How to Get Your Kids to help You in the Garden

by Gillian Markson | More from this Blogger

16 Jun 2006 04:13 PM

One thing is for certain all around the world: children love to play outside in the dirt. If you are a gardener and would like to have your children help you, be assured that it should not be very difficult to get them motivated. Here are some tips to help you play games with your children in the garden.

1. Sow Wild Flowers One of the best and most rewarding things for young gardeners is to see their plants and flowers grow. Encourage their gardening by allowing them to select their own plants and flowers from seeds at the store. Show them how to plant them and give them a section of the garden all to themselves to play with.

Every time you do your gardening, invite your children along to help with their gardens. Show them how to plant the seeds deep into the earth and then to cover them up. Explain what fertilizer does and how they should use it. Regularly water the plants with them and look for books on photosynthesis from the local library. Finally, as the plants grow, take pictures of your children next to them so that they can measure their growth and be proud.

If your child has minimal patience, but wants to create a blooming landscape, offer them a package of wild flower seeds. They can toss the seeds around the yard. Wild flower seeds are known to grow very easily in just about any space. After they are sown, your children should see the first blooms in just a few weeks.

2. Let the Races Begin Children love to compete in games just as much as they love the thrill of playing outdoors. Invite your children to race one another in a seed planting competition. Have them start on the same end of your garden on opposite sides of the bed.

First, they have to race to the end to dig holes for the seeds. Inspect their holes as they go and correct them is any are too deep or not deep enough.

Next, have them race to drop seeds in each of the holes. Once all of the seeds are in the holes, then have them race to cover the holes with dirt. The winner will get to plant seeds in a special section of the garden that will be his own or her own.

3. Watering games Children love to play in the garden and they love water. Have your children help you water your garden by encouraging them to dress up in their swimsuits and play in the water. They can either play with the hose or they can play in sprinklers. Either way, they are ensured to get very wet on hot summer days, which they will love. You will love not having to worry about the lawn or garden getting watered - it will.

Keep in mind that children have short attention spans. While they are playing or working, you will need to have plenty of new things for them to do. Keeping a solid inventory of games will help them stay occupied.

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