There has never been a better time to get out in the garden with your children and teach them about the natural world around them. The sunshine and fresh air will provide a welcome break from their indoor activities and in addition, presents a wealth of opportunities for keeping them entertained! Read on for our ideas on how to inspire the next generation of gardeners this spring.
Speedy Seeds
Perhaps the most exciting part of gardening is the process of sowing seeds from scratch and watching them grow. It can, however, be quite a long process. To keep the wait minimal, choose fast-sprouting seeds such as sunflowers or cress. That way, the children can see the results of their efforts quickly and be more likely to continue growing in the future.
Creating Compost
Now is a fantastic time to create a compost heap and get your children involved in the process. Explain to them how compost helps to improve the quality of soil by providing nutrients and moisture, as well as suppressing weeds to help grow healthy plants. Encourage them to collect and add the following items to the compost heap and when the time comes, help to spread it into flowerbeds.
Wipe Out Weeds
Older children may be willing (with some gentle encouragement!) to help you rid the garden of unwanted weeds, particularly if they understand why they can be so damaging to the plants around them. Kit them out in a pair of gardening gloves with extra grip and show them how to pull the weeds out of the ground, taking care to remove the root. For larger weeds, a trowel or weeding fork may be needed. Be sure to point out any plants may be confused with weeds before you start!
Art For All Seasons
For a fun, ongoing project, ask your children to draw the garden at the beginning of spring – making sure to use lots of colours and pay attention to the various flora and fauna they can see. Revisit the project in 3 months’ time and ask them to draw the summer garden, and so on through the seasons. At the end of the year, they will have a series of artwork that can be hung up and appreciated all year round.
Additional activities around the garden include:
Try to mix the activities up and keep them fun and engaging – gardening should be both rewarding and enjoyable.
Our children’s gardening gloves provide essential grip and protection for all tasks around the garden. Browse the range here.