A few tips for gardening with small children...
* You’re dealing with earth and water so of course it’s inevitable that the children will get mucky. Pop them into a puddlesuit before you get started and you won’t have to worry about their clothes.
* We all know that kids love to play with anything that is meant to be out of bounds! When I garden I usually end up using the cute little kids’ trowel while my children poke about with my shiny metal one. For that reason I try to keep my sharp little handfork out of sight!
* Although some jobs are probably best left to a grown up, there is so much that the children can do themselves. Little hands can put earth into pots, clear stones and pop seeds into the soil. My kids also LOVE watering the plants, so once they have sprinkled any new seeds I keep them busy watering the rest of the garden!
* Gardening is a great opportunity for children to meet some of the minibeasts that live beneath the surface. Introduce them to the creatures that you find and let them hold them gently while they take a good look.
For more help and advice take a look here:
www.rhs.org.uk/education-learning/gardening- children-schools/family- activities
www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/gardening_with_children/
www.gardeningwithchildren.co.uk/family-zone/things- to-do- this-season/
Grace, mum to Rosalind (4) & Alex (3)