Gardening with Kids

What parent with a love for gardening and spending time outdoors would not like to encourage green fingers in their children, too? My grandfather’s love for his vegetable patch is probably what motivated me to start gardening later on in life. While we spent hours in the garden together, my granddad took the time to explain how different vegetables are grown, when they are supposed to be planted, and what care each individual plant needs. He also pointed out the beauty of different flowers, and the busy hub of life that they were. That garden was home to ants, butterflies, bees, and sometimes hedgehogs and other mammals too.

Plenty of lessons to be found in your green patch

As a work-at-home mother of two, it is appealing to use gardening – which is both exhausting and relaxing – as a way to get in that precious “me time” that mums talk about so often. When the weather is good, and especially if you have some sprinklers running, kids will entertain themselves in the garden for hours on end, leaving the parent to enjoy their hobby. My garden helped me with weight loss after pregnancy, and my younger child spent lots of time napping beside me in the summer sun while I worked the earth. But what if you could use your time in the garden to teach your kids? There are plenty of lessons to be found in your green patch: from biology to environmental awareness, and from patience to perseverance. The question is how?

Let them have their own space to grow vegetables or flowers

Square Foot Gardening Box

To start with, offer your child or children their own space to grow vegetables or flowers of their choice. Equip them with their own, child-sized, gardening tools and teach them how to use them. Because having a successful garden takes experimentation and often learning through failure, it’s beneficial to allow your children to do their own thing in their part of the garden. Perhaps the ideas from appeal to many children, because those wooden boxes look great and allow many different crops to be grown in only a tiny space. Unusual vegetables like green tomatoes, or blue potatoes, also spice things up.

Ask your little ones to help you out

In the meantime, you can ask your little ones to help you out while you do your work too! Ask them to identify weeds that need removing, and have them hand you the tools you need. Once they’re more experienced, they will know what you require without you pointing it out. You may think that kids don’t like helping in the garden – I did! – but they may surprise you. My daughter hardly ever picks up after herself, but is always happy to assist me in the garden and also in the kitchen… as long as the meal includes our own produce.

If digging in the dirt is not exciting enough for your children (which I seriously doubt), consider making a tree house or a bird house or concentrate on growing produce that can be used in dyes. Any spinner and knitter knows that onions and black beans can be used to make yarn more colorful, for instance. There are many other things that can keep kids occupied in the garden: here is a list of top 10 fun activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Can you still instill a love for plants and gardening in your children if you live in an apartment? Sure! Even though we do have a garden, we still grow herbs indoors for quick and easy access. Most of these, like thyme, mint, or chives are not difficult to grow indoors. Mint also helps combat the toughest of pregnancy signs and symptoms (for foodies like me, at least) – morning sickness. Some people go beyond growing herbs indoors, and care for tomatoes and peanuts in their apartment.

Combine Outdoor Games and a Barbecue with Friends, Family and Neighbours

Although the cooler months are upon us, we can’t help but think of those warmer weather days that we enjoyed outside. For those that you know who enjoy spending time outdoors, in particular children, there are some great outdoor garden toys that would appeal to children and adults alike. Not only are garden toys available, but there are many exciting and fun games to play outdoors as well. Here are some wonderful garden toy and game gift ideas for those that truly enjoy spending their time outdoors.

Games to the Extreme

Giant Connect 4 Garden Game

Typically at many resorts, they have large lawn games which are enjoyed by many guests. Sometimes the game pieces are almost as tall as the guests! These types of games would make for fun outdoor activities to enjoy in your backyard while enjoying the gorgeous weather. A giant chess game, Connect4, giant draughts, or even a giant Jenga game all would make for exciting and fun garden toy gift ideas for anyone of any age. These giant games raise the fun factor to a while new level!

Lawn Games

Having an early spring barbeque or a get together with neighbors to enjoy the first day of summer? Get a competition going between guests by having a bocce ball tournament! Bocce ball is one of those infamous lawn games that everyone enjoys playing. You can carry on a conversation while playing, but it makes for a fun way to enjoy the afternoon. Perhaps, croquet would be better for the crowd or even a lively game of lawn darts. Even a traditional game of horseshoes provides hours of entertainment. Start a tradition at your first barbeque of the year by hosting a tournament of lawn games and you can be sure that everyone will want to make an appearance at your event! The best thing about these lawn games is that if you were thinking of giving them as a gift, most of the games come all together as a set! The game pieces usually come in their own bag with instructions. Sometimes a few of the games are grouped together to create a super set of lawn games. Any of these would make for a wonderful gift for those that not only like the outdoors, but enjoy a healthy competition as well!

