Gardening with Kids: The Benefits of Growing Together

Through gardening, kids can learn about science, math, nutrition, sustainability, and more!

Gardening can be a great way to get kids excited about nature and the outdoors. From planting seeds to harvesting vegetables, gardening provides children with an opportunity to learn about the natural world in a fun, hands-on way. Gardening isn’t just educational; it can also be beneficial for both physical and mental health, help develop strength, coordination, and problem-solving skills. Gardening is also an excellent opportunity for children to express creativity through hands-on activities and explore their imagination.

Physical Benefits of Gardening with Kids

Gardening is an excellent form of exercise for both adults and children alike. Working in the garden helps strengthen muscles as well as improve coordination, balance, and flexibility. It’s also a great way to get some fresh air and sunshine, which is especially important for kids who spend most of their time indoors or glued to screens.

Mental Benefits of Gardening with Kids

Gardening can provide a much-needed break from technology and give children a chance to unplug from the digital world they live in. It also allows them to connect with nature in ways that are often overlooked in our increasingly digital lives. The act of caring for plants – watering, weeding, pruning – can help foster feelings of responsibility and accomplishment in young gardeners, while spending time outdoors can be calming and therapeutic.

In addition to these benefits, research shows that gardening can help improve moods by increasing levels of serotonin (the “happy hormone”) in the brain. Studies have also linked gardening activities with improved concentration skills and higher academic performance in school-aged children.

Plants for kids

Children love getting their hands dirty and there is no better way to get them involved in gardening than to let them grow their own plants. There are a few things to bear in mind when choosing plants for a child’s garden. Firstly, they should be easy to grow from seed. Annuals such as zinnias, marigolds, alyssum, scabiosa and portulaca are all perfect for little fingers. Secondly, they should be quick to grow so that children can see the results of their efforts in a short space of time. Finally, they should be bright and colorful so that the garden is an enjoyable place to be.

Looking for something simple and easy to grow? Some easy vegetables for a child to grow from seed include carrots, beets, leaf lettuce, beans, radishes, and spinach.

Any garden for children should be scaled down to their size. They like intricate patterns and odd plants. Paths should be narrow, and all plants relatively small. Choose varieties that will stand the maximum amount of abuse. Don’t forget to leave plenty of play space.

Once you have chosen the right plants, all that remains is to help your child sow the seeds, water them regularly and watch them grow!

Tips for getting started

Gardening can be a fun and rewarding experience for both you and your child. By teaching your child about gardening, they will learn about nature, develop patience and a good work ethic, and most importantly have a bonding experience with you. They will also be proud of their gardening achievements. If you’re looking to get started in gardening, here are some tips on how to do it successfully.

1. Start small: Don’t try to plant everything at once. Give your plants some time to grow and adapt to their new environment before trying anything more ambitious.
2. Choose a spot: Start by finding an area in your yard or on your balcony that will get plenty of sun and is easily accessible for you and the kids.
3. Prepare the soil: Once you have chosen a spot, prepare the soil by taking out any weeds, stones, or sticks and adding compost or other organic matter to make sure it is nutrient-rich. Make sure to till the soil before planting anything.
4. Plan your garden: Decide what vegetables, herbs, fruits, or flowers you would like to grow with your kids. If this is their first time gardening, it might be helpful to choose plants that are easy to care for or ones that grow quickly such as lettuce or radishes.
5. Gather supplies: You will need some basic supplies such as shovels, trowels, small gardening tools for the kids, gloves, water cans/hoses, fertilizer (if needed), and pots/containers if needed.
6. Planting: Have the kids help with planting each seedling into its designated row/spot in the garden bed and help them learn how to care for their plants by watering them daily and checking for signs of pests/diseases regularly.
7. Maintenance: Remind your kids of their responsibilities in caring for their garden throughout the season such as weeding and harvesting when ready!
8. Be patient – It can take a while for most plants to reach maturity; don’t be discouraged if things don’t go according to plan the first few times around!
9. Enjoy the process – Gardening isn’t just about education – it’s also an opportunity for fun and relaxation. Take time out every day to enjoy spending time outdoors with your children, learning about nature together!

Involving Kids In Every Step Of Gardening, From Planting To Harvesting

Kids learn so much by planting, watering, weeding, and harvesting their own food! Here are four ways that involving kids in every step of gardening can help you achieve these goals.

