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No matter how old you are, spending time outdoors in the fresh air is good for physical and mental wellbeing. And it’s especially important to teach kids how to enjoy ‘green time’ instead of screen time as a fun activity. One of the best ways to connect children with nature and teach them how to care for the planet is in their backyard, through gardening.
Bianca Boman from Mr Fothergill’s highlights their specially crafted collection of seeds called the Little Gardeners range. “Gardening encompasses a lot of topics, from science to life lessons,” she says. “And kids who garden are often less fussy eaters, as they’re more likely to taste what they’ve grown.”
No matter their age, there is a range of fun activities that will connect kids with the joy of growing flowers, fruit and vegetables. So grab your gardening gloves and head outside with this expert guide to engaging your kids with the great outdoors.
Gardening with very young children in the early childhood years is about introducing them to textures, smells and sights in the garden. Toddlers generally love to be wherever you are and learn by copying our behaviours. Set them up with child-size gardening tools so they can push their own wheelbarrow and rake leaves alongside you. Equip them with a kids’ watering can or let them loose with the hose. If you’re trying to conserve water, fill up a spray bottle with water instead. They’ll love misting your plants in your garden beds – and everything else!
Preschoolers also love digging in the dirt, so a children’s spade will come in handy, too. Show them how to dig for worms and count how many you can find to help develop their early learning abilities. Let them choose bright flowering annuals, such as pansies, and plant them together. And, if you want to plant seeds, keep in mind the size of the seeds for younger children who are still developing fine motor skills. “Sunflowers, nasturtiums, beans and peas are all large seeded, so they’re easy for little hands to handle,” says Bianca. “They also grow fast and are easy to grow, making them perfect starter plants for kids.”
Landscape architect Jill Rice from Get Outside specialises in outdoor play and learning environments for children. She suggests making the garden a fun place. “Create little paths through the garden for children to explore, add simple, safe water features to play with and grow plants that capture interest,” she says. Lambs ears, an easy-to-grow perennial, are great as they are soft and furry to touch, providing sensory experiences.
School-age children are ready to take on more serious growing projects and engage in a bit more physical activity. Give them some agency over what they grow by setting them up with their own planter or a sunny spot in the garden. Set a budget to spend on plants or seeds and let them choose what they’d like to cultivate.
To keep kids engaged, opt for speedier crops such as radishes, which are ready to harvest in four to six weeks (bonus: it can also help you open up the conversation about healthy eating). Opt for coloured mixes, like ‘Easter Egg Mix’, which contains red, purple, pink and white varieties. If you don’t have a lot of space, or you’re looking for activities that can be done on a sunny windowsill, try a herb garden or microgreens. Buy a kit with everything you need, or grow a character with microgreen hair.
Let kids learn about germination by holding a seed race. Loosely fill a jar with wet paper towels, then place three or four seeds in the bottom so they’re evenly spaced and visible from the outside. Beans and peas are good for this exercise. Write the name of the type of seed on the jar, place it in a sunny spot and make sure the paper towel doesn’t dry out. It won’t be long before you see shoots emerging from the seeds and growing up towards the light. Kids can keep a journal and take note of how many days each seed takes to germinate.
Older kids tend to become more discerning about their interests and tastes, and often like collecting things. This is an opportune time to encourage them to follow their interests in the garden. Maybe they want to start a cactus or succulent collection? Succulents are easy to grow and readily produce offshoots that are simple to separate and repot. Or perhaps they enjoy cooking and learning about healthy foods, so a pizza garden with cherry tomatoes and herbs like oregano and basil is perfect.
“Growing edibles helps kids to understand where food comes from and that it is valuable,” says Bianca. Continue to nurture an interest in the natural world by encouraging kids to make worm farms, bug hotels or a pollinator pond, so visiting bees have water to drink.
They’ll also start to become aware about the economics of gardening. Show them how to take root cuttings and propagate house plants that they can sell online or at local markets. Sharing surplus homegrown produce is a great way to teach kids ways to support their community. Set the kids a task of harvesting any excess to give to friends and neighbours.
Always discourage young children from eating plants unless they’re guided by an adult. Aussie Childcare Network includes on its website a list of poisonous and harmful plants that should not be grown in early childhood centres, and therefore not in residential gardens where there are young children. To find out more, visit aussiechildcarenetwork.com.au and search for ‘plants safe for childcare’.
Check out our guide to the ultimate gardening kit to get keen kids started.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.
When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.
