Gardening with Kids: How to Help Your Child Discover the Joys of Nature
Gardening can be an incredibly important tool in the life of a child. As society becomes more driven by technology, children are getting fewer opportunities to spend time out in nature, something that is crucial for their development. Early exposure to the outdoors can result in a greater awareness of the environment. It also helps them become more responsible, as they are given the task of caring for another living thing. The following information will outline how you can get your child involved in gardening.
Allow your child to have input in the garden from the very beginning. Talk to them about what plants they would like to grow. Have them help you research which plants will grow well in your particular climate. Take them with you to the store to purchase the seeds or plants that you are going to put in the space. Finally, make sure they help you get the garden set up and assign them particular responsibilities that will help keep the garden flourishing.
Remember that your child is going to get dirty. Embrace that. It can be hard for some parents to see their children making a mess, but if you know ahead of time what you are in for (and you have a plan for when your child is finished gardening), both you and your little one will have much more fun. Purchase some inexpensive clothes that you don’t mind your child getting stained. Have your child undress before entering the house and put them straight in the tub after your work is done for the day. If they are young, spend some time walking through the routine with them before you actually take them out in the garden. If they understand that they will be walking straight from the back door to the bathroom, they are less likely to touch anything in the house first.
Because your child will be an integral part of your garden, refrain from using pesticides. There are natural ways to control bugs that you can easily implement. For example, one of the best methods of prevention is to remove anything from your garden that a bug might consider a home. Get your child involved in looking for rocks, leaves, branches, etc, and have them help you get rid of them before a problem can begin.
Make sure you plant a few fruits and vegetables. Kids enjoy eating something that they have helped to create. Your garden can become a tool in helping you establish a healthy diet for your child. You can even take things a step further and have your little one assist you in preparing a dish with the food that they harvested. Not only is it an opportunity to have a little more quality time with your child, but you are helping them discover how exciting food can be.
Gardening is a great way to spend time with your child. It also helps them discover, early on, how amazing nature can be. With the information included here, move forward with your plans to start a garden with your little one!