Have you ever observed that almost all children are naturally interested in growing things? Not only does it give them a chance to play in the dirt, but they also seem to really enjoy watching the plants grow. It is an enjoyable experience that can also be extremely educational for children. You’ll find that there are many rewards for both you and the child when you offer them some gardening activities, even if you don’t necessarily have a thumb for gardening. In fact, you may love doing it so much that you decide to make growing plants a regular part of your schedule. The following are just a few of the many possibilities to consider when looking for something fun and educational that will also draw your kids into the outdoors.

Have your child grow their own salad

If your child doesn’t like having to eat his vegetables, then showing him how to grow your own can be a great way to encourage him. Children who normally protest eating vegetables often become much more open to the idea if they see them growing in their own garden. Even if you have a very small garden, you should be able to find enough space for your child to grow a tomato plant, a type of lettuce, and maybe a pepper or cucumber plant. The truth is, these plants can even be easily grown in a container on your porch, patio, or balcony. It’s best to start small with just a few plants, so your child isn’t overwhelmed by the need to care for a larger garden. Small vegetables like cherry tomatoes are often favorites with children. When starting out, you can start with some already sprouted plants that you bought from a nearby garden center, or you could even try starting with seeds, which will allow your kids to learn even more about growing things. Encourage your child to keep the plants watered and weeded, and they’ll soon be rewarded with tasty fresh greens. Once this happens, plan at least one meal with a salad made from your child’s crops. You might even want to get some snapshots of your family enjoying the delicious salad so that you can later put them in pretty red frames and hang them in your kitchen.

Try germinating some seeds

Even if the weather is cold and doesn’t allow you to grow things outside, this doesn’t mean you can’t sprout some seeds inside in the meantime. Buy a few packets of seeds, such as beans, cucumbers, or squash. Since your child will likely be handling the seeds as well, he’ll want to check and confirm that they haven’t been treated with any harmful chemicals or pesticides. Lightly dampen a few paper towels with water, then spread them out on a counter or other work surface. Next, put several seeds on the paper towel. Fold the paper towel around the seeds and place them in a warm place. You will want to spray the paper towel with a little water from time to time, because the seeds will not sprout if the paper towel dries out. Covering the paper towel with a plastic bag can help keep it moist, but make sure the seeds get at least some air. Unfold the paper towel each day to check the progress of the seeds. The sprouting seeds and leaves are sure to be fascinating for the child to look at. Take a couple of photos of the growing seeds so your youngster can display them in great little frames to remind them of the experiment. If you go to the natural and organic section of your grocery store, you can even buy mung beans, alfalfa, and a few other sprouts to make salads. Put them in a glass mason jar, rinse them with a little water, and then completely drain the water from the jar. Repeat this process every day until a few sprouts form. Then use them to finish off a tasty salad.

You will be surprised at how well your children will do growing their own plants and how much fun they will have in the process. You might find that you even have a lot of fun too!