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Chasing earthworms and getting their hands dirty, kids can be great little helpers in your vegetable garden. Teach the next generation about where their food comes from and have a blast at the same time.
1. Unleash the Curiosity.Kids are naturally curious, plus their enthusiasm is infectious!Invitethem into your veggie garden but be prepared to overcome some initial squeamishness about bugs, spiders and getting dirty (city kids especially).
2. Age Appropriate Tasks.To keep interest high, your lil buddy needs to feel important and have somethingrealto do (they can totally tell when its just busy work). If you have seedlings totransplant, remove them carefully from their pot but let your kid dig the hole and plant the seedling inside. If you haveseeds to plant, you should make the holes to the right depth and take care of the spacing, then let them pop the seeds inside. Older kids can write plant labels and mix in soil amendments. All kids love to do the watering!
3. Planning Together.The more kids are involved your vegetable garden, the more likely theyll eat the vegetables coming out of the garden! Let them choose some of the veggies to be planted, or give them a portion of the garden that is theirs toplantwhatever they want. Great vegetables for kids are ones that harvest early and often. Radishes, snap peas, beans, tomatoes and cucumbers are all kiddie favourites.
4. Step Outside.Your kids involvement doesnt have to stop at the initial planting. They can take charge of gardenmaintenancetasks like weeding, watering and hunting slugs, snails and other pests. Your gardens greatest chance for successis your presence in that garden. Incorporating your vegetable garden into your familys daily routine is a great way to spend some time outside together bonding and sharing. Plus the more eyes and hands you have in the garden, the better it will grow.
5. Eating!A vegetable garden is a great way for kids to learn about how nature works and where their food comes from. When your kids are picking vegetables right out of the garden theharvestrarely makes it into the house! Let them know when the different vegetables are ready and how to pick em. Step outside with your salad bowl and remove a couple of the larger outer leaves from lettuce, spinach, beet greens, kale and chard. Pick peas, beans and tomatoes when their size and colour suit your taste. For root vegetables, dig around gently with a finger to determine if the size is right, and grab the leaves and pull.
Your lil ones will soon be munching down on the good stuff with gigantic smiles and no fuss-fuss.
