Website design By BotEap.comHave you ever observed that almost all children are naturally interested in growing things? Not only does it give them a chance to play in the dirt, but they also seem to really enjoy watching the plants grow. It is a pleasant experience that can also be very educational for children. You will find that there are many rewards for both you and the child when you offer them some gardening activities, even if you don’t necessarily have a green thumb. In fact, you may love doing it so much that you decide to make growing plants a regular part of your schedule. The following are just a few of the many possibilities you can consider when looking for something fun and educational that will also get your kids outdoors.

Website design By BotEap.comHave your child grow his own salad

Website design By BotEap.comIf your child doesn’t like having to eat his vegetables, showing him how to grow his own can be a great way to cheer him up. Children who would normally protest eating vegetables often become much more open to the idea if they see them growing up in their own garden. Even when you have a really small garden, you should be able to find enough space for your child to grow a tomato plant, a type of lettuce, and perhaps a pepper or cucumber plant. The truth is, these plants can even be easily grown in a container on your porch, patio, or balcony. It’s best to start small so your child isn’t overwhelmed by the need to tend a larger garden. Small vegetables like cherry tomatoes are often a children’s favorite. When starting out, you can start with some already sprouted plants that you bought from a nearby garden center, or you could even try starting from seed, allowing your kids to learn even more about growing things. Encourage your child to keep the plants watered and weed, and he will soon be rewarded with tasty fresh greens. Once this happens, plan at least one meal around a salad made from your child’s crops. You may even want to get some snapshots of your family enjoying the delicious salad to later put in pretty red frames and hang in your kitchen.

Website design By BotEap.comTry germinating some seeds

Website design By BotEap.comEven if the weather is cold and it doesn’t allow you to grow things outside, this doesn’t mean you can’t sprout some seeds indoors in the meantime. Buy some packets of seeds, such as beans, cucumbers, or squash. Since your child will likely handle the seeds as well, you will want to check and confirm that they have not been treated with harmful chemicals or pesticides. Dampen the paper towels a little with water, then spread them out on a counter or other work surface. Next, put several seeds on the paper towel. Fold the paper towel around the seeds and put it in a warm place. You will need to spray the paper towel with a little water from time to time, because the seeds will not sprout if the paper towel dries out. Covering the paper towel with a plastic bag can help keep it moist, but make sure the seeds get at least a little air. Unfold the paper towel approximately every day to check the progress of the seeds. The sprouting seeds and leaves are sure to be fascinating to the child. Take a couple of photos of the growing seeds so your youngster can display them in large small photo frames to remind them of the experiment. If you go to the natural and organic section of your grocery store, you can even buy mung beans, alfalfa, and some other sprouted seeds for salads. Place them in a glass canning jar, rinse with a little water, and then drain the water from the jar well. Repeat this process every day until a few sprouts form. Then use them to finish a tasty salad.

Website design By BotEap.comYou will be surprised to find out how well your children will do at growing their own plants and how much fun they will have in the process. You may find that you even have a lot of fun too!