Your Child’s Little Green Thumb: All about Children and Gardening
Your Child’s Little Green Thumb:
All about Children and Gardening
Children are naturally curious beings—always pondering about how things work and always asking questions why things are the way they are. We find them in constant yearning to learn about the world and to experiment and try out things they have never done before. One of the aspects of the world that children are constantly curious about is about life and living things. We would usually find them exploring tiny insects or staring at animals with awe or wondering how tiny flower seeds bloom and grow into beautiful flowers. Their innate amazement over living things, particularly on plants would make any kid jump at the opportunity of having his or her own garden. Children would surely love to take care of these little wonderful green creatures that they are fascinated with. Gardening which used to be an activity that only adults engage in is now being practised by many children. As a parent, it is important to know that with proper guidance, gardening can be one of the most educational activities that your child can partake in. It is one way of learning about plants and their natural living processes as well as a great way to teach your kid about how to be responsible for another life and promote environmental awareness in him or her. Children’s gardening activities need not be a complicated task. There are many easy to grow flower seeds that your kid can start with. Keep in mind that starting with easy to grow flowers and plants is imperative as this will provide both enjoyment and success which are essential to maintain his or her interest in gardening. Plants that are relatively easy to grow and maintain, have short growing seasons, are exciting and fun to harvest, and look attractive and appealing to your kid’s eyes are ideal for your little gardener. Sunflowers are one of the must-haves for your child’s first garden. In one week, your kid will delight on the little sprouts of sunflower and in a month, the sunflowers at 2 feet tall would surely astound him or her. Other flowers such as coneflower, calendula, morning glory, sweet alyssum, Black Eyed Susan, Mexican Hat, Red Corn Poppy, Chinese Forget Me Not, Baby’s Breath and Love in a Mist will fill your kid’s little garden with colorful blooms and wonderful fragrances without stressing your little one. As for crops, your kid can try planting lettuce. Aside from being a quick and reliable crop that give fast results, this is also good to plant because it encourages your kid to be interested in eating vegetables. When you help your kid plant lettuce, be sure to keep the soil moist especially during the first two seeks. It grows within 40-50 days. As your kid’s plants bloom and grow, his or her interest and self-esteem in gardening grow as well. Yielding positive results from the gardening adventure would definitely make your child look forward for more. After you’ve gotten to know which plants are ideal for kids, it’s a good idea to let your child choose his or her own seeds to plant. A to Z flower seeds give him a wide variety of choices. Just be sure to explain each type of seed and the kind of maintenance and caring that each particular plant entails so he or she can make an informed choice. To further encourage the little gardener in your child, it’s recommended that you equip him or her with real gardening tools. But make sure that you opt for those are specifically designed for children since most garden tools are unsafe and inappropriate for children. Before you purchase your kid’s tools, check on the product to see if it is light enough to be handled by your kid and that it does not have any sharp edges to harm your little one. Another way to instil positive attitude towards gardening is to give your kid his or her own garden bed. Let your child know that he or she is the owner and the one responsible for this garden plot but you are there to help in every step of the way. Be sure to position the plot where the soil and light are best. It would also help if your kid is properly educated about gardening. Don’t give your kid boring technical lectures about plants that will just send them dozing off to sleep. Instead, make learning fun by playing games and doing activities. For example, teach your kid about perennial flower seeds through a guessing game. Furthermore, it is highly recommended that your kid starts from seeds rather than seedlings. Even though it’s tempting to take that convenient shortcut, your child needs to learn about the growing process by seeing how plants begin from seeds. It is also a fun idea to take photos of your kid’s garden plots as it gradually grows into full-bloom. This will keep your child excited about the progress of his or her work. Don’t forget to proudly show off your kid’s fully grown garden plot to your and your child’s friends. Knowing how people appreciate their work would further motivate them to work even harder. Lastly, include your kid in every possible activity that has to do with gardening. Instead of just allowing him or her to water the plants while you do everything else, let your little one participate in each gardening activity from start to finish. When you make a list of tools to buy, show it to your kid. When you go shopping for wildflower seeds, take your kid with you. From toiling the soil to harvesting, allow your child to be part of it all. After all, you had made your kid owner of his or her own garden plot. Gardening can truly be a gratifying experience for you and your kid. It’s not only a great way to educate your child about this wondrous life form but also an excellent opportunity to spend quality time and bond with your little one. So, pick up the tools and let those little green thumbs start working.
Tags: easy to grow flower seeds | easy to grow flower seeds | perennial flower seeds | perennial flower seeds | A to Z flower seeds | A to Z flower seeds | annual flower seeds | annual flower seeds | wildflower seeds | wildflower seeds | flower seeds | flower seeds