One of my favorite pastime activities is spending time in the garden with our little girl, Ava. It makes my heart warm seeing the pure joy she experiences when playing in the garden.

The innocence, the curiosity, the adventure, the immense excitement when discovering an earthworm. It is always a great reminder to me that THIS is how we as adults should live our lives!

We moved to the countryside to live a simpler life, do things intentionally and spend more time outside. We want to pass these sentiments on to Ava and hope to achieve this by letting her spend as much time outside with us.

And gardening with me is the perfect activity to do just that! Granted, sometimes it can be frustrating, and everything takes waaay longer. Patience is key! But it is so worth it!

GARDENING WITH KIDS BENEFITS

Gardening is an excellent way for toddlers and young children to learn new skills.

They can develop self-confidence from achieving success and seeing the results of their hard work.

It teaches them patience when having to wait to see results.

They can get a sense of responsibility and understanding, knowing that there are consequences to one's actions. I.e., when you don't water the plants, they will die.

Their creativity gets stirred, allowing them to explore and discover new things, colors, scents, and exciting ways to grow food. They also learn how to ward off boredom and keep themselves busy doing something meaningful.

Gardening is also a fantastic way to get the kids physically active and improve both their physical and mental health.

BENEFITS CONTINUED

Mentally it can help to practice acceptance and overcome perfectionism. The garden does not always grow and work out as we have hoped for!

It creates a growth mindset, constantly learning and seeing opportunity rather than failure.

Being active in the garden is also a fantastic way to boost the mood and lower anxiety and stress. And a little bit of fresh air and sunlight has never been a bad thing!

Gardening can help with sensory development. Let your toddler explore various plants' different colors and textures and dig in the soil and sand.

Kids will also adopt better eating habits. When your child gets more exposed to lovely, wholesome, tasty fruit and veggies (which they have helped grow), they are more inclined to continue with these healthy food choices.

MY TIPS FOR GARDENING WITH KIDS

First of all, they will make a mess, probably be not very helpful, and everything will take extra long, so be prepared to be ok with this. This is where we can practice patience ourselves!

Have a little bit of a pep talk. Explain what you will be doing, why you need their help, and how much you appreciate it. They will get their hands dirty, and that's ok.

Include them in the process and ask questions. Take time to explain the different fruits and veggies; when things are ripe or not; why you should wait to pick when it is not ready; how the ecosystem works; etc.

Allocate a specific area in the garden just for them. This will also help with the practical side of things as you can have all their kid-friendly tools nearby. These can include mini garden tools, harvesting baskets, and a watering can. Having their own stuff and piece of the garden will make them more committed and feel valued.

Have special tools just for them! A small watering can and shovel or trowel. Store them in the same place each time so your little one knows where they are and can go grab them! I also have a special basket that is just for Ava to gather the harvest in. She loves carrying it and using it for veggies she picked herself!

Stay safe! Keep sprays, fertilizers, and pesticides out of reach and try to garden organically as far as possible. Work in a shaded area or you could also go out to play in the garden early morning or early in the evening. Never leave children unattended near buckets or sources of water.

Remember always to make it a fun learning experience rather than a task they dread doing. It's important to emphasize that it's ok if something didn't grow as well or perhaps died. This is all part of the process and a continuous effort, even for us adults!

Be supportive and encouraging when the growth is not as successful as hoped for. And what the eyes don’t see, the heart can’t feel. So mama, maybe help things along a bit ;-)

FUN GARDENING ACTIVITIES AND IDEAS

Activities will depend on your child's age and capabilities. So always judge the situation and what their limits are. It needs to be fun and easy! This is the best way for them to learn and stay interested.

Activities and tasks can include:

Watering of plants

Picking of flowers and veggies

Digging to find earthworms, explaining their importance (Ava loves doing this!)

Planting and sowing of plants and seeds

Helping with some light weeding

Preparing and mixing the soil

Replanting and repotting

Making crafts with seeds, plants, and flowers

Making a delicious recipe with harvested produce - GET RECIPES HERE

Growing seedlings in eggshells - HERE’S HOW

Create a hideout where you can watch the bees, birds, and butterflies

Paint wooden garden name placers

Make DIY flower crowns or wreaths - HERE’S HOW

The most important is to always have fun and not to push too hard. I’ll show and guide Ava by example, and let her continue, trying not to interfere too much. Everything is a new learning experience and adventure and I believe she should explore it to the fullest.

I hope you and your little ones can enjoy it just as much as we do!

Love, Annette

P.S. Friend, I am not a child phycologist or educator. I am only sharing my personal experience on how gardening has benefited and brought joy to Ava.

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