Gardening with Kids

If you asked me just last year if I cared to spend lots of time in my garden, the answer would be an emphatic “No Way!”

But, I wanted to see improvement in my garden and the best way to create this change was to put in time and effort.

Instead of doing all the work on my own, I asked my kids to join me in the process. In preparation, I bought them each two simple supplies: a pair of gardening gloves and a gardening bucket. I knew that they could get to work without these, but sometimes I find that a new “toy” helps them to find extended interest in a new activity.

The next time I needed to do work outside in the garden I asked them to come along.

Each of my boys had a special task assigned to them, like digging a hole or pulling some weeds, while I worked on something else. They enjoyed using the water hose, sorting tiny rocks, and searching for rolly pollies. And I found a new joy of them of watching them use the water hose, sort tiny rocks, and search for rolly pollies. Most importantly, we enjoyed spending time outside- together.

It can sometimes be tricky to invite your kids into activities that you enjoy, especially when they’re task oriented. Having your rascals join you can be fun, but they can also slow you down or cause you to change your expectations for the outcome of your task or hobby. There are lots of ways that you can tackle this, and I’d like to share some tips and tricks that I used while working with my kids in the garden.

Give your rascals a specific task- that way they have a simple thing to focus on
Allow them to get dirty- you are outside, after all
Explain what you’re doing as you work with your kids- letting them know not just what you are doing, but why, will make a bigger impact and create more enjoyment
Get them their own tools- preparing them is the best way to encourage them to enjoy new tasks
As your flowers bloom or fruit grows in, make sure to let your kids enjoy the progress

Let’s be honest, half the time my rascals were just enjoying shenanigans in the sunshine, rather than remembering their tasks. I was okay with that. By letting them have space to explore their creativity outside, I’m finding that their own enjoyment in joining me has increased over time. They’re slowly starting to enjoy the actual gardening as a way to see things grow, feel accomplished, and get their hands dirty.

It’s pretty magical to work together with my kids towards a common goal, especially one that we can literally watch grow.