1. Planting gives kids a sense of accomplishment and responsibility. When kids plant their own seeds, they’re taking care of something small but important. This builds confidence and teaches children how to take care of things – skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.

2. Watering teaches kids the importance of taking care of living things. Even if plants don’t grow right away (due to weather conditions or other factors), watering them helps ensure that they stay alive until harvest time. This is a valuable lesson for kids who want to be responsible adults one day – knowing how to take care of others even when things don’t go as planned is key.

3. Weeding hones fine motor skills as well as patience! Weeding can be tedious, but it’s also important for keeping your garden healthy and productive. By teaching kids how to handle difficult tasks with patience and diligence, they’ll be better equipped for future endeavors (like paying attention in school!).

4. Harvesting a delicious way to eat the fruits (and veggies) of their labor is finally here! Not only does this give you delicious food on your table – it also reinforces the lessons learned during planting and watering. Kids love being able to see themselves contributing positively towards their community – what more could you ask for?

Garden Games And Activities For Kids to get them excited

Looking for ways to keep inspire kids in their new garden? Here are some of our favorite games and activities that you can try:

1. Catch the Bugs: Take a plastic pot (with air holes), and have your child try to catch as many bugs as they can. Talk about them and study what they do before letting them go.
2. Plant a Herb Garden: Planting and caring for a herb garden is an easy and rewarding project that kids of any age can enjoy. It’s the perfect way to introduce children to the basics of gardening by providing them with hands-on experience.
3. Create a Butterfly Garden: A butterfly garden is a fun and educational way to teach kids about nature while getting them out into the fresh air. Not only will they love watching the butterflies flutter around their garden, but they’ll also learn important lessons about pollination and plants.
4. Painting with Watercolors: Let your kids experiment with different colors and shades while painting with watercolors outdoors using natural light only. This is a great way to teach about lightness/darkness, hue, saturation, etc.
5. Planting Seeds: Help your kids plant seeds by showing them where to place them on pieces of paper towel or newsprint. Once planted, watch as flowers grow!
6. Make a Fairy Garden: Let their imaginations run wild. Create a fairy village, a fairy tree house amongst their flowers and garden beds.
7. Build a Scarecrow: create a scarecrow with your children! This is an especially great activity for preschoolers as it helps to promote imaginative play, encourages creativity, and teaches cooperation when working in teams or with siblings.
8. Have Fun With Compost: Composting is an excellent way to teach kids about recycling and reusing materials from home or from schools or parks. Kids can help you collect compostable materials such as food scraps, leaves, grass clippings, etc., and then watch as it turns into nutrient-rich soil for use in their gardens.
9. Sensory Gardens: Many gardens contain features like unusual plants or rocks that stimulate different senses. Try building one yourself by gathering materials like lichen samples or leaves from different types of trees. Children will love exploring these unique gardens.
10. Grow Sunflowers: Sunflowers are one of the easiest flowers for kids to grow because they require little care but produce big rewards. Kids will have fun watching their sunflowers grow taller and taller each day, until eventually they’re rewarded with beautiful yellow blooms that attract lots of pollinators like bees and butterflies!
11. Start a Vegetable Garden: Growing vegetables can be one of the most rewarding activities for kids (and parents), as it teaches responsibility while also providing healthy snacks throughout the summer months! Try starting off small with some easy-to-grow veggies like tomatoes, peppers, carrots, cucumbers, etc., so that everyone involved has success.
12. Design an Outdoor Craft Area: Get creative with your outdoor space by creating an area specifically designed for crafting projects using natural materials like twigs, stones, leaves, etc. This is perfect for older children who want to get creative in their own “workshop” without having mom or dad hovering over them every step of the way.
13. Make Bird Feeders: Bird feeders are a great way to bring wildlife into your backyard while teaching your kids about ecology at the same time. All you need are some simple ingredients – like birdseed to get started.

Gardening is one of those activities that just about anyone – kids included – can enjoy! Whether it’s growing some herbs on your windowsill or starting your own vegetable patch outside, there are endless possibilities when it comes to creating gardens for kids. Not only does gardening offer numerous physical benefits, but it also provides mental health benefits like improved moods and better concentration skills. So grab your trowel this weekend and start digging into some family fun.