Nurturing Kids Gardening Skills
As spring arrives, many families are eager to embark on gardening adventures together, planting seeds that will yield everything from vibrant flowers to oddly-shaped carrots later in the season. Engaging children in the gardening experience not only broadens their understanding of ecological systems but also provides numerous mental and physical health benefits. There’s truly no time like the present to involve kids in gardening!
Seeing the Whole Picture
For kids, gardening goes beyond mere seed planting and maintenance. It serves as a gateway into a wider ecosystem that can engage and motivate children of all ages, while also encouraging outdoor activity.
A 2012 survey from the David Suzuki Foundation revealed that 70% of young people spend just one hour or less outside each day. The findings underscored the significance of fostering an appreciation for the outdoors from an early age, with parents playing a vital role in encouraging their younger teens to venture outside.
Cultivating Connections
Lea Tran suggests choosing plants that kids will be excited to revisit throughout the season, fostering an ongoing relationship with them. Children can deepen their connection to plants through:
- Providing care
- Observing their growth
- Harvesting produce
- Helping prepare meals
- Decorating living spaces with plants
- Gifting plant-based creations
- Drying herbs and flowers
- Saving seeds for future planting
Tran also emphasizes the importance of teaching children that some weeds, like dandelions and chickweed, are actually beneficial and edible.
Taking Time for Discovery
Encouraging a child’s early bond with nature is as simple as parents spending time outdoors alongside them. Whether wandering through the backyard, visiting a local park, or exploring nearby trails, opportunities abound.
By observing the dynamic activities of local wildlife, the vibrant hues of wildflowers, and the various types of trees, families can appreciate their community as a vital component of the larger natural landscape.
Fostering Environmental Awareness
The relationship between gardening and ecosystems is profound. By engaging in gardening projects together, families can illustrate that gardening transcends merely producing food or ornamental plants.
Investigating what plants attract beneficial visitors like hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees can ignite interest, as can learning about various insects that dwell near water or in rock gardens. Understanding the unique traits of local flora and fauna can enhance children’s appreciation of their gardens as part of a vast ecosystem.
Forming Connections
According to Tran, the process of gardening instills a sense of purpose in children.
“They learn that every being plays a role in the ecosystem. Everything is interrelated, and each has a unique contribution essential for sustaining life,” she explains.
Tran recommends the following to help children grasp the ecosystem concept:
- Instill a sense of reverence, fun, and significance in the care of plants.
- Establish routines that allow kids to check in on their plants and encourage them to maintain a journal for their observations.
- Create designated areas in the garden for each child to take ownership of their plants.
“Encourage children to engage all their senses throughout the gardening process,” Tran advises. “When planting a family garden, kids open themselves to a sense of wonder and enchantment.”
Enjoying Nighttime Adventures
When summer days become too warm, consider exploring the outdoors at night. Look for nocturnal creatures like bats and fireflies, or dig through compost to find worms, which can benefit your garden by aerating the soil.
Experience how the ecosystem transforms under the glow of a full moon and notice how nighttime sounds become more pronounced. Simply lying on the ground and gazing at the stars can serve as a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all living things, illustrating how essential light, temperature, and rain are for successful gardening.
Recommended Plants
To pique children’s interest in gardening, Tran suggests starting with larger seeds that are easy to manage. Select plants that yield sizable seedlings and grow rapidly to prevents confusion with weeds. Some engaging options include:
- Peas
- Beans
- Sunflowers
- Pumpkins
Herbs also make excellent choices when starting from seedlings, with varieties like mint, lavender, thyme, and rosemary. If flowers are a draw for your little ones, consider easy-to-grow choices such as calendula, zinnias, and marigolds.
Constructing a Bee House
Creating a bee house for Mason bees enables children to observe these essential pollinators up close. To build a simple structure, drill holes into a wooden block or fill a small wooden container with hollow plant stems, then hang it on a fence. Set this up in early spring for children to witness the hatching process. They can watch as larvae develop into cocoons and subsequently emerge as adult bees the following spring.
For further information on Mason bees, consult your local gardening retailer.
Connecting with Nature
Numerous studies have demonstrated that children who engage in gardening experience a wealth of benefits, including enhanced learning outcomes. Fueled by the desire to enjoy what they cultivate, young gardeners often develop healthier eating habits.
In 2013, the Back to Nature Network reviewed a substantial body of research investigating the link between green spaces and health. Analysis of over 100 studies revealed that spending time in natural settings has positive implications for health, with children who frequently engage with nature showing reduced aggression, increased self-control, and improved overall mental and physical well-being.
Ultimately, the key principle of gardening with children is to keep the experience enjoyable. The more time families spend together in the garden, the greater the chance they’ll spot a bee darting among the zinnias or witness a chipmunk caching sunflower seeds—all while savoring the quirky, yet tasty, carrots they’ve grown themselves.
