaller shovels and trowels, too. But don’t go with plastic sand toys. Make sure you’re getting solid tools they can actually use in the garden.
Get them involved early on so they can develop a sense of ownership over their beds.
When starting a garden with your family, keep in mind that it does not have to be huge. Often, we make the mistake of trying to do too much and setting ourselves up for failure. It is better to start out with small, easy-to-care-for beds, then as experience grows, expand the garden each year.
When starting a new bed with kids I like to get them involved early on so they can develop a sense of ownership over their beds. When deciding what to plant, try some things you know will succeed and mix in some things they want to try. If possible, plant perennial crops like strawberries or asparagus so they start bearing fruit (or vegetables) within the first couple of When you’re ready to plant, pass out shovels and seed packets. Let them dig the holes, then drop in the seeds. Have them cover with soil and pat down with their hands. Create a watering schedule and make sure they’re aware of their responsibilities.
The hardest part will be waiting for plants to sprout, but remind kids that patience is important when growing a garden. Have them check each day for new growth and encourage them to water when necessary. When it comes time to harvest and eat what they planted, kids will feel pride in a job well done! years. Planting their favorite fruits or vegetables is also a good way to help get them invested in their beds.
Allow for a little chaos and fun.
Looking back on my childhood memories, a lot of them involve my grandma's garden. When I think about how much time we spent together in that yard, dirt under our nails and all, I can’t help but smile. And while the result of the garden is a factor, the most important thing is that they were happy and involved in the project with us. So when you let your kids join in on this task, let them get their hands dirty! Allow for a little chaos and fun. It’s okay if they don’t pull out all the weeds or miss planting some seeds; they will still learn something valuable from this experience as long as they have fun. Just make sure to emphasize that there are rules to follow in regards to gardening (harming living things or pulling up healthy plants), and remind them when it is time to stop working and clean up (to avoid ants and bugs). Lastly, always stay close by so you can pay attention to what they are doing—don’t let them eat anything from the garden without your supervision!
Making a family garden will get kids excited about eating fruits and veggies and spending time outside.
Gardening is a great way to spend quality time with your family, and it teaches kids about science and nature. It's a good way to get kids interested in eating more fruits and vegetables, which are important for their growing bodies. Seeing how fruits and veggies grow will help them develop an appreciation for where food comes from, too. Whether you're starting a garden for the first time or are experienced with gardening, there are fun ways to get your kids involved in taking care of plants. These activities can help you create a successful family garden that gets kids excited about spending time outside, eating fruits and veggies, connecting with nature, and strengthening family bonds along the way.
Gardening is a fun way to spend time outdoors, and it can also be an educational experience for the whole family. By teaching children about how plants grow, you are simultaneously helping your child learn about nature, science, nutrition, and how to care for something other than themselves. Teaching your children how to garden will help them develop healthy habits of eating vegetables and getting outside. Whether your children are toddlers or teenagers, gardening is a great way to bond with them. Here's why:
It's fun. Not only does gardening involve playing in the dirt, but it also teaches kids about science and nature as they observe how their seeds sprout and grow into plants.
It gets them outside. Gardening is a perfect activity for getting kids away from their screens and out into the fresh air.
They'll eat more veggies (and want to help prepare them). Kids are more likely to try fruits and vegetables that they've grown themselves. Before you know it, you'll have a budding chef on your hands!
They'll learn where food comes from. Even if you don't get all of your food from your garden, it's important for kids to understand how food is grown—especially as we're increasingly removed from our agricultural heritage as time goes by.
Your family will become closer than ever before. Kids love spending time with their parents and siblings in the garden; plus, it offers many opportunities for learning together!
Conclusion
Getting kids outside and connecting with the natural world around them is a great investment in their future. Whether it’s planting seeds, watering, weeding, or harvesting what they’ve planted, there are endless benefits to gardening with your kids.
By giving your child responsibility in the garden you're teaching them that they have an impact on the world around them. It's a powerful lesson of caring for something and watching it thrive as well as taking ownership over its environment. In turn, this helps children develop patience and pride when things go right. If your child is experiencing failure in their garden (because plants get sick or die), they are learning to deal with disappointment in healthy ways instead of retreating into video games or television shows where there is no risk or possibility for failure.
Get your kids excited about gardening with this handy journal. Our journal helps you plan your garden, and it also gives you prompts to get your kids thinking about how gardening will help them learn and grow.