Dirt, Worms, Bugs, and Mud: Fun and Learning for Kids in the Garden

Fun and Learning for Kids in the Garden -- Children who garden grow in many ways.

What do kids see when you offer them an empty plot of earth and tell them it’s theirs to garden? At first, just a large patch of dirt to mess around in. But there’s much more to working in the earth than a chance to manipulate mud.

Children who garden grow in many ways. As they’re taught to cooperate with the natural world, they learn patience, how to plan, how to follow directions and how to observe results. They develop an awareness of natural cycles. Their interest in nutrition and their feelings of self-reliance increase when the things they plant become foods they can eat.

As you and your child combine forms, sizes and colors of plants into an attractive whole, gardening turns into an art form. Creativity blossoms, too, as the child discovers that most of the "rules" of gardening are flexible and open to experimentation. Gardening is a wonderful family activity.

Deciding Where and What

Contain your plants. Many vegetables and flowers grow well in either indoor or outdoor pots. Once your plot or pots are chosen, help your child begin researching what to plant. Visit your local nurseries for advice on what’s appropriate for beginners in your environment. For speedier and more certain results, plant seedlings instead of seeds – though your child will miss out on the excitement of seeing that first sprout peeking through the soil.

With container gardening, you control the soil and drainage, and you can avoid most garden pests. In 3- to 5-gallon pots, you can grow beans, carrots, peppers, tomatoes, corn, broccoli, cabbage, kale, leeks and even melons. Pots as small as 4- to 6-inches are fine for growing peas (choose shorter peas, ones that grow to about a foot), lettuce, spinach and Swiss chard. Choose medium size pots for beets, eggplant and cherry tomatoes. Of course, all of your pots will need plenty of sun and water.

Go for speed – and taste. For your youngest gardeners-in-training, fast-growing flowers or vegetables are a good choice. For dramatic results, sunflowers are a sure bet for outgrowing your child in height. Carrots and radishes grow fairly quickly and can be eaten raw – but since they grow underground, there’s not much to see. Peas and beans grow into vines rapidly and are tasty to most kids.

Reap what you sow. Children often want to plant seeds left over from fruits (peach pits, apple seeds, watermelon seeds). If your climate is conducive and you have the space, try planting some peach pits in a corner of the yard. Within about three years, some tasty fruit may appear.