Have you ever observed that almost all children are naturally interested in growing things? Not only does it give them a chance to play in the dirt, but they also seem to really enjoy watching the plants grow. It’s an enjoyable experience that can also be extremely educational for children. You’ll find that there are many rewards for both you and your child when you offer them some gardening activities, even if you don’t necessarily have a thumb for gardening. In fact, you may love it so much that you decide to make growing plants a regular part of your schedule. The following are just a few of the many possibilities you can consider when looking for something fun and educational that will also engage your children outdoors.
Have your child grow their own salad
If your child doesn’t like having to eat their vegetables, then showing them how to grow their own can be a great way to encourage them. Children who normally protest eating vegetables often become much more open to the idea if they see them growing in their own garden. Even if you have a very small garden, you should be able to find enough space for your child to grow a tomato plant, a type of lettuce, and maybe a bell pepper or cucumber plant. The truth is, these plants can even be easily grown in a container on your porch, patio, or balcony. It’s best to start small with a few plants, so your child doesn’t feel overwhelmed by the need to care for a larger garden. Small vegetables like cherry tomatoes are often the favorites of children. When starting out, you can start with some already sprouted plants that you bought at a nearby garden center, or you could even try starting with seeds, which will allow your kids to learn even more about growing things. Encourage your child to keep the plants watered and weeded, and they’ll soon be rewarded with tasty fresh greens. Once this happens, plan at least one meal with a salad made from your child’s crops. You may even want to get a few snapshots of your family enjoying the delicious salad so you can later put them in pretty red frames and hang them in your kitchen.
Try to germinate some seeds
Even if the weather is cold and doesn’t allow you to grow things outside, that doesn’t mean you can’t sprout some seeds indoors in the meantime. Buy a few packets of seeds, such as beans, cucumbers, or pumpkins. Since your child will likely be handling the seeds as well, he’ll want to check and confirm that they haven’t been treated with any harmful chemicals or pesticides. Lightly dampen some paper towels with water, and then spread them out on a counter or other work surface. Next, put several seeds on the paper towel. Fold the paper towel around the seeds and place them in a warm place. You will need to sprinkle the paper towel with a little water from time to time, because the seeds will not sprout if the paper towel dries out. Covering the paper towel with a plastic bag can help keep it moist, but make sure the seeds get at least some air. Unfold the paper towel every day to check the progress of the seeds. The seeds and leaves that sprout are sure to be fascinating for the child to see. Take a couple of photos of the growing seeds so your youngster can display them in great little frames to remind them of the experiment. If you go to the natural and organic section of your grocery store, you can even buy mung beans, alfalfa, and a few other sprouts to make salads. Put them in a glass mason jar, rinse them with a little water, and then completely drain the water from the jar. Repeat this process every day until a few sprouts form. Then use them to finish off a tasty salad.
You’ll be amazed at how well your kids will do at growing their own plants, and how much fun they’ll have in the process. You might find that you even have a lot of fun too!
