Gardening is a great way to make your mark on your bit of space in the world, and whether you’re looking for gardening services in Sydney or looking to go it alone, it can be a rather time consuming exercise, and sometimes it might kill two birds with one stone to involve your kids. Especially in today’s climate.
Although, this can sometimes prove to be more trouble than it’s worth. It’s worth persisting through though as gardening has many good benefits for children.
So here are some amazing ideas on what you need to do to get your kids into gardening and make them more productive whilst maintaining the fun:
Give Them Their Own Space
Depending on their age of course, some kids might just want to sit in the dirt. This is OK, give them such a task that if they get distracted partway through, it’s not so vital. It may be giving them a large pot for plants and asking them to add in some soil.
Don’t be surprised if your kid gets distracted!
Give Them Some Control Over What To Plant
Sometimes, giving them something more involved and interactive encourages their sense of ownership and responsibility over the plant or flower. For example, if you are planting your veggie patch, give them a vegetable of their own choice to plant, and cultivate.
Kids love having something to take ownership over – and it teaches them great life lessons.
This also doubles up as a bonus way to help encourage kids to eat more greens too – as kids always love eating the fruit of their labours.
Let Them Use Kid Sized Tools
Kids love playing with toys that are their size, but can mimic what mum and dad do at home. Think about it, how many kids have you seen that have little mini vacuum cleaners, or mini ovens, or mini lawn mowers?
Kids love mimicking the adults around them. They also work well when they have their own “special” tools.
Kids will work around the garden with a trowel or fork that fits in their hand and they can copy mum and dad at the flower bed.
Give Them Small Jobs To Do
OK, so your kid might be too small to prune, or cut down branches of a thick tree (which we recommend using a tree surgeon in Sydney for), or push a wheelbarrow full of soil.
Kids respond well with being given a small task that’s theirs to do – especially watering the garden.
But they love things like watering the garden or patting down the soil/turf at the end of being laid. Weeding is a job that usually works well too.
Use Lots of Colour
Kids respond well to colours when it comes to learning and understanding the world around them. Don’t be scared to have a very colourful garden, that your kids can really explore and feel at home in.
Kids love colours and learn about the world when colours are involved.
You should have your kids around if you are in the process of using a landscape designer, kids love being involved from the start and it furthers their sense of ownership and responsibility over the flowers.
Raise the Flower Bed
This not only looks nice, but it also ensures that tiny feet are kept from trampling on the flowers! This can also help with your garden irrigation as it makes it easier to give the flowerbeds a good drink.
Protect your flower bed from being trampled by raising it.
Kids also get a sense of specialness or importance to areas that are generally off limits without your supervision, so this also encourages them to appreciate when they are allowed to help work on it!
Practise Patience!
Ultimately, patience will be required. Kids are generally known for getting distracted by a nearby butterfly or just generally having fun! It will take time and don’t get disheartened when your kid might prefer to do something else.
Remember, kids will be kids. Don’t force it – just encourage them gently.
So there you have it. Following these tips is a sure fire way to get your kids more involved in your garden. If you need any more advice, or want to start a project, give us a call at Amico today!
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