Spring is in the air! Perfect time to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and plant some vegetables or flowers with your kids! My children love to garden and it all started with a project we did last spring. It started first with some much needed upgrading to our backyard. The backyard was a square plot of grass with a few trees on one side and nothing else except a view of our neighbor’s adjoining backyard. Our goal was to transform this lopsided and boring square into a tropical garden with a natural wall of trees and bushes on each side.
Since this project would require a lot of digging and dirt, my husband and I decided it would be fun for the kids to get involved. They could play in the dirt, learn about gardening, and help us out as we tackled the big project. With a little bit of help from Google, I was able to research which plants would be easiest to grow and plant in our yard. After our research was done, we took a trip to the nursery and picked out all of the greenery. The kids each picked their own flowers and a vegetable to plant. And when we got home, the fun began. Piles of dirt and weekends later, our new backyard was finished!
And this spring, the fun continues. As soon as the weather was warm enough, we planted more flowers and vegetables. This year, we went with sunflowers, tomatoes, radishes, and green bell peppers. Like last year, the kids have done such a great job taking care of their plants and vegetables. They have been watering them without any reminders from me, and they check on them often to see how they have grown. My five-year old has especially enjoyed watching his sunflower grow. And just last weekend, two of them bloomed.
Gardening has given us a chance to learn a little science along the way. We talked about what plants need in order to grow, we learned about nutrients in soil, and the germination process. As the seeds sprouted, we talked about what would happen next and how long it would take for the plants to bloom.
Gardening has also given the kids a chance to work on something they can call their own. The more their plants grow, the prouder they get. And as our vegetables come in, they are super excited to get them on the dinner table. Imagine that!
Even though the planting phase of our project has been completed, the children continue to have fun with process. It’s been great to see the kids involved in making the backyard so pretty.
Have you tried gardening with your kids yet? If so, what is your favorite plant to grow?
For some helpful tips on gardening with your children, check out some of these great parent resources. Enjoy!
Gardening with Kids: Top Tips for Novice Gardeners
Family Gardening by KidsGardening.org
