Children love growing plants in their own garden
(this is stricly for gardening novices)
How to create a childrens garden and gardening for kids tips
The links lead to gardening related tips and gardeners articles on my website, not popups or adds.
|
kids who garden eat their vegetables up!
Research shows that kids brought up in gardening families keep on gardening in one way or another in later life. Studies also shows that kids who are encouraged to grow stuff in their own bit of garden are more likely to eat and enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables, not just in early life but later in life too, with all the health benefits that brings.
But I'm not a gardener, my children think carrots come from Mars (even Cadburys, well maybe not now they have moved from keynsham to Poland)
These days growing our own is not the norm, we are more prosperous, fresh fruit and veg is readily available and work takes up a lot of our time, but more and more our doctors are seeing overweight mums and dads with fat children who just don't know or care where a carrot comes from. The benefits of gardening would be twofold, providing exercise and fresh healthy fruit and vegetables. You don't have to be gardeners, you just need soil and a packet of seeds.
So how can I introduce my kids to growing there own.
So what can those of us who are just not into full time gardening do, to introduce our kids to growing there own and at least give them an option to keep on gardening or not in later life . Its not the outcome so much as providing the choice in the first place that matters.
Give your child his or her own bit of garden
Its simples as the Meerkat said, give your child his or her own small garden, this can be simply a raised bed or even a hay bale. or in larger gardens, a fenced of (or marked out in some other way) section. Whether its a container or plot its a good idea to encourages a sense of ownership from the start, by agreeing where to position the bed or plot and that, it is the child's, to plant, to grow to make mistakes, to always care for and very importantly reap the harvest.
You don't need to be Alan Titmarsh all the growing stuff is on the back of the seed packets
Once you have worked out where the children's garden plot will be its time for the interesting bit, planting, sowing and growing.
You don't need to be a Alan Titmarsh all the information you need is on the back of the seed packet, in fact your children will find the whole thing more interesting if they think and feel you are learning with them. You might end up enjoying the gardening thing too ! You can find some basic growing your own tips here.
Until you or the kids are hooked grow simple quick growing stuff
Until you and the kids are hooked its a good idea to grow simple quick growing stuff like radishes and lettuce and large seeds that sprout quickly like beans, cucumbers, pumpkins, its great when the first shoots start to push through the soil.
Fruit, vegetables and flowers that can be touched and eaten are important too, to speed things up, you can buy plants like strawberries already in flower. Snapdragons that open when pinched can be easily grown from seed or bought as bedding plants.
Herbs, like basil and parsley, are easy to grow and can be tasted as well as smelt, lamb's ears with its soft, fuzzy leaves is great to touch. I have listed sensory plants here.
Its because you are not a preachy expert gardener that children will enjoy the whole learning thing.
Remember you don't need to be an expert gardener, your children will enjoy the whole thing more learning together, let them show you. Let them make mistakes (plants do die if they are not watered), let them enjoy harvesting and eating the garden produce. Don't be to disappointed if interest wains, your child may not want to keep on gardening but finds being a rocket scientist more interesting, but you have given your child the choice and maybe found a new hobby yourself.
|
|
Kids gardening Gifts
Children love helping around in the garden, especially if they've got tools of their own. These childrens garden tools have been specially designed for budding gardeners who want to help plant and dig.
Made to the highest standards in stainless steel to exactly the right proportions, the perfect miniature versions of Mum and Dads gardening tools.
The children's gardening tools in the range have been fully approved by trading standards and classified as early learning products. Recommended aged 8+ but depending on height of the child. Click the picture opposite to see the Childrens gardening tools that make great Christmas gifts and Birthday presents.
|
 |
| Childrens gardening presents |
|
|
|
|
 |
| Your feedback please |
|
|
|
|