Gardening for kids is really very simple, helps them to learn about plants, the soil, bugs, and is an enjoyable activity for them to perform.
Some of my earliest childhood memories stem from growing my own little garden with my sister.
My first project consisted in planting some morning glories along our fence line. It was so much fun to watch them as they came up and started climbing the fence. Of course I thought that they were the most beautiful plant that I had ever seen. :)
When I got a little older, my mother allowed my sister and I to have a small plot in our garden where we could plant our own flowers. We planted zinnias, cosmos, and marigolds all from seeds and would then water them every day and weed around the plants.
We would also take care of the tomato plants that my mom planted. Picking off the cherry tomatoes and popping them into our mouths was definitely a favorite part of summer.
The values that are taught through gardening are priceless:
Gardening for kids is a wonderful way to teach kids good values and ways of life that will be ingrained in them forever after and helps form them into good adults with good habits.
If you are planting a large garden, what kinds of fruits and vegetables should you plant in it?
1. Cherry Tomatoes - a fun plant to grow and eat! They are small enough for kids to pop them in their mouths and taste the sweetness of summer.
2. Zucchini - super easy to grow and they can be made into some pretty tasty bread that the kids can help you make.
3. Lettuce - start this when the weather is cooler. So, early spring or late fall makes for perfect lettuce planting time.
4. Carrots - plant these from seed and when they just start to peek up out of the dirt they are ready to be picked.
5. Radishes - a tangy vegetable to throw in your salads and super easy for kids to grow.
6. Marigolds - a beautiful, golden flower, perfect for your summer bouquets. Plant them as a seed for some extra fun.
7. Zinnias - magnificently colorful, tall and stately. These are a children's favorite because they perform so well with minimal effort. Also, they make some amazing bouquets to give to family and friends.
8. Cosmos - Very wispy flowers that kids will enjoy planting. They also make some amazing bouquets but don't last quite as long as the zinnia.
9. Cucumbers - crunchy, long, and another easy to grow plant for kid's gardening adventures.
10. Pumpkins - plant some pumpkin seeds so that you can have beautiful pumpkins come the fall.
11. Broccoli - a little bit challenging to grow if the bugs get to it. However, it is so much tastier than the broccoli at your local grocery store.
12. Green Beans - they can be plentiful so be prepared. But they are super easy to grow and the kids will have fun eating them straight from the vine.
13. Sunflowers - plant sunflowers in a wide space to create a house so that when they grow the kids can play in them.
14. Pansies - buy them at your local nursery and have your children plant them and nurture them along throughout the summer.
Despite the fact that gardening gloves make kids more enthusiastic about gardening, they do actually have a purpose and are good for kids to wear in the garden.
So, with these points in minds you might really want to pick up your child some gardening gloves. They don’t even have to be very expensive gloves but just something that will help protect them for the most part.
Some kids might need just a little bit of encouragement when
it comes to gardening – yes it can be hot and humid, a little bit muddy but if
you as a parent or child caregiver, encourage and support a child in the realm
of gardening, they will be much more likely to take the support and run with
it.
Gardening for kids is a good, wholesome activity that every child should have the opportunity to do.
Also, it can be a fun activity for the whole family to work on together!
Wishing you many happy days of gardening!
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