How to Start a Spring Vegetable Garden with Kids
Tips to Teach Children to Grow their Own Food
Feb 21, 2009
Teaching children to grow their own food can give them a hands on lesson about nature, introduce them to simple science concepts, give them an outlet to relieve stress, and teach them how to be self-sufficient. Gardening with children also provides a wonderful way for the entire family to spend some quality time together.
When children grow their own food, they are more likely to eat the vegetables they pick out of their garden. So if the youngsters in your home are finicky eaters, starting a garden with them is an ideal way to get them excited about their leafy greens.
Choose a Sunny Spot for Kids’ Spring Vegetable Garden
Most vegetable plants require sunlight to grow. So choose a spot in the yard that gets at least eight hours of direct sunlight each day. If this is your first time gardening with kids, start out with a small area to avoid being overwhelmed by the experience. Once everyone gets the hang of gardening, the area can be easily expanded.
Select Vegetable Plants that Grow During the Spring Months
During the spring months kids can plant vegetables such as cabbage, celery, lettuce, parsley, peas, radishes, scallions, spinach, chives, cucumbers, okra, squash, and tomatoes. As the spring makes way for summer, children can add more vegetable selections to their garden.
Let Children Garden with Child-Sized Gardening tools
Imagine the frustration of trying to dig in the dirt with a shovel that bends or breaks every time it hits the ground. Save the plastic tools for the sandbox; children need real tools to get the job done right. Obviously kids won’t be able to manage adult-sized gardening tools, but with proper parental supervision, they can work with smaller ones.
Child-sized gardening tools can be purchased from large chain home improvement retailers such as Lowes or Home Depot. There are also online retailers such as Back to Basics Toys that sell gardening tools that are designed for young children.
Allow Kids to Do Some of the Gardening Work
In order for children to gain benefits and feel a sense of ownership to their spring vegetable garden, they need to actively participate in everything from planting seeds to daily maintenance. Of course, if children are really young, most of the back-work will fall on the adults, but they should still be allowed to do as much as the can on their own.
Armed with the right tools and information, starting a spring garden with kids can be a fun way to help them relieve stress, teach them about science and nature, and provide a valuable bonding opportunity for the entire family.
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