If you love to spend time outdoors, gardening with kids can be a fun and educational way to encourage them to explore plants and grow their own food. Check out the gardening tips below for some help getting your kid-friendly garden started.
Choose the Right Plants
When gardening with kids, selecting the right seeds for the season and your climate is essential. Choose easy-to-handle seeds that grow relatively quickly so kids can see the results of their work soon. For fast-sprouting seeds, plant sunflowers, zinnias, cucumber, and watermelon.
Larger seeds are easier for small children to handle, including:
- Beets
- Pumpkin
- Radishes
- Sweet peas
- Nasturtiums
When Gardening with Kids, Select Safe Plants
Not all plants are safe if ingested. Lily of the valley, foxglove, and daffodils are toxic to people and animals. To ease your worries when gardening with kids, research whether the seeds you chose are safe before planting them in your garden.
Promote Learning Opportunities and Healthy Eating
If you have children who are not adventurous eaters, an effective way to get them to try new goods is to encourage them to eat what they grow. Some favorites that children might enjoy are cherry tomatoes, snap peas, carrots, zucchini, and pumpkins.
Make it educational by letting kids measure the daily progress of their seeds and explain to them how plants need water, healthy soil, and sunlight to survive. Teach them the difference between the seasons and the plants that thrive best in your climate.
Let Kids Take Care of Their Garden
Get kids involved by encouraging them to take care of the garden by weeding, watering, and tidying up the bed. Teach children why it’s important to keep the garden free of weeds and how a layer of mulch helps keep the soil moist. Let them pick out their own supplies, such as gardening gloves, a sunhat, and hand tools.
Container Gardening with Kids
You don’t need a big backyard to have fun gardening with kids. If you have limited space, try container gardening. Use any large container, as long as it has proper drainage and adequate light. Plant seeds in high-quality, nutrient-rich soil to achieve the best results.
With sufficient preparation and the right supplies, gardening with kids is a great way to get them to try new foods, learn about nature, and explore the outdoors.
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