Cultivating kids’ Interest in Gardening
Looking for a way to get your kids to eat better, get outside more, develop responsibility and do more with the family? Look no further than that empty, sunny spot in the backyard. Putting a family garden in that spot could help achieve those parenting goals and more. It’s true: A number of studies have shown that kids will be more inclined to eat fresh produce if they helped grow it, and planting, managing and harvesting a garden nurtures character development.
“Spending time in the garden offers opportunities to develop all kinds of skills,” says Empowered Parents creator Tanja McIlroy. “The benefits of gardening in early childhood are physical, emotional, spatial, mathematical, sensory awareness, character development, creative ideas, and just a love and appreciation of nature.” Of course the kids have to be involved in the garden to get these benefits … and keeping them engaged can be challenge. Following are a few tips to help make it work.
Let them help with planning. When it’s time to plan the garden, get the kids involved. Let them learn about and help choose what you’ll grow. Work with them to plot out the garden.
Give them their own tools. Nothing will make a youngster more excited about an activity than getting their own tools. Choose age-appropriate garden tools made for little hands and they’ll be happy to literally dig in.
Give them their own space. Set aside a part of the garden for the kids to call their own. Let them plant what they like and learn about how it grows.
Make it a family affair. Include everyone in the fun and the work of putting a garden together. Make sure jobs are shared as much as possible, and no one person feels like it’s a burden or like they’ve been left out.
Make them a part of the whole process. Make sure to include the kids in every step of the process, from the strenuous work of preparing the plot through the planting, watering, weeding and harvesting.
Cook with what the family grows. Make sure to use produce from the garden in family meals, always noting when something from the garden has made it to the family table.
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Tags: Gardening