Gardening teaches kids responsibility and allows for scientific exploration about plants and animals. Gardening activities take place both indoors and outdoors. A child's location may limit the type of possible gardening activities, but every child can grow plants in some manner. Choose the gardening activities that fit your environment and your child's personal interests. Involve your child in the planning process for a greater sense of ownership.
Sunflower Fort
Create a fort out of sunflowers with the help of your kids. Measure a rectangular or square area for the fort. A 6-by-6-foot square makes a large fort without taking up too much of the yard or garden. Mark the four corners of the fort with stakes. Mark the entrance to the sunflower fort with two more stakes. Tie strings between the stakes as a guide for planting the sunflower seeds. Plant the seeds about 6 inches apart along the string line. Leave the entrance of the fort empty. Water and weed the sunflowers as they grow. The tall sunflowers will create the walls of a fun fort for the kids.
Butterfly Garden
Choose flowers for a garden that will attract butterflies to the backyard. Determine a location for your butterfly garden. The National Gardening Association recommends an area with at least six hours of direct sunlight that is protected by trees or shrubs. The flowers may also be planted in containers instead of directly in the ground. Choose a variety of plants to attract more butterflies. Plant nectar flowers to attract and feed adult butterflies. Examples of nectar plants are marigolds, coneflowers, zinnia, lavender and black-eyed Susan. Host plants for the butterflies to lay eggs include alfalfa, clover, milkweed, nettle or parsley.
Indoor Herb Garden
Grow an indoor herb garden with the kids. Herbs grow quickly, making them rewarding for kids to watch. Choose the herbs you wish to grow. Oregano, basil, parsley, cilantro, lavender and peppermint are popular choices that can be used in many recipes. Use potting soil intended for indoor plants. Follow the planting guidelines on the package for each individual herb. Herbs should generally be planted near the top of the soil. Water the herbs frequently, and place them in direct sunlight. Continue growing the herbs inside until they are ready to harvest, or transplant them to an outdoor garden. Use the fresh herbs in recipes that the kids can make.
Gardening Journal
Document the growth and changes in a garden with a journal or scrapbook. Write a description of the garden plans before you begin. Add details as you add new elements to the garden. Have the kids observe the garden periodically and write descriptions of how it has changed. Take photographs or draw pictures of the garden, and add them to the journal.
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