Build A Garden Of Memories With Your Kids
by Dominic Weidman
http://www.iamgardening.com
Gardening is an activity that your whole family can join in
and enjoy. It's not at all difficult to make allowances and
modifications that will let even the youngest child in your
family feel like they're an active, important part of the
fun.
By bringing your children into the garden, you'll be
starting them on a lifelong love of nature and helping
things grow. Gardening is full of 'teachable moments'. The
slow pace of working the earth invites conversation and
introspection, and offers opportunities for imparting your
beliefs and philosophies and knowledge in a natural, matter-
of-fact way that will do far more than all the lectures in
the world.
As winter draws to a close, rummage around in your garden
closet - you know, the one where you keep your tools and
your supplies. Bring out the seeds and beans you saved at
the end of last year, the ones that you wrapped in brown
paper bags and parcel string so they'd be ready for this
year's planting. As you sort and study them, as you prepare
for planting, have the patience to let little fingers
fumble. Take the time to show little eyes how to tell a a
runner bean seed from a string bean seed. Remind them which
ones were the blue flowers and which were the tomatoes. They
will absorb your enthusiasm and love for the process, and a
great deal of knowledge you don't even know you're giving
them.
Long before the ground is ready to turn, bring out the
planting trays. On a sunny afternoon with hints of spring in
the air, open a window to let the breeze in. Set aside one
special tray just for each child, and let them plant
whatever they want in it. Never mind that the peach pit will
never sprout. Pretend you don't know the apple seeds are
destined to be trampled. Give matter-of-fact advice about
burying the seed too deep, and fill a glass with just the
right amount of water to feed without drowning.
Be ready with a selection of easy-to-grow seeds for them,
but don't be surprised if the seeds from last night's
watermelon or the peach pit left over from lunch hold more
interest. Let them plant whatever they want, even as you
encourage a little more practicality with seeds that
germinate quickly, like marigolds, peppers and beans.
Give them a patch of their own. Kids love having their own
space, and gardening is no exception. You'll be surprised
how seriously they take the responsibility of tending their
own little plot.
One afternoon just after the seeds sprout, pull out the
aluminum pie tins and string and a threaded needle. Let them
cut and shape, poke holes and string the diamonds and
circles and squares on garden twine. When they're done, let
them help you string it while you explain how the sparkly
fluttering brightness discourages the birds from eating
their seedlings.
Even if you give each kid their own garden patch, make them
a part of yours, too. One great way of letting them feel
special is to give them a handful of seeds and let them
trail you along a garden row. You poke the hole, they drop
in the seed, and you cover it over. No matter who does the
weeding and watering all summer long, they'll proudly
declare that you're eating MY beans for dinner tonight.
Even the littlest fingers can get involved. Toddlers as
young as 2 can drop big seeds into holes that you dig for
them. Just give them a handful and keep a close watch to be
sure that they don't swallow and choke. Beans are the best
choice, but any seed big enough for littler fingers works.
There's more to gardening with kids than the plants that you
grow together. It's a way of building memories of fun and
sharing that will last a lifetime.
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