How to Garden and Take Care of Plants with Your Kids

For April–a season spring of cleaning and flowers blooming–why not learn how to garden and take care of plants with your kids? It never hurts to get out of the house more to spend time in the great outdoors, breathe in the fresh air, and soak up some sunlight. 

Why should we garden with our children?

Taking care of a garden brings numerous benefits to one’s well-being–especially for children. Gardening improves cognitive development, helping the kiddos improve their attention span, learn about responsibility–like at our Lake Elsinore self-sufficiency programs, and strengthen their memory. Physically speaking, they always get to be on their feet in the garden or kitchen, shuffling around with water and fertilizer–wherever your plant may be! Last but not least, gardening is a great activity to reduce stress and provide a therapeutic environment for everyone involved. 

Here are our seven tips on how to garden with your children this April! 

Decide where their little garden will be

Start small with either container gardening smaller plants–such as culinary herbs, or set aside a patch of garden in the backyard just for them. Gardening doesn’t have to be on a grand scale. At the heart of things, gardening is all about being able to nurture life with intention, like taking care of a child from our Riverside foster care agency. 

Choose your plants

You will find a corner dedicated to seeds in almost every grocery store. Start by choosing one flower, vegetable, or even a succulent! Not all plants are taken care of the same way. If your child is interested in decorating the house, start planting flowers. What about vegetables? You might be able to convince your child to eat more of them if they grow one themselves! Succulents are a little more beginner-friendly since they can be potted and go without water for long periods of time. But we encourage you to challenge yourself! 

Choose the essential tools and wear the right clothes

If you’re working outside, all you need to maintain a small garden are the following: 

● Hand trowels: Handy little curved tools that help you lift plants from the dirt.

● Watering cans: Self-explanatory! 

However, keep in mind that the amount of water a plant may need varies on its type.

● Spades: Rectangular, flat tools that edge and cut flower beds.

● Garden shears: Scissor-like tools that cut branches and stems no more than ¾ inches (2 cm).

● Hedge clippers: Prune bushes and hedges.

If you’re working with more extensive shrubbery, please be mindful of not allowing your kids to use sharp tools! 

● Natural fiber clothing: Breathable and protective fabrics against the sun.

● Sandals or boots: Choose accordingly to your environment.  

Sandals are loved by gardeners for summer and boots for more heavy-duty gardening that is known for getting you dirty or wet, trudging through more ground. 

● Hat: Wide-brim and able to cover the majority of your face–and better, your neck!

Brush up on gardening tips

Before diving right into the dirt, take the time to familiarize yourself with basic gardening knowledge. What’s more, gardening is a gradual activity and process that requires patience and care. Don’t just plant a seed; water it, and leave it be! In addition, you have to consider outside factors that may affect them, such as the right fertilizer or potential pests. 

Set aside time every week to garden 

Like brushing your teeth and finishing chores, make room in your and your child’s schedule for gardening. Whether that’s every day, a couple of days, or a week–that depends on the plant–prioritizing a garden’s growth will emphasize committing to one’s responsibilities. The last thing any gardener wants is to see their plants wilting or withering away. 

Track your progress

Don’t forget to track your progress on the growth of your plant! Keep a journal or digital reminder that records when seeds began to sprout or plants require watering or sun. Then, after time has passed, you and your child can look back on your first steps into gardening together. Maybe you were able to plant a lot–or perhaps, there were mistakes made along the way. Regardless of the outcome, gardening is a rewarding learning experience, much like utilizing family prospective resources.  

When you’re ready, plant a bigger garden 

After you and your child gain experience taking care of a garden, consider expanding the size of your garden or the range of plants you nurture. Now that you both have the skills to bring a plant to life, that can extend to other flora, herbs, shrubbery, or vegetables. Whatever they may be, one thing is sure: taking care of a garden will only bring more joy to the family–and your favorite flower: your child.