So the sun has come out and the weather has warmed up (at least in Houston) and your local plant store is stocked full of colorful flowers and plants to spice up your yard. It is hard for any mom to resist the temptation to beautify their yard and add a little spring flair to their family’s life. Well those same colors are also hard for your little one to resist. They see Mommy digging with a fun-looking tool, playing in the dirt and watering with a little can…how can they get involved in this sandbox-for-adults?!
1. Get your little one some tools that are his own size. Many gardening and home improvement stores as well as Target and Walmart carry gardening gloves, pails, shovels and other tools for kids and toddlers. My 3-year-old just loves wearing his gardening gloves and even sleeps in them occasionally.
2. Make a kid-sized vegetable garden. Seed packets are a great way for kids to understand the growing process. They learn to plant a seed in dirt, water it regularly and make sure it gets a lot of sun. They also learn one of the major tenets of gardening…patience.
3. Pick up a couple of flowers too. Since growing vegetables from seeds can take weeks and even months, maintain your child’s interest by picking up a flower or two that he can plant in a small pot (I have found small pots for less than $1 at Lowe’s so this isn’t a big investment). A flashy flower that is hearty and torture-resistant such as a marigold works well. Your child can learn how to water a plant and observe the cycle of blooming and re-blooming.
4. If you or your child are not ready for the actual planting experience, an easy way to get him involved is to let him use his little pail to help you water your own flowers. He will feel the results of your beautiful garden are due to his valuable help!
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