Fun for the Kids

Giant Pick Up Sticks Game

Getting children outside and exercising is so important. But if you can make the exercise seem like fun, it is even better than. Try setting up an obstacle course in the backyard for them to enjoy with their friends and siblings. Sack races, ring tosses, limbo, and pick up stick games all would make for great garden toy gift ideas for kids. Then they could set up their own obstacles courses with their friends and every day could be a new adventure. Not only do garden games get the children to be active, but allows them to be imaginative as well!

Ann Martin is the feature writer for Dinnerware Center, which is an online store specializing in dinnerware sets and flatware sets such as the WMF flatware set. Ann contributes to other home and garden sites and frequently posts recommendations and suggestions for home entertaining. When Ann is not writing, she enjoys cooking and reading.

Dining outdoors is an activity everyone seems to enjoy, especially children. The atmosphere is relaxed and there is no need to worry about spilled drinks or dropped plates.

Children who normally have a hard time sitting still through a formal meal indoors can run freely around the garden, chasing butterflies during the day and fireflies at night.

The best part about an outdoor meal is that it can be assembled with inexpensive items from around the house, or even objects picked up at a second-hand sale. With a bit of creativity you can eat even eat outdoors in the autumn, using patio heaters

Creating an Outdoor Dining Room

To create an alfresco dining area in the middle of a lush garden, use flat, stacked stones to create a level surface for a table and chairs.

A natural roof can be created with the aid of a gazebo, pergola or arbour. Over time, plants and flowers will climb up the structure for a sense of seclusion and shade.

The beauty of these natural walls is that the sounds of nature and the scents of the outdoors can still be enjoyed. These types of spaces are like fairytale environments for younger children to indulge in their sense of creativity.

Setting the Table

The table can be a picnic table with benches or an old wooden door with attached legs and surrounded by painted wooden or wicker chairs.

A simple rustic coffee table placed beside a wooden bench creates an adorable spot to have sandwiches and lemonade underneath a large tree. An old sheet or a large piece of cotton, gingham or burlap can be used as a tablecloth.

Plastic plates and utensils can certainly be used for easy cleanup. However, mismatched plates and glasses will create a more fetching presentation.

Flatware can be wrapped in coloured bandanas and tied with a piece of leather string. For a centrepiece, arrange fresh-cut flowers in an old watering can or galvanized jug.

The children can help pick and assemble the flowers from the garden. Put small candles in votive holders or hang lanterns from the trees for atmospheric lighting.

Many people forgo the table and simply spread an old quilt on the ground sprinkled with some oversized pillows. This is also an ideal spot for the children to hang out together.

Food and Drinks

Having a separate table for both food and drinks is a smart idea because it allows people to go at their own pace. The food table can be covered with a piece of cloth or brown paper.

Wicker baskets lined with bandanas or serviettes can be used for things like biscuits, buns and bread. Wooden trays can hold extra plates and glasses. For deserts like brownies, cookies and cupcakes, use a multi-level, antique wire plant stand.

Finally, fill an aluminium tub with ice and drinks for a self-serve drinks centrepiece.

Steve Smith is a big fan of outdoor dining and also enjoys contributing to a number of blogs, including the popular Picnic Benches blog online.

Getting your children interested in the garden from an early age will not keep them entertained but also help in their development and improve their learning skills. As well as these benefits you can also improve their awareness of where food comes from and show them how to recycle waste.

Here are our top 10 garden activities for children aged 4-7years old.

