Not only do most children really enjoy planting a seed and watching it grow into something grand, they like to feel that they are contributing to a worthwhile family endeavor. Gardening with kids is a great way to teach responsibility, discipline, patience and lots of life lessons while having fun watching them learn about plants, and the world around them.
Gardening is actually a great way to teach kids lots of skills in different skill sets. From digging holes, to deciphering whose teeth marks are in a tomato, to going on-line to research heirloom plant varieties, gardening is a great way to affordably fill the summer with fun lessons for the whole family. Take the kids to the library and let them check out books on gardening. Visit a community garden or donate excess produce to a food bank or shelter. Many children want to plant vegetables, and this is a great way to get them to expand their food choices. All the steps in planning and maintaining a garden can be a good lesson and basis for learning later on in life.
When gardening with kids, it is important and can also be fun to find products that are kid sized, age appropriate and ready for the garden. Many stores carry child size tools for gardening, and these may be more convenient than having them use adult tools. Bring the kids along to select their own little shovels, trowels and especially the special watering can. Most all kids will want to be active in watering the garden, and what better way to control how much water is used and have some wet fun on a hot summer day.
Gardening with your kids, helping them with preparing the soil and planting the seeds, makes a partnership with your child that can foster lifelong bonds of trust and reassurance. Reading the directions together and teaching them how to space the seeds and plants, demonstrates teamwork. Allow them to help weed the garden, and show them how to identify the weeds. Teach them the proper way to handle the gardening tools, (they are not toys) and to always pick up after themselves. And allow them to harvest, reaping the rewards of their hard work.
Finding fun formats and balancing learning with the activity, is the key to keeping kids engaged, and starts with preparation and planning. Keeping tasks and time spent in the garden age appropriate is important, as younger kids tend to have shorter attention spans.
Plant selections should vary and satisfy both learning patience and some instant gratification. And what do you do after the garden is planted and watered? There are lots of seasonal projects to consider which add character to the garden… as well as the weeding, insect control and disease prevention needed… to keep you busy until harvest.
Gardening with kids is a life long lesson that they will appreciate and have a great time, with you, exploring the outside world.
Join Virginia Master Gardener and naturalist Donna Haley on Thursday, June 16th from 6:30-8:30pm at The Greenfield Education and Training Center to explore Children in the Garden. Learn the basics of engaging children in the home gardening hobby; find out about diseases, weeds, pest control, fun projects through out the growing season, harvest and much more.
The class is just $35 per child/parent student pair. Call to register at 966-3984. Organized by Virginia Western Community College Workforce Development.
