In days past, children grew up helping their parent grow food for their family to eat. It was not about fun. Unless you produced your food, you had nothing to eat. The growing and preserving of food is what kept families alive during the winter months.

Today’s children do not understand those concepts. But, they are important to understand. They need to know the effort that went into making the peace children have a great curiosity. From around this age, you can start measuring on the wall. You can point out how smart they are and how their hair is getting long. This leads to a conversation about how we grow, and what food does for us. But, be prepared. Children will ask you a hundred questions. You want to build their curiosity. Take a couple of days. Show the children seeds (https://www.myseedneeds.com/collections/blank-seed-envelopes), then show them what they turn into when they grow. You will have to provide some boundaries. You will want plants that can grow in pots, like tomatoes.

Tip 1

Do some research and find kid-friendly plants that grow easily in your area. Let the child decide which plant they would like to plant. Here are some favorites:

• Strawberries
• Blackberries
• Pears
• Raspberries
• Raspberries
• Blueberries

You may consider the following odd, but they are excellent for beginner growers and mature we in pots. They are:

• Figs
• Pears
• Eggplant
• Tomatoes
• Squash

Tip 2

It takes some time to grow a plant to maturity. While you are writing, plan a harvest party. You can make decorations when the children harvest their fruits and berries, help the children clean the fruit. Explain to the children that every child will share their food. It is highly advisable that you provide several types of dips. Children are drawn to other children. If one child likes it, the others will try it.

Make sure you have a certificate for each child who tries their food, and a “Good Farmer” certificate for the rest of the children.

Tip 3

There is nothing more special to a child that to make something with their own two hands and give it as a gift to their parents. When you begin your project, create a small herb garden. You can use a coffee container or large solo cups with a couple of drain holes in the bottom for drainage. Use a sharpie to write the child’s name in it and the herb they planted. Let them decorate their herb pot. Have a special place where the children can move their herbs to the sun and teach them when to water the plants.

Just as you are gifting the herb gardens to the children, you are welcome to let the parents take some of the plants. Of course, you can take them home and easily transplant into your own garden. The children had a wonderful time and learn about plants. The parents for a fresh herb and you can transplant healthy plants. This is a win/win situation.

 

Photo credits: Toddler Gardening by Jelleke Van Ooteghem , Strawberries by Congerodesin, Healthy Snacks by Cloudinary