1. Grow your own fresh vegetables – Give your children a small plot of land or their very own vegetable planter to grow carrots, potatoes and cabbages. With your help they can learn where food comes from. Your children will be far more likely to try foods that they have grown themselves.
2. Make compost – Help your children set up a composter on earth not concrete or paving and get them to fill the bin with dead leaves, garden waste and even the contents of their rabbit or guinea pig hutch when they clean it out! Sit down with them indoors and work on a poster for the fridge of all the household waste that they can help collect after meals to add to the composter including, fruit, vegetables and egg shells. When the bottom of the composter is filled with brown and crumbly contents you can add it to your flower beds. (For more information on how to make your own compost read Jacks guide to composting.)
3. Start a wormery – You can use a large clean glass jar to build a wormery in. Start by placing a layer of sand at the bottom and then a layer of soil approximately 1cm deep, repeat the layers but leave a 5cm gap at the top of the jar. The next task is for your children to find some wriggly worms in your garden. Add the worms to the jar along with some old vegetable peelings. Place the lid on the jar making sure that you have added air holes for your worms. Next get your children to put their wormery in a dark cupboard and leave it there for a couple of weeks. When you bring the wormery back out get your children to observe what has happened to the vegetable peelings and what patterns the worms have made in the earth.
4. Tracking snails – All you need for this fun task is a pot of brightly coloured nail varnish. Give each of your children a different colour and get them to track down 5 or so snails each. Paint a small brush stroke of nail varnish onto the snail shells and then accompany your children with the snails out of your garden but not too far away. Over the next few days get them to observe whether snails have a homing instinct and come back into your garden as they will easily be spotted thanks to the colourful spots on their shells. If they do not return at least you have managed to eradicate a few more snails from your garden.
5. Plant a tree – Take your children to the park and collect some conkers which can be planted out in your garden. In order to control the size of these trees it is best to plant them out in a plant pot or in a planter. You may wish to add broken crockery to the base of the plant pot, you can do this with your children but some pieces are likely to have sharp edges. Ask your child to fill the pot with compost and dig a 2 cm hole for the conker to go into the soil. Cover it and water it well. In the spring this you should begin to see shoots, get your children to continue to water it but ensure they do not overwater the tree. Over time the tree will grow and you can keep on repotting it into a bigger pot when required.
6. Gardening alphabet – This is a great game for your younger and older children to play together. Your children can work separately or as a team to compile an alphabetical list of things that they find in the garden, the first team to complete a garden list wins a prize.
7. Improve your child’s vocabulary – Get them to find and show you something that is big, small, hard, soft, wet, dry, cold, hot, tall short, thin, smelly, fragrant, prickly, smooth and so on………
8. Hide and seek – This is a timeless game that all of your family can enjoy. Do specify any areas such as your greenhouse that are out of bounds for safety reasons.
9. Make a daisy chain – If your lawn if filled with daisies, on a warm sunny day you can sit outside and pick daisies with long strong stalks. Get your children to split the stems half way down with their thumb to create a hole which another daisy can be thread through and simply repeat.
10. Giant garden games – If you struggle to find things to do in your garden there are many different garden games available to keep your children entertained as well as helping to improve their development and learning skills. For a wide range of garden games including giant chess, pick up sticks and snakes and ladders visit Jacks Garden Store now.

Good luck

Gardener Jack!

At Jacks Garden Store you will find a great range of gardening gifts that are perfect for your beloved gardener. If you are planning to buy Christmas presents online remember to place your order early to ensure that your presents arrive in plenty of time for Christmas.

For him Christmas garden gifts

1. Beehive composters make unique Christmas gifts and will be greatly appreciated by any avid gardener. The stylish design means that this garden composter is not purely functional but will also provide an attractive focal point in the garden.
2. Wooden planters – At Jacks Garden Store you can view a huge range of quality wooden planters that vary in size, design and price making it easy for you to find the right Christmas gift. Garden planters or raised beds as they are sometimes referred to can be positioned anywhere in the garden and create a wonderful raised growing area.
3. Barbecues – Every man loves to cook on a barbecue. Within our range you can view traditional barbecues and more contemporary barbecues that are portable and great for taking on holiday!
4. Polytunnels and Garden cloches – Poly tunnels are not the most attractive garden gift but are extremely functional. A poly tunnel allows you to protect an entire bed from the frost and cold weather. Garden cloches are used on individual plants and offer plant frost protection too.

For her Gardening Gifts

1. Victorian Glass Garden Cloche – A glass garden cloche offers frost protection for individual plants outdoors. Alternatively these beautiful items can be used to cover cheese boards or house plants. They are great value for money and will look fabulous in any garden or home.
2. Ladies funky wellies – Within our fantastic wellington boot range you can find both traditional and more flamboyant wellington boots that will help to keep your gardeners feet nice and dry during wet winter months outdoors. Our Evercreature wellington boots will add a touch of glamour to your garden wear or dog walking attire!
3. Garden Mirrors – Garden mirrors are still quite rare and your gardening friend will love receiving such at unique gift at Christmas. A garden mirror will help even the most compact garden to look big!
4. Bistro Garden Furniture Set – A wonderful bistro furniture set will allow you to share romantic meals outdoors together.

Children’s Christmas garden gifts

1. A Trampoline – This gift is not only fun but will enable your children to get the amount of exercise they require to be healthy and fit.
2. Outdoor Sandbox – Perfect for younger children.
3. Children’s wigwam – let their imaginations run wild with this fun outdoor tipee.
4. Garden games – At Jacks Garden Store you can find a fantastic range of garden games that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Within our range you will find croquet sets, giant snakes and ladders, connect four and pick-up sticks games plus many more outdoor games which would make the perfect Christmas gift!

For more great Christmas gift ideas visit Jacks Garden Store now!

Good luck

Gardener Jack!