Spring has finally sprung and getting your kids to help in the garden can be a rewarding experience for both parents and children. Now’s the time to get them out there digging and planting – most children just love the idea of being able to help mum and dad – even if they just lend a hand with watering the plants.
But how do you know where to begin? We asked the green-fingered experts at www.danthegardener.co.uk to give us some tips on how to get your kids growing this year…
A few tips from Dan The Gardener
1. Sow seeds that grow quickly like cress and radishes.
2. Try planting bright flowers that attract insects to help your children learn about the magical pollinating powers of honey bees and their friends.
3. Growing fruits and vegetables gives children a sense of reward when they pull up some potatoes or pick some strawberries.
4. By growing fruits like raspberries and strawberries you in return get easy fruits to pick straight from the plant.
5. Create a wild area where flowers can grow like bluebells and foxgloves alongside tall grasses, these areas are great for wildlife as well as piles of logs and leaves.
6. Encourage good garden practice such as wearing gloves, washing hands and not eating any unknown leaves, mushrooms or berries.
7. Show your children how you can turn vegetable waste into compost.
8. Have fun by utilising recyclable materials like old boots, tyres, old baths/toilets and tubs to use as planters for flowers and other plants.
9. Encourage your kids to grow what they want to, giant sunflowers are always a hit with huge flowers and edible seeds in return.
10. Play around with the design of a garden, grow herbs and flowers alongside your vegetables to bring some beautiful colours and smells into your life.
11. By bringing your children into the wonderful world of plants you can show them how important good home-grown food is, as well as a balanced and nutritious diet.
12. Show your kids how the garden can offer medicines as well as foods by growing plants like aloe vera and camomile.
Dan The Gardener is a character based Children’s Gardening and Environmental project with the aim of teaching children about the natural world in fun and exciting ways, giving them a sense of responsibility and respect for their surroundings. Visit to discover many more tips for getting kids gardening, buy from the online shop and check out their monthly competition. And for more fun outdoor activities to try with your kids read their list of Childrens Games - 31 Things to do before you are ten.
More to explore…
If you’d like to find out more about how to get gardening with children try these great new Grow Your Own books from Franklin Watts…
Tags: kids gardening
