Childhood is so fleeting, and no one knows that better than parents. Your child is young and impressionable for such a short period of time. Finding ways to spend time, not just doing what needs to be done, but enjoyable activities that will enrich their young lives well into adulthood as well, can be a challenge.

Whether you consider yourself an avid gardener, or if you have ever thought to try your hand at cultivating the soil, starting a small garden that is primarily your child’s can be a wonderful way to spend quality time together and teach your child a lifelong respect and passion for all things living and growing. Digging side by side in the soil will lead your child’s thoughts and imagination in many directions. You will have a chance to answer questions and share exploration and discovery together in a way that isn’t possible with other activities.

Never Talk about Gardening as Work

If you enjoy the hours spent tending your garden, you want your child to feel the same way. Don’t let them think of taking care of the garden as work. You want them to feel pleasure and think of gardening as a form of recreation and not a chore. Depending upon your child’s age, you can also present gardening as learning about science, as a way to express their creativity and a way to play. Your child will love discovering treasures beneath the dirt and sharing their findings with you.

Start Off Slowly

“The younger the child, the shorter the attention span” is the first thing you need to realize when you are ready to explore the world of flora and fauna with your child. Find age appropriate tasks for them to accomplish with some measure of success. This will make them eager to learn more and take on more responsibility as they grow older. If your child wants to take a break and follow a bug along his way, let them and encourage them to report their findings to you. Your child’s self esteem will soar as they help you in the garden. If your child knows how much you love taking care of your tender shoots, they will be more than happy to join you in your happy pursuits.

Giving them their own patch of soil to work in is a wonderful way to deepen your bond. You can start off with simple plantings that are hardy and can take a bit of abuse and neglect so they will flourish under your child’s care and give them a true sense of accomplishment.

Get the health benefits of fresh fruits and veggies with phytonutrients.