Spending time outdoors during childhood is crucial. Researchers point out that, although play in general is important, playing outside is particularly essential. The outdoors simply provide children with a more dynamic and changing environment. This helps them develop cognitive skills, boosts physical fitness, and much more.
That’s a good reason to plan a children’s garden project for your kids. Gardening is the kind of activity that’s ideal for introducing children to the outdoors.
The following are a few project ideas to consider. Both you and your children are sure to love them!
Start by Decorating an Indoor Garden
Again, getting your kids to spend more time outdoors is important. However, when introducing them to gardening, it may be best to start with indoor children’s garden projects before moving on to more advanced gardening. Your child may take to gardening more enthusiastically if they learn the basics first.
To help them get started, pick up a kids gardening set, like the Green Tools Indoor Gardening Kit. This 11-piece kit has everything your child needs to start developing their green thumb, including one peapod-shaped planter tray, three planting pots, one trowel, three packs of organic seeds (teddy bear sunflower, basil, and zinnia), three compacted soil dishes, and planting instructions.
Your kids may also be more excited about gardening if they can get creative with early projects. Thus, after they’ve grown a few plants inside, you might let them decorate the surrounding area.
Maybe they want to create their own miniature fairy garden. If your child enjoys painting, they might want to paint a backdrop for the garden, making it appear as though their plants belong to a larger landscape. By letting them express their creativity (which is also key to their healthy development), you’ll make gardening more appealing.
Plan a Bouquet
Some children love to arrange flowers into bouquets. While you could buy the flowers after they’ve already grown, it might be a better idea to let you child select a few they would like to grow themselves. This is a great early children’s garden project as they progress from indoor gardening to outdoor gardening.
Not only will they learn essential gardening skills, but they will also learn the importance of patience. When they choose which flowers they want to grow for a bouquet, they’re committing to a project that will take time to see through. When they can finally put together the bouquet they had planned, they’ll understand why sometimes reaching goals takes time.
Grow a Few Carnivores
While some children enjoy making gorgeous bouquets, other kids may want different types of gardening projects. For a more adventurous project, we recommend growing safe carnivorous plants, such as a Venus Flytrap. This plant, which attracts insects and appears to eat them, will appeal to kids who might otherwise feel gardening isn’t for them.
Just remember to provide your children with the right supplies for these tasks. Again, starting them off with the Green Tools Indoor Gardening Kit may be a smart idea. With the right tools for the job, your children will enjoy gardening to the fullest.