Do your kids love to play in the dirt? Do you live in a rural or urban setting? Well, teaching your children about gardening can happen anywhere and inexpensively. Here are some ideas about how to interest your children in gardening.
1. SHOW YOUR KIDS YOUR GARDEN (IF YOU HAVE ONE)
With this, it doesn’t matter where the garden is. It can be a container garden hanging off the balcony in the city or a traditional garden in your backyard. When you want your kids to experience gardening, have them put their hands in the dirt. Kids love dirt and enjoy understanding where and how their food is grown and nurtured.
2. TEACH YOUR CHILD ABOUT PLANTING SEEDS INDOORS IN SEEDING TRAYS
When you teach your kids about seeds and show them how seeds grow, they get excited when the plants start to sprout. Show your kids how many seeds should go into the slots. They will also need to show how to water them. A fun way to show your kids how plants grow is to have them measure the sprout daily to see the improvement.
3. START WITH AN INDOOR GARDEN OR WITH POTTED PLANTS
If you want to start your kids in a garden as an experiment before giving them more responsibility in your garden, start with a potted flower indoors. Show your kids how flowers can grow by giving them love and attention daily.
4. HAVE YOUR KIDS COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER
If you have multiple kids growing produce together, make it a game or a competition to see who can grow the biggest squash or the tallest sunflower. The competition will help get them excited about gardening and to compete in healthy competition.
5. HELPS WITH YOUR CHILD’S SELF CONFIDENCE
When your kids see the plants they grow, they know they have a skill they can cultivate for the future.
6. HAVE THEM CHOOSE THE PLANTS THEY WANT TO GROW
Your kids might know what they want to grow. If they don’t, teach them what plants thrive in direct sunlight and partial sunlight
7. INTEREST IN NEW FOOD/EXPERIENCES
When kids plant their food, they have a better chance of eating it, especially if they haven’t tried it before. This is a benefit of their gardening growth.
8. MAKE IT PART OF YOUR ROUTINE
Have your kids check on their plants when they go out to play. Educate your kids about how much moisture plants need and how to water them. If they are ready to pick, show your kids what they can pick.
9. TEACH YOUR KIDS WHAT IS NECESSARY TO GARDEN
Teach your kids what is needed to garden: soil, seeds, water cans, or hoses to water the plants daily. Also, make sure they have equipment that is their size.
Check out my blog post, 7 Tools That are Essential To Garden, to help teach your kids what essential tools they will need for gardening, especially if you are new to gardening.
10. GARDEN IN THE AREA NEAR WHERE YOUR KIDS PLAY
Keep their plants near where they can monitor them. Make sure it is easy for them to access their plants and tend to them in the backyard.
NOW, WHAT…?
It’s been hard for parents to get their kids to focus and keep them busy during the summer. When they get active in the afternoon and can’t concentrate on their schoolwork, have them take a break and channel their energy into gardening and knowledge of growing food. Remember to keep their plants near where they play, plant what they want to grow, and make gardening a game for them.
