Starting A Garden with Kids
We had always wanted to start a garden, but I was never very confident in my abilities to make things grow. My oldest son was 9 years old at the time, and he wanted to start a garden with me. So, we decided to give it a try.
The first year was a bit of a disaster. We planted our seedlings, but everything turned yellow. We didn't know what we were doing wrong, but we kept trying and learning. The next season was a little better, but still not great. We started to learn about the different types of plants, and which ones would be best for our climate and location. I was starting to learn amazing life skills in the garden with my kids.
In this post, I'm going to show you 6 amazing life skills to learn while gardening with kids. Let's get growing!
Family Bonding Time
Finally, after several years of trial and error, we managed to create a thriving garden! We learned so much along the way – how not to give up when things don't go as planned, how to work together as a team in the garden, and how to enjoy nature together. Our family bonding time in the garden was some of the best times we ever had.
Learning to Garden Together
When most people think about gardening, they imagine doing it all on their own. But gardening can be a fun activity to do with your kids too. Not only will you be able to spend some quality time together, but you'll also be teaching them some important life skills.
You can learn more about gardening books from this blog post.
Here are six of the most important skills that your kids can learn from gardening and you can too:
1. Patience
Gardening can be a great way to teach kids about patience and responsibility. It takes time to grow healthy plants, and children need to learn how to care for them properly. However, gardening with kids can also be a lot of fun. plant.
Children can help to choose the plants, prepare the soil, and water them regularly. As the plants begin to grow, kids will be able to see the results of their hard work. With a little patience, gardening can be a great way for kids to learn about nature and experience the satisfaction of caring for something that they have created.
2. Cooperation
When you think of gardening, you might not immediately think of it as something that requires teamwork. However, working together is an important part of gardening, especially when kids are involved. By working together, kids can learn how to communicate and cooperate with others to achieve a common goal.
Gardening also provides an opportunity for kids to learn about different aspects of nature, such as the life cycle of plants and the role of insects in the ecosystem. They see how the natural world works together too.
3. Problem-solving
Gardening can be a rewarding but challenging activity. From dealing with pests and weeds to choosing the right plants for your garden, there are many potential problems to solve.
This is why it's so important for kids to learn how to solve gardening problems on their own. By allowing them to identify and address issues in their gardens, they can develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that will serve them well in all areas of their lives.
4. Responsibility
Gardening is a great way for kids to learn responsibility. They need to take care of the plants, water them, and make sure they get enough sunlight. Gardening also teaches them about the life cycle of plants and how to care for them.
5. Respect for nature
A lot of people think gardening is simply about planting flowers and vegetables, but it's so much more than that. Gardening is a great way to teach kids about the importance of taking care of the environment.
Through gardening, kids learn to appreciate the natural world and the creatures that live in it. They also learn how to care for plants and how to create a healthy ecosystem. In other words, gardening helps instill a sense of respect for nature in kids. And that's an important lesson for all of us to learn.
6. Creativity
Gardening is a great activity for kids because it allows them to be creative in choosing what works best in the garden. But gardening with kids can be a little bit different than gardening on your own.
Let your kids pick out the plants they love to eat and plant those in the garden. Use different types of containers to grow things. Get creative in how you and your kids want your garden to look.
Dream your garden together. It may take a few years to get that dream look, but planning it out and then planting it out little by little together makes the experience so rewarding. With a little imagination, gardening can be a great way for kids to learn about nature and have fun at the same time.
3 Tips on Engaging my Child to Garden with Me
Tip #1- Start small
Choose a gardening project that is manageable and won't take too long to complete. This will help keep the kids from getting bored or frustrated.
Tip #2- Get them involved
Ask the kids to help with tasks like planting seeds, watering the plants or harvesting the produce. This will give them a sense of ownership and responsibility for the garden.
Tip #3- Be prepared for messes
Gardening can be messy, so make sure you have all the supplies you need to clean up afterward. This includes things like gloves, buckets, and gardening tools.
How do you start a garden in your backyard for kids?
You might be surprised how easy it is to start a garden in your backyard! All you need is a little space, some sunshine, and a bit of water. Hopefully these 6 amazing life skills to learn while Gardening with kids gave you encouragement to try and start a garden.
Here are a few tips to get you started
Connect With Your Kids Through Gardening
Make gardening easy by choosing a garden to do with your kids.
Butterfly Garden
Pizza Garden
Green Bean Teepee
Frequently Asked Questions:
How do I make my garden kid friendly?
Creating a kid-friendly garden can be a fun and rewarding experience. Here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Choose kid-friendly plants.
2. Create a safe play area. Set aside a spot for your child to play in the dirt, dig for worms, or hunt for ladybugs.
3. Plant a sensory garden. Fill your garden with plants that have interesting textures, colors, and scents.
4. Get involved in the gardening process. Kids are more likely to enjoy the garden if they are involved in the planting and care of the plants.
5. Give them a little plot of land to grow in.
What are the easiest plants to grow at home with kids?
Here are a few of our favorites:
1. Sunflowers are easy to grow from seed, and kids will love watching them grow tall and produce bright blooms.
2. Cucumbers are a great choice for kids who want to see results quickly. They're easy to grow from seed, and they can be harvested in as little as two months.
3. Radishes are another fast-growing option that is perfect for kids who are impatient to see results. Plus, they're a great way to add some color to your garden.
Is gardening fun for kids?
Gardening is a great activity for kids! Not only is it a fun way to get outdoors and enjoy some fresh air, but it's also a great opportunity to learn about nature.
Kids can help plant seeds, water the garden, and watch as the plants grow. gardening is also a great way to teach kids about healthy eating. When they see firsthand how delicious fresh fruits and vegetables can be, they'll be more likely to make healthy choices.
And gardening doesn't have to be just about food. Kids can also plant flowers, herbs, and even trees. No matter what type of gardening they do, kids are sure to have fun while they're learning about the world around them.
In conclusion:
If you’re looking for a fun and rewarding family activity, look no further than gardening with kids. With a little time, patience, and preparation, your garden can become a place where everyone in the family enjoys spending time together.
I’d love to chat more about this topic – let me know if you want to learn more! I have a 12-week online course to help families garden together. Check it out.