After our long winters, spring and summer are truly something special to experience and savor. And there is no better way to lure kids outside in the spring than through gardening. Whether you live in the country or the city, you can help your child foster a love of nature by growing gardens alongside them. They can learn about botany, take on new responsibilities, and have fun making nutritious meals with their harvests.
And if you think gardening is just about digging in the dirt, think again. Gardening is a natural antidote to anxiety and depression. It gives your kids meaning and purpose. It fosters independence and agency. It connects them to the natural world. Perhaps most importantly, it cultivates resilience by allowing kids to fail safely, often through no fault of their own.
I like to start with small pots or containers for children to decorate. Choose seeds that will grow easily, and when looking at the package, check the time when you can first sow your seeds outside. Sometimes, you can do your seed starts in a plastic bag, and once the weather gets nice, you carefully transplant the growing seeds into a small pot.
Gardening is such a fun hands-on experience for children two and up. Let them use their creativity when exploring colors to paint their pots. Stencils are a fun way to put your child’s name or the name of the flower they are growing on the pot. You can also get sticks, write the name of the flower or vegetable, and decorate them.
Then, start a garden journal with your child. Mark the date it was planted and take pictures of the growth once a week. The children will love watching the seeds grow. Many seeds do well in the Oregon climate. I suggest getting a single packet, or you can buy a bag of seeds for less than $10.00 at most gardening centers. If you buy the bag, it will be fun to see what grows in each pot, as there are several different seed flowers in each bag.
May is an enjoyable time to start if no frost exists outside. You can start lettuce in April if it has enough sun and water. May is the best time for most flowers and veggies.
Once the flowers and vegetables start to flourish, teach your child the importance of checking them once a day and watering them so they grow taller. All plants have unique needs, just like people! If you have not gardened much, take advantage of fun classes at local nurseries like Al’s Gardens in Sherwood and Lake Oswego and Farmington Gardens in Aloha. They offer classes for children and adults.
Enjoy the beautiful spring weather and have fun with your child planting your garden this year! And the best part is when they go to pick flowers for you and bring them to you as a gift. Gardening really does warm your heart in many ways.
