Kick-Start Your Child’s Gardening Skills
Many kids love to get down and dirty when they are playing outside. You can put their love of dirt to good use and teach them the wonders of gardening at an early age. Use the following tips to help your kids gain interest and skills in gardening.
Even the youngest kid can find a job to do in the garden. Start simple by showing them where to dig a hole for a seed or young plant. Show them the tools that are needed, how to correctly use them, the size and the depth of the hole that is needed for the different plants.
Show your kids how to do the work, but avoid the temptation to do it all for them. Kids learn faster through hands-on experience, so when you take the shovel from their hands, it is slowing the learning process. Be patient as they are doing their best to learn what you are trying to teach them.
Find plants that grow quickly in your area. The faster they grow, the more likely it is that they will keep your kids’ attention. If a kid has to wait for weeks to see the smallest sprout, they will likely loose interest quite quickly.
Pick some fruits and vegetables that your kids enjoy eating. If they get to enjoy eating the things that they grow, they are more likely to enjoy gardening and appreciate why it is done.
Create a garden that is just for your kids. Do not worry about the appearance of it. The rows do not have to be straight in their garden. It is just a place where they can grow the plants of their choice and be responsible for caring for them. Once the garden is fully grown, they will be able to look at it and experience the pride they have earned through all of their hard work.
Supply your kids with the tools that are made for their little hands. Kid’s gardening tools are not as sharp and smaller than traditional tools, so they will be able to maneuver them the way they need to and be safer while doing so.
If you are worried about your kids getting their clothes dirty, buy a gardening apron for them. They cover the biggest part of their clothing, so they will not get as much dirt on their clothes. Still be sure to make them put on play clothes to be sure that their good clothes are not getting ruined as they work in the dirt.
Keep the garden chemical free if your kids are going to be working in it. There are substitutes you can use in the garden to keep weed growth and insect infestation down. One of the easiest things to use is boiling water around the plants. Obviously, do not allow the kids to do this part.
The excitement that kids experience when they see their seeds turning into beautiful green plants is something that you will remember forever. Enjoy the time teaching them to become little green thumbed gardeners.
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