How do I teach my kids gardening skills

At a time when screens are increasingly the activity of choice, motivating kids to be outdoors and active – with a side benefit of strawberries, cherry tomatoes and other delicious homegrown treats – is a no-brainer. Find out how to steer kids towards a healthy pastime and a lifelong love of gardening

How to encourage your child to try kids gardening 

• Give them their own patch, pot or garden bed to look after. 
• Invest in a kids gardening set which includes gloves and smaller-size tools.
• Pick plants that are reliable to grow and yield fast results. 
• Give kids fun jobs like creating a scarecrow and making seedling labels. 
• Stay safe: consider a chemical-free garden and always supervise children in the garden

Tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, gloves, ear muffs and a mask, for example) and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment.

How do I give my child a sense of responsibility in the garden?

If you can, provide young gardeners with their own small area. Mill Wallasvaara, Bunnings Greenlife buyer, says giving children a pot, small raised bed or a section of the larger garden can help them learn to have a sense of ownership and really connect with gardening. “Making it their space to choose what to grow and watching their plants progress can be very rewarding,” she says. “It may create a passion for gardening which will hopefully stay with them for life.” Child-sized kit, such as gloves, hand tools and a mini watering can, is important for both safety and ease of use. “Picking a fun colour is also a nice idea for a child,” she says. 

What are the best ways to get my child involved in planting and growing? 

• Kids are more likely to stay involved if they see speedy results. Try these ideas to encourage them to get involved:
• Pick plants that are reliable growers and suitable for your space, soil and climate. Fast-growing, colourful annuals such as marigolds, nasturtiums and sunflowers are a good choice. 
• Seedlings provide a fast fix, but growing plants from seed can be entertaining, too.
• Try filling an old egg carton with potting mix to make a seed tray – this is easy for littlies to monitor and water. And once the seedlings have grown big enough, the cardboard ‘pots’ can be planted straight into the ground.
• Encouraging youngsters to grow their own vegies can be particularly rewarding. Horticulturist Angie Thomas from Yates says the best vegies to choose are ones that kids will willingly eat, and that are quick and easy to grow. “In the warmer months, dwarf or climbing beans are great; during cooler seasons, try crisp and crunchy snow peas,” she suggests. “Bite-sized cherry tomatoes are delicious fresh or as a pizza topping. And, if you have a bit of patience, baby carrots are compact, sweet and tender – kids love pulling this bright orange ‘buried treasure’ out of the ground!” Always wash fruit and vegies thoroughly before use.

 

Should I keep my garden chemical free with kids around?

Be wary about using chemicals. If you do, look for organic products made with natural ingredients, ensure you read the instructions carefully, observe the withholding period and keep them away from children. Try chemical-free ways to deter pests, such as companion planting – marigolds give off a strong smell that discourages flying insects like whitefly, while fragrant herbs such as rosemary and thyme can help repel a variety of insects, with the added bonus of being useful in the kitchen. Turning the hose on aphids to blast them off your plants can be a fun shared activity, especially on warm days. 

What are some fun jobs I can give kids to do in the garden?

Save the exciting garden tasks like planting, watering and harvesting for youngsters, and tackle the tougher jobs, such as weeding and bed preparation, yourself. Handling products such as compost and soil enhancers can be hazardous, so it’s best to avoid delegating those tasks to kids anyway, and make sure they always wash their hands after any garden work. 

Enjoying the garden needn’t be all about plants. Try having a craft session to create a scarecrow to deter birds, make plant labels out of wooden popsicle sticks for seed rows, or collect and paint small pebbles red and pop them around the strawberry bed when your plants are in bloom. The idea is that birds will try the ‘strawberry stones’ and learn that they’re not edible, in the hope that they won’t come back for the real thing when the fruit ripens!

Frequently asked questions and answers

Q: What are some gardening for kids safety tips?
A: Consultant paediatrician Dr Fiona Mackie MB BS PhD FRACP shares her tips to keep kids safe in the garden

1. Never store pesticides, fertilisers or garden chemicals in drinking containers. Make sure these products are out of reach and/or locked away from small children.

2. Toddlers can drown in a small amount of water – even 5cm. Don’t leave buckets or pots for rainwater lying around, and fence off ponds, pools and spas*.

3. Some plants are toxic to eat. Teach kids to ask first before eating berries and/or plants from outdoors.

4. Plants can also cause allergic skin reactions. Dress children in long-sleeve tops and pants to minimise this, and check out online resources such as Kids Safe NSW for lists of plants to avoid growing.

5. Always supervise the use of child-sized gardening implements and keep kids away from adults’ gardening tools, which can be sharp and dangerous.

6. Kids can fall through poorly maintained decking and balconies, especially timber, which needs regular maintenance. Check out and follow the appropriate child safety regulations.

Q: How can I keep my kids sun safe in the garden?

A: Follow the Cancer Council’s guidelines for keeping kids sun safe. In summer, only a few minutes of sunscreen-free sun exposure is adequate for vitamin D levels.

Keep in mind…

Wear gloves and a mask when handling mulch, compost and potting mix.

Take care when selecting your plants as some can be poisonous to children and pets, and check their suitability for your region, as some may be classified as weeds in certain states and territories

Keen for more ideas to get the kids outside?

Learn how to create a child-friendly-garden

Some photographs feature products from suppliers other than Bunnings.

*All pool, spas and ponds must conform to your local authority’s safety regulations and guidelines. Some advertised services and products are not available at some Bunnings stores, but products can be ordered.