healthy kids
of the garden as much as developmentally possible,” advises Sarah Pounders, senior education specialist at
KidsGardening.org, in Burlington, Vermont.
Getting Started Order some seed catalogues, look online—or better yet, take a child to the local garden nursery. Let them decide what to grow. Teir choices are as diverse as their interests. Veggies, flowers and plants that draw
butterflies each have their own appeal. Some, like sunflowers, radishes and lettuce, are fast-growing, offering quick gratification. Or, they can choose a theme. “If your child likes Italian food, plant
Gardening for Kids The Fun of Growing Their Own
by Ronica A. O’Hara
their own garden that will get them out- doors, teach them planning and persever- ance, and develop their motor, literacy and scientific skills. A South Korean study found that gar-
I
dening provides both high- and moderate- intensity exercise for kids. It builds good
t’s May, and the temperature is rising, as is the sap and green shoots. It’s the perfect time to involve kids in growing
eating habits, too: A British study of 46 9- and 10-year-olds found that they ate 26 percent more vegetables and fruit aſter growing a school garden, and a University of Florida study of 1,351 college students showed them more likely to eat veggies if they had gardened as children. For the most gratifying results, give
kids a sense of ownership. “Let them make the decisions and be in charge of the care
More to Grow By
KidsGardening.org: Designed for schools and families, this site has a wealth of kid-friendly information on everything from seeds to pollinators to creating pirate gardens.
Build-your-own worm farm: See how at
Tinyurl.com/KidsWormFarm.
Youth Gardening Clubs: Many local chapters of garden clubs have these.
Tinyurl.com/YouthGardeningPrograms.
4-H: Many state 4-H organizations conduct special gardening activities, which can be found by Googling the name of a state along with “4-H gardening”.
34 Greater Oklahoma/OKC Edition
NaturalAwakeningsOKC.com
tomatoes and basil. If they enjoy Mexican food, then peppers and cilantro. For flow- ers—zinnias and cosmos—let them make flower arrangements from early summer into the fall,” suggests Susan Brandt, of Bristow, Virginia, co-founder of the gar- dening site
BloomingSecrets.com. Visiting a plant nursery offers the
perfect opportunity to put kids on the path to healthy living. Point out and discuss the differences between organic and nonorgan- ic seeds and between chemical fertilizers containing Roundup—labeled “Keep Out of Reach of Children”—and organic fertil- izers containing fish, seaweed and other natural nutrients.
Choose the Spot A three-foot-by-three-foot plot is an ideal size for a child’s garden, as long as it gets lots of sunshine. If living in an urban area, go with pots of soil in a sunny window.
Get the Right Tools For young kids with short attention spans, small plastic spades, rakes and hoes might work. But older kids need hardier tools. Get them properly fitted garden gloves, plus sunhats and sunscreen.
Plant the Seeds Help them read and interpret the seed package directions, if necessary, and use a ruler to measure proper spacing. “I always try to have a mix of plants that start from seed and from transplants, so that kids can have both immediate and delayed gratifica- tion,” says Pounders.
Tatevosian Yana/
Shutterstock.com
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