Many parents today are concerned about the bombardment our children undergo each day. With video games, television, texting, peer pressure, fashion, body image issues, social problems, school and more they all seem to gang up on our kids and provide far too many opportunities for them to disconnect from what is real and valuable in this world.
When all seems lost, or when you are at your wit’s end, you can try gardening with your children, it’s amazing the positive effect it has on us all. Even if you don’t have a large garden or space for one, you can still make an opportunity for you and the children to have an enjoyable time bonding over the soil, seeds, getting your hands dirty and getting back to nature.
There are many types of gardening. You’ve got fanatic gardeners with several hundred square feet of garden space, a three-tiered compost system, and a complicated system of plant rotation. But you’ve also got folks who have a pleasant little indoor pot on a windowsill, where they grow just a few herbs. You can do any of this or anything in between.
One nice and easy option for those who either don’t have a lot of time/energy or space for major gardening endeavours is container gardening. This involves finding a container you can put some soil in, a place outside (or inside, depending on how big your container is) where the sun shines and getting some soil and seeds. You just plant your seeds, keep them watered, and you will have a nice, low-maintenance garden.
You could also have an indoor garden. Find a nice sunny place with a windowsill or a pretty table, and put your small container there. Plant, water, and watch things grow.
You might also try using just a small space outside. You really don’t need to go all out. In fact, it’s usually better to start small so that you don’t get in over your head. Hanging baskets are a great place to start. Add flowers or even strawberries, and remember to water well. If you are short of space, these can be hung on a fence.
If you’ve decided to involve your kids in your gardening activities, be sure to involve them from the very start. Plan on giving them some real voting power and responsibility.
Step one is to talk to your kids about your desire to garden. Be as heartfelt as you can about why you want to garden. Then, ask your kids what type of plants they would like to grow and discuss where you will grow them.
Step two is to make a plan. This plan should include a discussion of the exact plants you will grow and the maintenance needs of your future garden. It can be helpful for each person to have an individual responsibility that they need to fulfill every day or two. These can include weeding, watering, fertilising, and harvesting. Your kids will need to be involved in deciding what they will do for your future garden.
Step three is to head to your local nursery or DIY store. Be sure to take your children along with you. Search for seeds together; don’t forget the potting soil. If you will be using containers, let everyone contribute to the decision as to which containers you will take home. This is also a good time for kids to learn about experts, so it is a good idea to find an expert and pick their brain about the gardening you will do. In fact, asking your kids to prepare a few questions beforehand is a nice strategy for keeping the kids engaged.
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