While familiarising the ‘New Norm’ amidst the RMCO, you can actually engage your kids with gardening as an extracurricular activity.
Gardening is just another form of fun that you can do together as a family.
In a way, you are nurturing good values in your kids.
Educating your kids with the importance of mother nature is a promising sign for our younger generations.
Check out these tips that would help you enjoy gardening with your children.
1. Start Young
You don’t need a large yard to teach your child about gardening.
In fact, small and simple is better because children are more likely to maintain interest and less likely to become overwhelmed.
You can teach them about gardening basics, such as healthy soil, sunlight, and water.
As your child gains experience and interest, you can graduate to a small vegetable or flower garden.
2. Give Them Their Own Space
Do not share the ground plots or containers, instead give your child his or her own individual plot or pot.
It can totally be a small pot as long as it belongs to him alone.
Keep it small and put his plots right in the middle with the rest of the family.
3. Use the Right Tools
Every gardener needs a set of high-quality tools and gardening gloves, and children are no exception.
Give your budding green thumb a child-size shovel and hoe, along with a durable pair of gloves.
4. Teach Them Science and Math while Gardening
Children learn better when they understand the context of their activity.
They will learn that gardening can be fun, but far more than idle play; they can run an experiment for their science
project or practice numbers and colours in the garden.
5. Help a Little
Depending on the age of the child, you may need to help out a little ‘behind the scenes’.
Not every garden task is pleasant, and the child may not be ready at all times for all chores.
They don’t have to know about every little help you offer: the child’s ‘ownership’ of the plot is the main thing.
6. Visit often and Record It
Help your child to record notes in a journal, draw pictures or take photos to reinforce what they have learned and enjoyed.
You don’t want kids to miss the flowers opening or butterflies sipping nectar.
7. Proudly Exhibit Their Work
When giving ‘garden tours’ to friends, be sure to point out your children’s beds.
Take a photo of their harvest and send it to the grandparents.
The attention given to their work is the best motivator for children to stay involved with a project.
So, are you ready to start gardening with your children? Introducing your children to gardening will surely help them to increase their awareness of where food comes from and the importance of the environment in their daily life.
Good luck, mummies!
