Getting children interested in gardening

Getting children interested in gardening

Some suggestions to get children involved and interested in creating a garden include:

• Keep it simple.
• Give children their own garden space. (This does not have to be big. You can start with a large container or a few pots.)
• Involve older children in the planning and design of the garden.
• Use lightweight, easy-to-handle, correct-sized tools and garden equipment.
• Encourage children to dig in the dirt. (Younger children love making mud pies)
• Grow interesting plants such as sunflowers, corn, pumpkins, tomatoes and strawberries.
• Use a trellis or teepee to grow beans or sweet peas.
• Plant flowers that attract butterflies, ladybirds and other interesting insects or birds.
• Make a scarecrow.
• Install a water feature, a birdbath or a sundial.
• Set up a worm farm.
• Visit community gardens, children’s farms or botanic gardens for ideas.