Getting the Kids Involved in the Garden!
From young ones to older ones, how to keep them engaged, and grow through the changes.
Let the kids be kids
just guide them in their learning
When our kids are little they tend to be glued to our sides. This makes it really easy when we want to get them learning in the garden. Because there are so many lessons to learn! Now… this can be frustrating for us if they dig up freshly planted seeds when we turn our heads. But it’s important to simply fix, and not get frustrated.
Kids can be full speed ahead. They are going to mess up, pick unripe vegetables, pull a whole plant out while trying to grab a snow pea… when this happens, it’s a teaching moment. If I make my boys feel bad about messing up, I’m taking away an important part of gardening for them. They need to mess up to learn. As do we.
So how do we balance the kids in the garden, growing food, and not just having total chaos?
First, take some expectations away. What they can and can’t do, or even want to do, is going to change as they get older. When they are little and want to help with everything, let them play in the soil when filling up a garden bed. Digging in the dirt is fun! Let them get those little hands dirty. Just keep it out of their mouths if you can… I mean, kids.. right?? Help them dig the holes and add the plants or seeds. Of course, if they are really little they may just be glued to your side, haha. But if they are old enough to be engaged, let them be hands on. If you have a super enthusiastic one, consider giving them a small space of their own. That way they can dig ’til their hearts content, (hello, I have three boys!), without continuously digging in a freshly planted bed. A little fairy garden with pieces from the dollar tree is a great, inexpensive way for kids to have a garden play space! As they get older, teach them how to pick a vegetable correctly. Like how to gently pick a sugar snap pea without pulling the whole vine and tendrils off the trellis.
Kids are starting from zero. So let them learn from where they’re at, while guiding them through their mistakes and successes.
As the kids get older, getting them in the garden can sometimes be harder than it seems. When they are little it’s much easier. But as they get older, pulling weeds and planting seeds just doesn’t sound as fun. That’s also where taking some expectations away, comes in. I have caught myself many times feeling blue that the kids didn’t want to learn everything I had to teach them! I wanted them right there, listening to how I grow tomatoes, how to prune, what type of bug this is on this plant… but the truth is, as they get older, they get their own interests. Which is ok, because of course they do! As adults we don’t always want to engage in something we aren’t interested in. So we can’t expect kids to be any different. Of course, my mama heart hurts sometimes… but over time I have learned different ways to enjoy time with my kids in the garden or around the homestead…
First, each kid will be different. My oldest, Connor, who is a teenager (!), loves to cook his own food. So if I harvest from the garden, I try to specifically tell him what’s free to use. If I have plans for dinner using most of the harvest, I don’t want to be aggravated that he took half of it to add to his giant serving of eggs. When Connor was younger he would just go into the garden and pick peppers to eat right there. I loved it. But now he doesn’t really just venture into the garden, he’s doing his own things. So by telling him, “Hey! I just picked these, you should try them in your cooking!,” he’s eating garden produce which is so good for him, and he’s trying new ways to cook with vegetables we grew! All good things, especially with a teenager!
Now Deaglan, my middle son, he really doesn’t want to garden. Pulling weeds is like a terrible punishment. Granted, I too, hate pulling weeds hahah. But he really doesn’t have much interest gardening. Which is totally ok! What he and I did recently, was have a tomato tasting party! I got a bunch of different varieties I harvested, sliced them up, and laid out everything on the kitchen island! Honestly, the set up was *chefs kiss.* It was so freaking pretty. Tomatoes all around in bowls, all the different varieties sliced up on separate plates, flaky salt out to add! I HIGHLY suggest this. We eat with our eyes first, right? So if it looks tempting to the kids, they are more likely to try it! Deaglan and I had such a fun time! He is definitely my kid who wants to be in my tiktoks (LOL), so we filmed the whole thing for fun! Here is the outcome:
We had so much fun!! I tried to let Deaglan pick what we tasted next and be super silly, of course!
Gabriel, my youngest, was really into gardening! But as the years have passed, it has lessened. Or so I thought. What I’ve realized is, even though he isn’t in the garden as much as he used to be… he is still listening. He’s still taking in information about gardening, chickens, bees… He even asked for a bee suit for Christmas! Of course, I got him one. He doesn’t want to help with the bees every time I go out there, but he does enjoy helping here and there. I’ll take it! What really made my heart soar, was when show and tell was coming up at his school. He wanted me to send garden pictures to his teacher so he could explain them to the class. I was so over joyed. It went so well his teacher messaged me to say how impressed she was with Gabriel and his garden knowledge!
When the next show and tell came around, I was like, “Let’s send update pictures from those first garden ones!!.” Gabriel just didn’t seem into it. I was bummed! So I waited until a couple days before S&T, to give him time to decide what he wanted to do, then said.. “What about the bees? You can bring your bee suit and I’ll send your teacher some bee pictures?” That was it! Gabriel was instantly excited! He picked the pictures, I gave some suggestions, packed up his suit and a bee tool, and he was ready to go. His whole class was so engaged with his presentation. It was definitely another lesson for me. That just because he didn’t want to share garden pictures again, didn’t mean it didn’t matter to him. He just wanted to go a different direction with it. Even if he wanted to show pokemon cards instead, that would be ok! It’s all a lesson in our expectations and helping foster their love of gardening without forcing it or accidentally pushing them away from it. We can’t force them into gardening or homesteading.. it will happen over time if it’s what they end up loving. Below are some of the photos Gabriel shared!
As my kids get even older (not me wanting to cry thinking about that!), I’m sure things will change again. It’s going to happen. But I will love every gardening moment we have together now, whenever and however it happens. Gabriel running out to collect the eggs, Deaglan helping me build a new coop, harvesting garden goodies, Connor cooking in the kitchen, making new recipes for our family cookbook… I do hope one day, at least one of my kids will have a garden and maybe even a homestead of their own!
I hope if you take anything away from this post, it’s that getting the kids in the garden is going to change over time. It’s all a part of the journey and when we find enjoyment through the changes, that’s when it becomes really special for you and your kids.
Happy Gardening!!
