Getting the kids excited for the outdoors seems to be a priority for parents these days. With so many children's activities revolving around a television, computer screen, or game system, moms and dads are often faced with the challenge of how to make fresh air seem fun and enjoyable for their little ones.
While there are many incredibly fun ways to get the kids outside and active, one of my very favorites to recommend to parents and other caretakers of children is gardening. Whether you are cultivating a small flower patch or a backyard food plot, getting the kids involved in the activity creates a season long activity that will not only encourage them to love the outdoors, but also teach valuable skills. Not sure where to start? Here are some of my suggestions, categorized by age, to get you started!
Toddlers & Twos
The biggest challenge for keeping a very young child engaged in gardening is to keep things moving along. Patience is usually not a strong character trait at this age, so choose activities that can be ongoing. Ideas include: scooping and mounding dirt, watering plants using a small watering can, sifting soil for rocks, or crafting to decorate the garden area.
Threes & Fours
Once a child has developed into the preschool aged years, hopefully their attention span and level of patience has developed a bit more as well. When gardening with this age group, I recommend that you stick with plants that are easy to grow and sprout quickly, so that they get excited about progress. Some edible plants to consider are beans, peas, and radishes. If you are looking for more decorative flowering choices, consider sunflowers!
Fives & Sixes
Children that are already in school, or that will be entering school soon are more organized in their thoughts and able to understand progression much better. Again, I recommend easy growing easy plants at this age, but giving them more responsibility to keep track of. Creating a grow chart is fun and a schedule of plant care activities works too. Allow them to place a check mark or sticker upon completion of activities, such as watering and weeding, and count down to the expected harvest date on a calendar.
Seven & Above
Activities for the 5 & 6 range work well with older children too, especially if you add in some additional challenges that are age appropriate. Things like harder to grow plant varieties, composting activities, organic fertilizers and pest control methods, or crop rotations and planting patterns, just to name a few.
Whether you have a large backyard, or a small potting area in a sunny window or patio, getting the kids involved in gardening is a great activity!
While there are many incredibly fun ways to get the kids outside and active, one of my very favorites to recommend to parents and other caretakers of children is gardening. Whether you are cultivating a small flower patch or a backyard food plot, getting the kids involved in the activity creates a season long activity that will not only encourage them to love the outdoors, but also teach valuable skills. Not sure where to start? Here are some of my suggestions, categorized by age, to get you started!
Toddlers & Twos
The biggest challenge for keeping a very young child engaged in gardening is to keep things moving along. Patience is usually not a strong character trait at this age, so choose activities that can be ongoing. Ideas include: scooping and mounding dirt, watering plants using a small watering can, sifting soil for rocks, or crafting to decorate the garden area.
Threes & Fours
Once a child has developed into the preschool aged years, hopefully their attention span and level of patience has developed a bit more as well. When gardening with this age group, I recommend that you stick with plants that are easy to grow and sprout quickly, so that they get excited about progress. Some edible plants to consider are beans, peas, and radishes. If you are looking for more decorative flowering choices, consider sunflowers!
Fives & Sixes
Children that are already in school, or that will be entering school soon are more organized in their thoughts and able to understand progression much better. Again, I recommend easy growing easy plants at this age, but giving them more responsibility to keep track of. Creating a grow chart is fun and a schedule of plant care activities works too. Allow them to place a check mark or sticker upon completion of activities, such as watering and weeding, and count down to the expected harvest date on a calendar.
Seven & Above
Activities for the 5 & 6 range work well with older children too, especially if you add in some additional challenges that are age appropriate. Things like harder to grow plant varieties, composting activities, organic fertilizers and pest control methods, or crop rotations and planting patterns, just to name a few.
Whether you have a large backyard, or a small potting area in a sunny window or patio, getting the kids involved in gardening is a great activity!
