The ManicaPost
When parents and their kids work together to plant and care for a garden, they can all enjoy some perks.
Physical activity
Gardening and yard work are moderate-intensity exercises, which we all need every day (for at least 30 minutes).
While tending your family garden does not require the vigorous activity of, say, running or playing singles tennis, it is still beneficial to your body.
Once you start gardening, it is common to continue for more than the recommended 30 minutes.
And gardening incorporates fine-motor skill strengthening and stretching.
Lower stress, better mood
Gardening is an excellent stress reliever for a combination of fascinating reasons: exposure to fresh air and sunlight, relaxing and repetitive tasks, and even contact with harmless bacteria in the soil that helps release serotonin in the brain.
Outdoor time
Children are prone to spending a lot of time indoors, which can negatively affect their behaviour and health.
A family garden gets them outside enjoying and experiencing the natural world.
Better sleep
All of the above (physical activity, reduced stress, being outside) can contribute to more and better sleep for everyone.
And better sleep, in turn, can improve kids’ behaviour and performance at school.
Healthier eating
Kids who grow vegetables eat vegetables—or at least, they are more willing to taste unfamiliar veggies, which is the first step to incorporating those new flavours into their diet.
Adults who garden are also more likely to eat more fruits and vegetables than non-gardeners.
Family time
Planning, sowing, and tending a family garden offers physical activity with a purpose shared by everyone.
Gardening helps teach kids responsibility and gives them a sense of accomplishment.
It gives all of you a project to work on—and enjoy—together, which reinforces your family bond.
Projects for your family garden
Consult with an expert neighbour, a family member, a local nursery, or a cooperative extension service to find out what plants will grow best where you live.
You might consider investing in a rain barrel and starting a compost pile to make your garden more earth-friendly, too.
If you have limited outdoor space, planting in containers is a good way to try out gardening.
Even if you do have space, starting with containers can be a good introduction to gardening for little ones.
Vegetables Start them from seed, or purchase seedlings to get a jump-start.
If your kids have a favourite vegetable it is definitely worth letting them try to grow their own.
You can find favourites like carrots, string beans, bell peppers, and potatoes in kid-appealing purple hues.
Tomatoes, too, come in dozens of colours, shapes, and sizes.
Quick-growing plants, such as radishes, peas, cucumbers, and many herbs, are satisfying for kids to grow.
And if your children are very small, remember that it is easier for them to plant veggies with larger seeds, like peas, corn, and beans.
Flowers
There are lots of options for involving kids in flower gardening.
Let them pick out some seeds based on the pretty pictures on the packets.
Or opt for drama with easy-to-grow sunflowers, which can reach as high as eight feet tall. Simple daisies produce lots of blooms for kids to enjoy, display, and craft with.
Other blooms that are easy to grow (and thus less likely to lead to disappointment) are marigolds, snapdragons, and geraniums.
You might also decide to plant with a goal in mind, such as creating a butterfly garden full of plants that attract and nourish butterflies.
You will get the satisfaction of growing beautiful things while welcoming beautiful creatures.
Fruits
Fruit trees can be difficult to care for and may take several years to yield a harvest.
But strawberries are a snap to grow from seeds or seedlings, and blackberries or raspberries can also be an option (plus they are perennial and will come back year after year).
If you live in a very warm climate or keep them indoors, you can grow your own citrus fruits too.
Family garden chores for kids
Kids can do a lot of the work for your family garden, either independently or alongside an adult.
While you do not want them to burn out on tedious tasks like weeding, taking responsibility is part of what makes a family garden meaningful.
Set a goal, such as clearing one small, designated area or working for 15 minutes, then do something else.
Depending on their ages, kids can:
• Collect sticks and other debris
• Bring compostables to the compost pile
• Dig holes for seeds or plants
• Harvest fruits or vegetables from the garden
• Mow the lawn (age 10 and up)
• Rake leaves
• Snip flowers for a bouquet (again, good instructions will be important!)
• Spread bark or mulch
• Sprinkle plant food
• Water plants with a watering can or hose
• Weed (with good instructions on what to pluck and what to keep)Whatever you choose to do, make sure to educate your child along the way, too.
You will be growing their brain right along with your family crops. – Verywellfamily.
