People often say that more than a seed is planted in a garden. This is especially true when it comes to gardening with little ones.

Gardening allows your children to gain skills such as independence, responsibility, problem solving, leadership, compassion, and teamwork while being outside of the classroom. Giving children their own garden or portion of a garden gives them a sense of independence and responsibility. The garden is theirs to care for. Allowing them to make the decision about their garden and tend to it will not only give them a sense of pride but it will give them confidence because they are caring for something that is their own. It is best to start small when giving a child their own garden. A 3 x 3 plot should be enough space for budding gardeners. Giving them too big a plot to take care can be overwhelming for them, so it’s best to start off small.  When deciding what to plant in your garden, think about what you and your child want to get out of your garden. Here are some different types of plant to think about starting with.

 

• Munchable plants – Plants like cherry tomatoes and snow peas are a great idea for plants to snack on while you work!
• Sensory plants – A sensory garden is a great way to help children focus and calm themselves down. Some great plants are dusty miller (fuzzy), squash vines (prickly), begonias (rubbery), or peppers (smooth).
• Fun plants – What’s a garden without some fun plants, especially for your little ones! Some fun plants to try are sunflowers, which are big and beautiful, and pumpkins, which are very recognizable to children and can also be used to carve out and make pumpkin pie!

Check out the UNH website to view the full article and if you’re looking for more gardening tips check out Eartheasy! Make sure to let us know any tips you have for gardening with children! Click share on the side of the post to let your friends and family know about the benefits of gardening!