CHILDREN ARE OFTEN MORE WILLING TO TRY VEGETABLES THEY’VE GROWN THEMSELVES.
planting seeds, with some of my favorite easy-to-grow flowers from seeds including sunflowers, nasturtiums, cosmos, zinnias and coreopsis, but planting established plants like leaf lettuce or cherry tomatoes yields faster results. Gear gardening toward any age With the goal being to present gardening as a fun, rewarding activity, it’s never too early, or too late! Children as young as 2 or 3 enjoy digging, scattering seeds or placing plants in the holes and watering. Young elementary- age kids can learn about the parts of the plant and their growth requirements. Older children may want to research plant types and design a flower bed. All ages benefit from learning about their environment and Begin with a short-term activity like a small flower bed or large pot you’d like to spruce up with seasonal flowers. Invite your child to join you in a planting project. Research which plants will work in your pot or garden of choice, depending on whether it receives mostly sun or mostly shade, and let your children help you choose. Pansies are inexpensive early-spring show stoppers for sunny Oklahoma gardens or pots. Zinnias are heat and drought tolerant, will bloom all summer and make excellent cut flowers for bouquets to bring indoors. Some of my other Oklahoma favorites include snapdragons and marigolds. the cycle of life. Get started!
The benefits to children Aside from the one-on-one attention a child enjoys with mom or dad, an outdoor gardening experience offers fresh air, sunshine and physical activity. Gardening tasks such as digging, raking, sowing seeds and watering involve large and fine motor skills. Opportunities for sensory stimulation include the obvious—the odors of soil and mulch, the pungent scent of herbs like basil and rosemary and the sweet fragrance of lavender or pansies. The velvety lamb’s ear, which I call a “friendly” plant, offers interesting textures, while holly bushes have prickly edges. Delighted squeals will alert you to the earthworms and other garden critters children discover. I have been surprised by how easily even young children remember the names of plants, with lamb’s ear being one even my littlest grandson can point out when we are out and about. Planting and harvesting vegetables introduces children to cause and effect and provides a sense of importance and accomplishment. Set yourself up for success When it comes to gardening with children, choose plants with short germination cycles, less likely to test the patience of little ones who have a hard time waiting to see results. I recommend flowers like sunflowers and nasturtiums and reliable vegetables like leaf lettuce, radishes, beans and peas. Children learn the plant life cycle best by
METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / APRIL 2020 13
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator